With talent, tenacity, and heart, the University of Redlands football team orchestrated a 9-2 overall mark and a 6-1 record in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action during the 2019 season. The Bulldogs captured multiple milestone moments along the way, leading to another historic campaign under Head Coach Mike Maynard. Among the many highlights, the Maroon and Gray knocked off a modern-day nemesis, produced a nine-win season for the first time since 1978, and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the ninth appearance in program history.
The season began with a 35-19 win over George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. After charging out to a 21-0 first-half lead, the Bulldogs remained in front until the final whistle. Senior wide receiver David Molina (Laguna Hills, CA) reeled in the first touchdown of the game by leaping into the air in the corner of the end zone and finding a way to land in-bounds for an amazing score. Sophomore running back Kai Thompson (Murrieta, CA) and junior wide receiver Jacob Huff (San Juan Capistrano, CA) scored the Bulldogs' subsequent touchdowns to complete the lucrative half. Overall, Redlands controlled possession for more than 40 minutes of the game, racked up 407 yards of total offense, and had zero turnovers. The Maroon and Gray also went 5-for-5 in the red zone and converted 71% of its third downs. Defensively, Redlands halted the Bruins' run game and forced them into a one-dimensional offense.
In early September, the Bulldogs lit up the new, state-of-the-art video board in Ted Runner Stadium with a 58-7 victory over the University of Puget Sound (WA). For the second game in a row, Redlands scored three touchdowns on its opening four possessions to secure an early lead. The Maroon and Gray also impressed with 626 yards of total offense. First-year running back Mason Carvalho (Menifee, CA) found space on second-and-nine to carry the ball 29 yards to initiate the home team's scoring. He finished the night with 134 rushing yards in a stellar showing. After UPS managed a first-quarter touchdown, the Redlands defense shut out the Loggers for the remainder of the game. Senior defensive back Jeff Hector (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA) hauled in three picks to account for nearly half of the Bulldogs' eight defensive takeaways. Furthermore, senior kicker Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) split the uprights on all three of his field goals for key points.
Redlands capped off a memorable opening month with a 27-19 victory over then-No. 11 Linfield College (OR) for Maynard's 200th career win and his first against the Wildcats. With a 20-9 lead to start the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs came up with a game-changing play when junior wide receiver Noah McFadden (Puyallup, WA) blocked a punt that was recovered by junior defensive back Braxton Taylor (Sylmar, CA) and returned 13 yards for a touchdown. Late in the game, the Maroon and Gray managed the clock and its field position, with Carvalho coming up with a huge third-and-30 jaunt for 29 yards. After a five-yard penalty against Linfield on the subsequent down, the Bulldogs moved the chains one final time to secure the hard-fought and historic win. Overall, the Redlands defense kept the Wildcat run game to minus-37 yards for an incredible display of determination and skill.
The following week saw the Bulldog football team break into the national rankings at No. 19 on the D3football.com poll and No. 20 among the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) list. Redlands went on to remain in the top 25 throughout the season and finished the year at Nos. 18 and 22, respectively.
With three wins over Northwest Conference foes already in the books, Redlands entered SCIAC competition with great momentum and determination in early October. First, the Bulldogs broke open a 10-all tie against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges to capture a 38-17 victory and remain undefeated. Senior defensive backs Vincent Vanhorne (Henderson, NV) and Chad Virgil (Menifee, CA) each hauled in an interception that set up a scoring drive for the Maroon and Gray. Overall, junior quarterback Nathan Martinez (Redlands, CA) tallied 320 passing yards, including two touchdown tosses to senior tight end Blake Roy (Camas, CA) to bookend the game.
Unfortunately, Redlands' win streak came to a difficult end in an 18-21 decision at Chapman University on October 12. Strangely, the Panthers' only points came in the second quarter, as the Bulldog defense shut out the opponents in the other three frames. Nonetheless, time ran out on the Bulldogs' comeback effort and they headed home with their first loss of the season.
However, the Maroon and Gray responded by finishing the regular season with five wins while outscoring opponents, 255-49. Against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, Redlands jumped out to a 24-0 lead through the first quarter and continued to cruise for the 45-6 triumph. While helping his team amass 402 yards of offense, Martinez converted 23 passes for 202 yards and two scores, to go along with 11 carries for 68 yards and four touchdowns.
