The University of Redlands football team heads to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday evening for an important showdown between the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (SCIAC) only remaining unbeaten teams. With the winner holding the advantage for this year's championship hunt, the Bulldogs look forward to the challenge of top-notch competition against a quality opponent in the teams' 103rd meeting since 1910.
Last week, the Maroon and Gray registered a hard-fought victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges that included a late rally by the Stags. But the Bulldog defense successfully stymied the visitors' comeback en route to holding CMS to minus-three yards rushing and amassing six sacks on the Stag quarterback. Head Coach Mike Maynard credited the entire defensive staff for preparing the Bulldogs for a successful night.
"Coach Mariani and his staff had a great plan and executed it really well," Maynard said, who owns a 22-1 record against this week's opponent.
Redlands gained a huge defensive performance that was led by linemen, senior Brian Keyser (Medford, NJ), sophomore Joe Munroe (Costa Mesa, CA), junior Trevor Raras (Novato, CA), and junior Tristan Corwin (Wildomar, CA), as the quartet was honored with the team's defensive award of the week.
"Collectively as a unit, this was their best game of the season."
The Maroon and Gray also saw sophomore running back Conner Kennedy (Olympia, WA) produce a career-night with 113 yards on the ground, with most of his yards coming after contact. He provided impressive and powerful running that kept the clock running in the second half and allowed Redlands to close out the game.
The Bulldogs hope to carry the positive momentum into Saturday's game against the co-front-runners of the SCIAC. With Pomona-Pitzer off to its best start since 2003, Redlands realizes what it is up against.
"Head Coach Roger Caron has always been a tremendous tactician. He is very knowledgeable, has a good plan, and has the players to back it up," Maynard added. "They are playing with confidence."
The Sagehens run a two-headed quarterback system with Karter Odemann and Edward Sias, with Ryan McGee serving as the top target. Their run game comes with the diverse ability of Aseal Birir.
According to Maynard, Pomona-Pitzer's run game has elevated them to the next level, which stems from a more robust roster.
Defensively, the Sagehens rely on the strength and skill of their linebackers and defensive line, headed up by nose guard Blake Gunn.
In order to take care of business on Saturday, the Bulldogs look to capitalize on every possession because they anticipate Pomona-Pitzer wanting to grind out the clock as much as possible.
Redlands looks to the consistent and quality efforts of its freshman kicker Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) to help establish great field position against the Sagehens. Last week, he was selected as the kicking game player of the week after powering three field goals through the uprights and finishing the night perfect on PATs.
"He is a freshman kicker who is performing with the poise and confidence of a veteran kicker," Maynard stated.
The team also honored freshman defensive back Lance Peterson (Corvallis, OR) as the prep player of the week.
"Lance was relentless, never took a play off, and impressed coaches and players with his fierce, competitive drive. He was given a standing ovation by his teammates and coaches for his dedication to the team," Maynard commented.
In Saturday's game at Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands works to repeat Peterson's type of effort and success on the field as a team. Understanding what is at stake for their season, the Bulldogs expect nothing less of a hard-fought battle between two outstanding squads.
"This will be a street fight, a very tough physical game. We'll have to hold our own," said Maynard.
