The University of Redlands football team enjoyed the sweet taste of victory against the George Fox University Bruins in front of a boisterous Rah Rah Redlands crowd at Ted Runner Stadium on Saturday night. The Bulldogs came up with a huge stop against a late two-point conversion late in the third quarter, which set the tone for a lucrative fourth en route to the 31-22 win.
After an inefficient start, the Maroon and Gray settled down offensively while limiting the Bruins to only three points during the first quarter.
Redlands got on the board late in the first frame when junior quarterback Mitch Kidd (Salinas, CA) facilitated a three-play, 49-yard, scoring drive. Following junior running back Alex Andrighetto's (Portola Valley, CA) 14-yard punt return to the Bruin 49-yard line, the Bulldogs quickly moved the chains for first and 10. Junior wide receiverCole Blackburn (Sammamish, WA) aired it out for 39 yards to junior wide receiver Christian Guzman (Desert Hot Springs, CA) on a well-executed option play for the Maroon and Gray's 10-3 lead.
The Bulldog defense continued to take care of its end of the bargain, as shown on the ensuing drive that resulted in only two yards for the Bruins. Junior defensive lineman Tristan Corwin (Wildomar, CA) and sophomore defensive lineman Joe Munroe(Costa Mesa, CA) pressured the quarterback into misfiring his passes, which led to another Bruin punt.
Redlands extended its lead to 14-3 when sophomore running back Conner Kennedy (Olympia, WA) scampered into the end zone on a one-yard play early in the second quarter. Andrighetto played a key role in moving the ball, as he racked up five positive carries during this drive.
After a late GFU field goal, the Bulldogs headed into the locker room with a 14-6 advantage at halftime.
Although the Bruins enjoyed a 10-point scoring spurt to take the lead, Redlands made the necessary adjustments and answered with a touchdown. Another rush-heavy drive proved to be effective for the Maroon and Gray, as Andrighetto continued to do work on the ground. Kidd also sprinkled a few complete passes into the mix, which set up his own three-yard jaunt into the end zone. After freshman kicker Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) split the uprights for the extra point, Redlands was back on top by a score of 21-16.
Unfortunately, the Bruins' offense found space for an immediate touchdown to regain the lead. However, the Bulldogs came up with a huge stop on GFU's two-point conversion attempt, providing a great switch in the momentum.
Redlands' subsequent drive started with incredible field position, as junior defensive back Danny Gonzales (Mentone, CA) returned the kick-off 70 yards to the Bruin 15-yard line. Four plays later, Raya hit a 26-yard field goal for the Bulldogs' 24-22 advantage with 1:24 left in the third.
The Bulldogs stepped up defensively to dissuade any chance of a George Fox comeback by halting the Bruins' opening drive of the fourth quarter. Junior defensive back Dustin Nascimento (Aiea, HI) and senior defensive back Connor Hoffman (Tustin, CA) led the charge with their relentless effort and exceptional tackling. Finally, on third and one, the D-line drove the ball-carrier back seven yards, stripped the ball, and recovered the fumble for a huge stop.
The Maroon and Gray continued to battle in the trenches, edging out the Bruins in the physical showdown through the final whistle. With senior wide receiver Tobias Dates(Trabuco Hills, CA) taking over the punting duties, Redlands successfully pinned the visitors deep in their own territory on two important occasions.
Late in the fourth frame, the Bulldogs ensured the win with another touchdown. Kidd threaded the needle on a perfectly placed ball along the sideline to junior wide receiverKyle Kabeary (Indio, CA) for a 40-yard strike.
Overall, Andrighetto accounted for more than half of the Maroon and Gray's rushing yards by tallying 96 yards on 20 carries with a long of 25 yards. In addition, Kennedy provided key rushes throughout the night.
Kidd was an efficient 6-for-9 through the air for 72 yards, while Shreve connected on 7 of 12 passes for 50 yards. Kabeary was the top target, making four catches for 61 yards.
Defensively, Nascimento was all over the field, racking up 13 tackles and two pass break-ups. Junior defensive back Adam Goss (West Covina, CA) added nine tackles as well.
Redlands (1-1) enters another bye week as it prepares to open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action against Occidental College on Saturday, October 1. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. in Ted Runner Stadium for Take a Kid to the Game Night.