The University of Redlands defense, which is ranked among the nation’s best, held Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges to just 71 yards of total offense and shut out the Stags at home on Redlands’ Homecoming by a final score of 48-0 on Oct. 25.

On the first drive of the game, the Bulldogs set the tone when senior running back Zach Schafer (Saugus, CA) broke through for a 23-yard touchdown run.

After switching possessions via punts and interceptions, Redlands got the ball back with 5:22 remaining in the first quarter and pieced together an eight-play, 66-yard drive that ended with Schafer pounding the ball in the endzone from seven yards out.

Unable to capitalize on a drive that spanned the end of the first quarter to the start of the second, the Stags were forced to punt the ball away, and the maroon and gray took control of the ball back at their 14-yard line.

The field position quickly changed, however, when junior quarterback Steve Smith (Lake Oswego, OR) aired it out to sophomore wide receiver Mike Davis (Valencia, CA) for a 41-yard pass, which Davis hauled in. Smith completed two passes to senior running back Tom Romaine (Ahwatukee, AZ) on the Stags’ side of the field, and the second pass resulted in a nine-yard touchdown reception.

Three consecutive three-and-out drives gave Redlands prime field position for the start of a drive with 4:47 left in the second quarter, and sophomore kicker Joe MacMillan (Pasadena, CA) tacked three points onto the board when he hit a field goal from 45 yards out.

Forced to a three-and-out once more, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps booted the ball away to the Redlands 41. After stringing together a few first-down plays, MacMillian connected on a 44-yard field goal attempt as the clock expired for the half, putting the Bulldogs on top 27-0.

On the second play of the second half, the Bulldogs forced a fumble, and sophomore defensive back Mike Nicolini (Novato, CA) recovered the ball at the Redlands 45. Smith scrambled for a 12-yard gain and hooked up with Romaine again before finding junior wide receiver Sean Scott (Bellevue, WA) open for a touchdown reception, giving the junior quarterback his second touchdown pass of the evening.

Stag kicker David Dubinski had a chance to put points on the board but ultimately came up short as he misfired on a 38-yard field goal attempt.

Senior defensive lineman Brock Arndt (Valencia, CA) forced a fumble following an interception thrown by Smith with 42 second left in the third quarter, and Arndt recovered the fumble at the Redlands 38.

With freshman quarterback Dylan Barrera (Las Vegas, NV) taking over under center, the Bulldog offensive unit marched down field 62 yards, and sophomore running back Daylan Swedlow (Lake Arrowhead, CA) picked up his first career touchdown to put the maroon and gray well out in front 41-0 following a completed extra-point attempt by MacMillan.

Both teams kept the ball on the ground in the fourth quarter to run out the clock in a lopsided affair. Freshman running back Tyson Moll (Bountiful, UT), however, ran the ball into the endzone from 11 yards out, locking the score at 48-0, which would end up being the game’s final.

Smith went 20-of-32 passing on the day, accumulating 262 yards and two touchdowns.

Five Bulldog rushers ran for 25 yards or more on the game. Schafer led the way with 66 yards on nine carries for two touchdowns while Swedlow saw significant action and gained 42 yards on eight carries for one touchdown. Also contributing to the running attack was Romaine with 39 yards, Moll with 28 yards and senior running back Jeff Stewart (Newark, CA) with 25 yards.

Romaine paced the receiving corps with four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Despite only making one catch, Davis finished with the second-highest receiving total of 41 yards. Junior wide receiver Evan Reuter (Cameron Park, CA) and Scott each compiled 37 yards receiving.

MacMillan went 2-for-2 in field goal attempts, converting a 45-yarder and a 44-yarder.

On defense, freshman linebacker Ian Sluss (Vista, CA) led the team in tackles with seven, including four solo and three assisted tackles.

Arndt tallied an eye-popping three sacks on the afternoon while providing six solo tackles and one fumble recovery. Also providing sacks were senior linebacker Mack Gordon (Bermuda Dunes, CA) and senior linebacker Matt Moore (Fayetteville, GA) with one apiece. Sluss and senior defensive lineman Nick Burruel (Phoenix, AZ), in addition, supplied a half of a sack each.

Stag quarterback Mike McNeece gained a paltry 24 yards on four completions. Michael Hirokawa led the team in rushing offense with 21 net yards.

The special teams served as a strong suit for the Stags as Bryan Downs averaged 39.7 yards per punt on nine total, and Jack Lamb returned five kickoffs for 127 yards.

Ashton Clarke led the defense with a game-high 11 total tackles, and Landon Patoc intercepted two Smith passes.

Redlands (5-1, 3-1 SCIAC) plays on the road next week, taking on Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1.