The University of Redlands football team returns to the friendly confines of Ted Runner Stadium on Saturday with high expectations of putting together a thrilling night on the field with Homecoming festivities abounding on campus. The Bulldogs face the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in what promises to be an exciting Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown at 7 p.m.
Following last week's solid 42-25 victory over the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Stags, the Bulldogs strive to maintain that momentum in their upcoming contest. Amidst a tale of two halves, Redlands finished on a high note by scoring 30 points in the second half while limiting the home team to only eight points.
Junior quarterback Levi Plante (Lake Arrowhead, CA), who was tabbed the SCIAC Football Athlete of the Week, elevated his play when given the green light on a more fluid offensive plan at the start of the third quarter. This made all the difference for the Bulldogs. Plante's 298 passing yards stemmed from the outstanding effort of the offensive line that included Tommy Garcia (La Habra, CA), freshman Anthony Vargas (Grand Terrace, CA), senior Zachary Vazquez (Beaumont, CA), senior Toma Suafoa-Aumavae, senior Mike Serrano (San Diego, CA), and senior Danny Badgley (Fairwood, WA).
Defensively, Redlands gained a few surprises from younger players who were forced to take on significant roles due to sidelined starters.
"Our young guys stepped in without as many reps. But coming up with four turnovers was a key aspect as to why we were able to win the game," commented Head Coach Mike Maynard.
Freshman defensive back Spencer Conley (La Quinta, CA) impressed in his start with a pair of picks, including one that iced a late scoring drive against the Stags.
The Bulldogs currently own a plus-10 turnover margin to rank 10th in all of NCAA Division III. In addition, they are among the nation's top 10 in red-zone defense, net punting, and kickoff returns.
Redlands also enjoyed great success in the kicking game, with junior Nathan Hierlihy (Redondo Beach, CA) providing a flawless performance with three converted PATs and three made field goals. Furthermore, junior Ryan Rieta (Olympia, WA) made countless contributions to the team's excellence, which resulted in being named the Special Teams Player of the Week, as determined by the Bulldog coaching staff.
"Everything about the operations of the kicking game was excellent," stated Maynard. "We make PAT blocking and coverage just as important."
This week's opponent brings a revitalized mentality under first-year Head Coach John Walsh. Although Pomona-Pitzer Colleges dropped two close conference losses, losing by a combined four points to Cal Lutheran University and Chapman University, the Sagehens bring an explosive offense that is averaging 38 points per game. Pomona-Pitzer rotates quarterbacks quickly by utilizing sophomore Karter Odermann and junior Edward Sias in a variety of formations. The duo has combined for 1,402 yards and 11 touchdowns, with Odermann earning a completion rate of 75.9% and an efficiency rating of 173.8. Junior David Berkinsky serves as their top target with 396 yards on 37 catches. In addition, senior Aseal Birir boasts more than 700 yards on 92 carries for 12 touchdowns as a pounding, physical runner that demands the Bulldogs' attention.
On defense, Pomona-Pitzer is led by senior linebackers Evan Lloyd and Zach Harris, who account for nearly 100 of the team's 384 total tackles.
Furthermore, the Sagehens enter Saturday's game with an extra week of practice, preparation, and recovery due to the cancellation of Occidental College's season.
"This gives us something to rally around," stated Maynard. "This is an obstacle to motivate our team. It gives us inspiration and motivation that we're really enjoying."
Redlands looks forward to its next opportunity on the field, with high expectations of building off of last week's momentum and extending Maynard's 23-1 record over the Sagehens.