Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The University of Redlands football team capped off an exciting Saturday to Homecoming weekend by cruising past the Stags of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in a 31-7 showing in Ted Runner Stadium. With an electric atmosphere setting the stage for a memorable night, the Bulldogs captured their third Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory in a row to remain as one of two schools at the top of the standings.
The Stags coughed up an opening-drive fumble at their own 43-yard line that eventually led to the Bulldogs' first of four touchdowns on the night. In addition to rushing for 17 yards during this possession, sophomore quarterback Kevin Russell (Lacey, WA) connected on a pair of strikes for significant yards, finding junior wide receiver Stephen Rodriguez(Brentwood, CA) and senior wide receiver James Ramirez (La Verne, CA). It was sophomore running back Tyrone Sauls Jr. (El Cajon, CA) who ultimately carried the ball into the end zone from one yard out, putting the Bulldogs ahead with 12:36 left in the quarter.
In CMS' next three drives of the game, the Bulldog defense only allowed two first downs while also holding them scoreless. Headlining the relentless unit, senior linebacker Michael Tootle (Las Vegas, NV), junior linebacker Griffin Lord (Upland, CA), and senior defensive back Stephen Reyes (Kingsburg, CA) provided key tackles for the Bulldogs during this stretch.
The Maroon and Gray closed out the first frame with a 22-yard field goal from junior kickerSean Murray (Phoenix, AZ) to make it a 10-point lead.
Late in the second quarter, Redlands put together back-to-back scores in just over a minute to head into the locker room with great momentum. After Russell orchestrated a six-play, 57-yard drive that culminated in his 34-yard run up the middle for the touchdown, Redlands saw Ramirez return a punt 75 yards to the house for his second such touchdown in as many games.
With a 24-0 lead, the Bulldogs sat primed for another solid win.
A scoreless third period led to a 24-yard strike from Russell to Rodriguez for a touchdown less than a minute into the final quarter.
Although CMS eventually got on the board, the Bulldogs' quality win was never in question.
Russell finished the night with 132 passing yards on a 12-for-21 showing for one touchdown. He connected with Rodrgiuez and Ramirez four times each, accounting for nearly 100 yards between them. Russell served as the team's top ball-carrier with 107 yards on 15 attempts.
Overall, the defense stepped up to limit the Stags to only 95 yards rushing. In addition, sophomore defensive back Jalen DeVine (Richland, WA) racked up a team-high eight tackles to go along with one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries. Sophomore defensive lineman Brian Keyser (Medford, NH) impressed with his seven-tackle, four-quarterback-hurry, one-sack performance.
Reyes and freshman defensive back Michael Jordano (Arroyo Grande, CA) each snagged an interception, which provided big shifts of momentum in Redlands' favor.
The Bulldogs (3-2, 3-0 SCIAC) head to the University of La Verne on Oct. 25 for a 1 p.m. showdown against the Leopards.