Next up, Redlands earned a resounding 65-7 win over the Leopards of the University of La Verne during Homecoming. The Bulldog offense scored six touchdowns, beginning with junior wide receiver Kai Kang's (Sammamish, WA) 14-yard catch to put the Bulldogs on the board. In addition, the defense and special teams accounted for 24 points, including a 65-yard punt return to the end zone by junior wide receiver Khory Day (Fresno, CA).
The Bulldogs kicked off the month of November with a 33-14 victory over the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University to successfully defend the Smudge Pot and win the trophy for the seventh consecutive time. Senior kicker Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) put the opening points on the board when he drilled a 56-yard field goal for a new school record. With a 13-0 lead to start the second half, Redlands doubled its points on a pick-six and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by the end of the third quarter. Hector snagged his seventh interception of the season and his third pick-six in the last two games. In addition, sophomore offensive lineman Anthony Vargas (Grand Terrace, CA) collected the loose ball in the CLU end zone for another six points.
Redlands football continued to roll by dominating Whittier College, 45-10, on Senior Night and blasting the Occidental College Tigers, 67-12, in the regular-season finale. The Bulldogs shut out the Poets in three quarters with their savvy defense. Senior defensive lineman Elias Hackney (Santa Monica, CA) and junior linebacker Noah Widgins (San Jacinto, CA) accounted for five of the team's eight sacks. In addition, sophomore running back Cole Davis (Morgan Hill, CA) scored twice on the ground to highlight the offensive outpouring.
Although Oxy earned the first touchdown of the game, the Bulldogs answered by firing off seven scoring drives in the first half to propel them to their ninth win of the season. First-year wide receiver Giovanni Isles (Chino Hills, CA) returned a kickoff for an 88-yard touchdown to put the Maroon and Gray on the board in emphatic fashion. Martinez followed that up with a dynamic 41-yard carry to the house before connecting with McFadden on a 45-yard strike for a touchdown. Defensively, Redlands registered its 35th turnover gained for the best in Bulldog history since 2009. Vanhorne's fumble recovery midway through the second quarter resulted in a resounding 43-6 lead for the Bulldogs.
With a strong schedule and a nine-win season on its side, Redlands entered the NCAA Division III Championships as one of four at-large selections. The Bulldogs headed to Belton, Texas, to face top-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for the sixth time overall and the fourth time in the playoffs. Despite the familiarity of opponent and location, Redlands made too many critical errors that led to the 14-43 loss. Statistically, Redlands gained the advantage over the Cru in multiple categories, including first downs, total yards of offense, time of possession, and third-down conversions. In addition, the Bulldogs limited UMHB to just 65 rushing yards. After taking over for an injured Martinez, senior quarterback Eric Kump (Huntington Beach, CA) went 9-for-19 for 175 yards, as highlighted by a 62-yard pass to Kang for a touchdown late in the game. Junior linebacker Matthew Betancourt (San Bernardino, CA) produced a season-best 10 tackles to finish a solid season.
Although the postseason came to a sudden end, Redlands football welcomed multiple reasons to celebrate in terms of awards and achievements. Following multiple athletes of the week, the Bulldogs also gained 15 All-SCIAC selections, including 12 among the First Team. Raya received the honor twice, earning a spot among the top group for kicking and punting.
In addition, Hector and Raya represented the Bulldogs among the AFCA All-America Team. This marked the first time in school history that Redlands gained two such honorees in the same year.
The D3football.com All-West Region Team included Hackney and Hector as First-Team honorees, as well as Second-Teamer Roy, and Third-Team selection Raya. Hackney and Hector went on to become D3football.com All-Americans as well.
Finally, election to the Associated Press Division III All-America Football Team culminated Hector's outstanding final season with the Bulldogs. At the time of the release, he led the nation in interceptions (8), interception return yards (178), and interceptions returned for a touchdown (3). He also ranked second with 0.7 interceptions per game and eighth with 19 passes defended for an average of 1.7 per game.
Statistically, Redlands set the school's scoring record for the second consecutive season, with this year's achievement coming off 445 points. The 2019 team also ranks second in program history with 51 touchdowns scored. Nationally, the Bulldogs finished the season second in turnover margin, third in rushing defense, and 11th for total defense.
Although the void left by 17 graduating seniors is significant, the Bulldog football team holds high expectations for additional success in the coming year. With its eyes on a return to the top of the SCIAC, Redlands relies on the rising talent of its younger contributors and the leadership of its veterans to build upon this year's milestone-filled campaign. As Maynard remains at the helm, the Bulldog football team promises to exude excellence in attitude, character, and effort moving forward.