NEWBERG, Ore. – It was the beginning of the Jim Good era Saturday night in Newberg, OR as he led the University of Redlands Football team to a 24-14 victory over George Fox University in the 2021 opener.
The Maroon and Grey last played November 23, 2019 during the first round of the NCAA Championships against Mary Hardin-Baylor.
This evening, the Bulldogs were tested but were able to pull off the road victory.
Redlands combined for 430 yards of total offense (215 Passing | 215 Rushing). They averaged 9.0 yards per pass play, 5.1 yards per rush and were at a 57% clip on third down efficiency.
The only points put up in the opening quarter came from Kai Thompson (Murrieta, CA) with 2:02 remaining. He capped off a 12-play, 99-yard drive that covered 5:51. During that span, which started on the UR1 yard line, Thompson had a rush for 36 yards, while Nathan Martinez (Redlands, CA) connected with Khory Day (Fresno, CA) for a 19-yard hook-up. After a Martinez rush that brought the ball down to the GFU16, Thompson found the endzone from 12 yards out.
A combined 17 points were scored in the 2nd quarter with UR holding the advantage 10-7 giving them a 17-7 lead at the break. Redlands strung together another long drive to start the frame, this time going 83-yards in eight plays. Martinez got a huge chunk of yardage by finding Evan Aguon (San Diego, CA) for 21 yards. He then picked up another 12 on the ground and completed another pass to Giovanni Isles (Chino Hills, CA) for 14 yards. This brought the ball down to the GFU22 and that would be enough space as Martinez would find Ty Hershberger (Palm Springs, CA) in the back of the endzone that extended the UR lead.
The very next possession the Bruins would put together their best drive of the evening going 62 yards, capped off with an Ethan Kassebaum rush from eight yards out. But those would be the only points for the Bruins in the half as UR would tack on insurance from the leg of Ethan Hoffman, connecting from 46 yards out.
Points were hard to come by in the second half with both teams' defenses holding tough in the 3rd Quarter and not allowing any points on the scoreboard. A minute into the 4th quarter, the Bulldogs added the first points in the half again by stringing together a drive that spanned 6:46. They went 74 yards in 11 plays, ending with a Martinez to Aguon touchdown from 33-yards out. The Bruins, though, continued to stay close as they would answer on their next possession, scoring quickly in just 1:27, thanks to a 39-yard kickoff return, a Haiden Schaan completion to Leon Johnson, and the two combining again for an 18-yard touchdown.
This made it a 10-point game, but that's as close as GFU would get as the Bulldogs would secure the win getting a turnover on downs late in the game.
Martinez finished 17-of-24 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Thompson added 154 yards on the ground and another touchdown, and Aguon had five catches for 84 yards, averaging 16.8 yards per catch and a score.
Brendan Marmion (Aliso Viejo, CA) totaled four punts for 163 yards, averaging 40.8 yards per punt with a long being of 45.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were solid all night allowing a mere 237 yards of total offense to the Bruins, which included just 16 yards coming on the ground. They also accumulated a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three sacks for a combined 26-yards lost, and seven tackles for losses. They were led by Jace Tessaro (Modesto, CA) and Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) who each recorded seven tackles. Jadin Michaels (Palm Springs, CA) had six and Kaleb Hatten (Modesto, CA) totaled five.
The Bulldogs return to action next Saturday, September 11, inside Ted Runner Stadium when they host the University of Puget Sound. Kickoff set for 7:00pm.