With a total-team effort, the University of Redlands football team made it five in a row with Saturday's 40-3 victory over the Whittier College Poets in a crucial Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown. The Bulldogs fired off 33 unanswered points through three quarters with sophomore defensive back Aaron Mandell (Seattle, WA) hauling in his second pick-six play in as many games to highlight the team's multi-faceted scoring.
Midway through the first frame, junior kicker Sean Murray (Phoenix, AZ) split the uprights on a 43-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs on the board.
On the Poets' ensuing drive, the Bulldog defense stepped up with quality stops. Facing first and 25, Whittier suffered a six-yard loss on a big sack by junior defensive lineman Mike Khoury (Moreno Valley, CA) before freshman linebacker Mitch Shepherd (Seattle, WA) halted the Poet ball carrier after only a short jaunt. On third and 27, freshman defensive back Michael Jordano (Arroyo Grande, CA) provided excellent pass protection, leading to the Poets' third punt of the game. Jordano finished the contest with eight total tackles and two breakups.
Two drives later, the Bulldogs utilized a new offensive combination, with sophomore quarterback Paul Avila (Santa Maria, CA) serving as the play-caller. On third and six, he found sophomore wide receiver Makale Ruiz-McCobb (Fontana, CA) on a 26-yard strike for the first down at the Whittier six-yard line. Moments later, Avila carried the ball into the end zone for the touchdown.
Watch the eight-yard scamper here.
Leading by a score of 10-0, the Bulldogs tacked on another Murray field goal, this one coming from 30 yards out.
Late in the second period, Mandell jumped up to pull in an impressive interception before changing directions to return the ball all the way to the end zone for a 62-yard scoring return.
By the end of the first half, Redlands sat comfortably out in front by a score of 20-0.
However, the Bulldogs remained relentless in their attack. Murray converted two more field goals before junior quarterback Kevin Russell (Lacey, WA) connected with senior wide receiver Sam Angelo (Woodinville, WA) on a 19-yard strike for the touchdown, making it 33-0 late in the third period.
With the game well in hand, the Bulldog defense continued to impress, turning back Whittier from the four-yard line early in the fourth frame. Revealing its depth, the team looked to five different players to come up with the stops, ultimately forcing the Poets to settle for a field goal.
By the end of the game, Redlands had amassed six sacks for a loss of 52 yards, with Khoury earning two for a loss of 16 yards.
In addition to Mandell's pick, senior linebacker Michael Tootle (Las Vegas, NV) made the first interception of his career while adding eight total tackles to his contributions.
Offensively, Russell went 10-for-24 for 114 yards, while Avila completed five of his seven passes for 60 yards. Their top target was freshman wide receiver Nate Manomat-Rodriguez (Placentia, CA), who registered a team-high six catches for 29 yards. However, the duo found six other receivers for 10 or more yards on one or two receptions.
Senior running back Bobby Brown (Santa Margarita, CA) served as the top ball-carrier, earning 66 yards on 11 attempts.
Junior wide receiver Stephen Rodriguez (Brentwood, CA) and senior wide receiver James Ramirez (La Verne, CA) provided quality yardage on punt returns, with 100 yards between their six opportunities.
Redlands (5-2, 5-0 SCIAC) looks forward to facing off against the conference's only other undefeated squad when it faces Chapman University on Saturday, November 8, at 7 p.m. in Ted Runner Stadium.