With a total-team effort, the University of Redlands football team celebrated its seniors with a 59-7 trouncing of Whittier College in the final home game of the regular season. While displaying depth and diversity in all facets of the game, the Bulldogs benefitted from a pick-six, a punt return for a touchdown, a record-setting field goal, and the opportunity to utilize most of their roster.
Junior defensive back Aaron Mandell (Seattle, WA) set the tone early with his pick-six on Whittier's third play from scrimmage. He snagged the misfired pass and ran it 31 yards to the house for the opening score.
The Bulldog defense remained relentless on the ensuing Poet drive, forcing the visitors to punt after a four-yard sack by sophomore defensive lineman Trevor Raras (Novato, CA).
Two Redlands possessions later, senior quarterback Kevin Russell (Lacey, WA) orchestrated an efficient two-play, 71-yard drive into the end zone for the 14-0 lead. After finding space for a 26-yard rush, he connected with junior wide receiver Yoshio Hasegawa (Seattle, WA) on a 30-yard strike for the score.
The next Whittier drive ended the same as the first, with the Bulldogs hauling in an interception. This time, sophomore defensive back Adam Goss (West Covina, CA) nabbed it for a 34-yard return to the Poet 20-yard line. It did not take long for Redlands to capitalize, as an 18-yard carry by sophomore wide receiver Cole Blackburn (Sammamish, WA) and a Whittier penalty set up Russell's four-yard jaunt into the end zone.
The Bulldogs finished out the opening quarter with another touchdown, as Russell led the team down field for 59 yards. On first and 10 at the Poet 15-yard line, Russell hit sophomore wide receiver Alex Andrighetto (Portola Valley, CA) on a direct route over the middle for six points.
Early in the game, the Maroon and Gray defense denied first downs in the Poets' opening seven drives, with sophomore linebacker Mitch Shepherd (Seattle, WA), senior linebacker Griffin Lord (Upland, CA), Goss, and Raras all earning quarterback hurries for pressuring the Whittier play-caller during this stretch.
The teams traded touchdowns during the second quarter, with Russell finding Blackburn for the Bulldogs' score with 4:18 remaining on the clock. During this drive, freshman running back Conner Kennedy (Olympia, WA) provided key yardage on the ground, racking up 15 yards between three carries.
In addition to splitting the uprights on every point-after-try, senior kicker Sean Murray (Phoenix, AZ) closed out the first half for the Bulldogs with a school-record, 54-yard field goal to put his team up by a score of 38-7. He exceeded the previous mark by four yards, which had most recently been set in 2005 by Sean Conway.
Late in the third quarter, senior defensive back Colin Spencer (Olivet, MI) added to the Bulldogs' scoring arsenal by returning a Poet punt 47 yards to the house on a creative run that included impressive blocking near the goal line.
Redlands capped off the stellar day with a pair of touchdowns late in the game. Junior wide receiver Christian Guzman (Desert Hot Springs, CA) reeled in an 18-yard catch, after freshman running back Josiah Alvira (Danville, CA) set up the scoring play with back-to-back carries that totaled 37 yards. Two drives later, the Bulldogs looked to junior quarterback Paul Avila (Santa Maria, CA) to guide the offense downfield on eight plays for 64 yards, as highlighted by a 20-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Zack Verspoor (Mansfield, OH). Freshman running back Noah Magaña (Santa Paula, CA) finished off the possession with his eight-yard carry to the promise land.
Furthermore, Redlands dominated nearly every statistical category, including first downs, total offense, return yards, third-down efficiency, average gain per play, and tackles-for-a-loss.
The Bulldogs (3-4, 3-2 SCIAC) head to Chapman University on Saturday, November 7, for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Panthers.