Redlands Bulldogs vs. Chapman Panthers

October 15, 2016, in Ted Runner Stadium, 7:05 p.m. kick-off

Available through Live Stats, Stream, and Audio at www.goredlands.com 

"We were very pleased with the entire game against La Verne.  That was a great win at a tough place to play," commented Head Coach Mike Maynard.  "We came out fast in both halves and the fact that we had no turnovers really made a difference."

Against the Leopards, Redlands effectively developed its run game while continuing its two-Bulldog approach to the quarterback position, with junior Mitch Kidd (Salinas, CA) and senior Tyler Shreve (Highland, CA) orchestrating the offense.  Kidd earned the team's offensive player of the week nod after leading the team to touchdowns on five of his six drives.  Overall, he has completed 70.7% of his passing attempts for 409 yards and seven touchdowns this season. 

The Bulldogs' ground attack provided a few more yards than through the air in a balanced output, with three different running backs carrying the ball for 50 or more yards en route to the team's total of 281 yards.   Sophomore running back Jacob Guglielmana (Lake Elsinore, CA) notched his first rushing touchdown of the season in last week's win.

Defensively, the Maroon and Gray registered an impressive second-half shutout against the Leopards, thanks in part to great field position and back-to-back scores to open the third quarter.  This forced the opponents into a one-dimensional offense, which is always the goal of the opposing defense unit.  Junior defensive lineman Trevor Raras (Novato, CA) played a key role as a powerful force against the ULV run, which resulted in his Bulldog defensive player of the week honor.  As a unit, Redlands' defense held the Leopards to a season-low number of offensive yards at 349.

In addition, sophomore running back Nathaniel Nguyen-Barkus (Novato, CA) was named the team's practice player of the week after his efforts of simulating La Verne's top running back in practice received a standing ovation during Monday's post-game meeting.

Finally, freshman linebacker Blake Torgerson (Lakewood, WA) was awarded with the kicking player of the week honor after making a critical tackle against the ULV punter on a fake.  His big-time effort set up another scoring drive for the Bulldogs.

This week, Redlands returns home to Ted Runner Stadium for an important conference showdown against the Chapman Panthers.    Despite the visitors' 2-2 record, Maynard anticipates nothing short of a "dog fight" on Saturday night.

"We know they will come out highly motivated after their good win against Whittier and a tough loss to Pomona-Pitzer.  We expect them to be excited to play," commented Maynard. 

Despite throwing five interceptions against Pomona-Pitzer in their 7-35 loss on October 1, the Panthers' quarterbacks are capable of much more, especially Ricky Bautista.  In Chapman's first SCIAC win of the season, he threw for more than 250 yards and rushed for another 66.  The Panthers boast a receiving tandem that can put up solid numbers due to their speed and skill.  Jacob Isabel and Ethan Weinstein each recorded more than 100 yards in last week's game.  Furthermore, the Chapman run game provides another valuable option, with Joe Mudie leading the squad with 241 yards on the ground.

But according to Maynard, the Panthers' overall strength stems from their lines, both on offense and defense

"The lines get the job done and we'll have to work hard to defend them and slow down their skill guys," he stated. "They have an excellent defensive line; it's one of the best that we've seen." 

In order to improve to 4-1 on the season, Redlands faces a formidable foe with plenty of motivation behind this week's game.  The Bulldogs own a 14-5-1 record over Chapman, but the last two have gone to the Panthers. 

Redlands strives to play with great conviction over four quarters against the Panthers.  Last week's showing against La Verne was another step in the right direction, but a short, second-quarter lapse forced the Bulldogs to regroup.  With a strong second-half showing, they clearly did so, revealing poise, strength, and stamina in the process during the afternoon contest.

"[Strength & Conditioning] Coach Joe Buckley has done a fantastic job with our team.  The team has trained hard.  We are very strong and better conditioned," Maynard added.  "We've had great help from the athletic training staff as well."

With a loaded roster of talent, depth, and determination, the Bulldogs look forward to kicking off against the Panthers at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night.

"We have a lot we have to prove and a lot we have to do.  We have to be at the top of our game."