WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands Football team blew out the Whittier College Poets 65-7 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
With the win the Maroon and Grey improve to 7-1, 5-0 SCIAC, extend their winning streak to five games, have clinched at least a share of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship and secured the AQ for the Division III National Championships.
Redlands put up the numbers on the afternoon totaling a season high 568 yards of total offense (247 Rushing | 321 Passing) with 29 first downs, averaging 7.8 yards per play. Defensively, UR limited their opponent holding them to just seven points, which came on a pick six, they totaled a sack for a ten yard loss, seven tackles for 20-yards lost, forced four fumbles, recovering all four of them, had two picks, and five pass break-ups, all while giving up just 210 yards of offense (136 Passing | 74 Rushing).
It was a hot start for the Bulldogs putting up 21 points across the first five minutes. UR forced a pair of fumbles on back-to-back kickoffs to start the game by Kurtez Kimble (Humble, TX) and Joseph Rosales (Goodyear, AZ) capitalizing on great field position. Nathan Martinez (Redlands, CA) put up the first points with a rushing touchdown from 14-yards out and Kai Thompson (Murrieta, CA) added the next seven points rushing it five times for 38-yards and a score from nine-yards out.
Following a quick three-and-out by WC and a short punt UR started their third straight drive in Whittier territory and they would again use it with Martinez connecting with Khory Day (Fresno, CA) for a 13-yard reception that extended the lead. But Redlands wasn't done in the quarter tacking on another seven points, following a short 3-play, 67-yard drive that covered just 1:31. Martinez found Tony Williams Jr. (Indio, CA) out of the backfield for 37-yards. Williams Jr. then found a big hole up the middle for 20-yards and then finished things off with a four-yard score.
Things got worse for the Purple & Gold in the 2nd Quarter giving up another 21 points to the Bulldogs who took a 49-0 lead into the break. The first points came on an 11-play, 78-yard drive that covered 5:25. Big plays during the sequence included Martinez finding Andrew Kellstrom (San Bernardino, CA) for 17-yards then Caleb Breen (Bainbridge Island, WA) for 12-yards, capped off with a Kellstrom catch and score from 19-yards out. Joe Bennett (San Diego, CA) then got into the mix shortly after forcing the games third turnover, with a forced fumble giving UR a 1st and 10 from the WC25. Williams Jr. then only needed two plays to find the endzone, rushing it for 11-yards and then 14-yards moving the score to 42-0.
Whittier sustained a long drive on their next possession going 8-plays for 23-yards, taking them down to the UR45, but that drive would stall as Mario Jacobs (El Cajon, CA) would force a fumble, which was recovered by Mikey Duran (Ceres, CA). Redlands would then use the final 1:40 to tack on more points before the break as Martinez would find Breen over the middle for a 39-yard catch and run.
Head Coach Jim Good put his reserves in for the second half and they played tough as well holding the Poets to just seven points across the final two quarters. UR added six points in the 3rd with Myles Herrera (Yucaipa, CA) orchestrating a 10-play, 95-yard drive that covered 4:10. He found Aidan Shinfeld (Studio City, CA) over the middle for 24-yards, then Breen for 15-yards before ending the drive with a 28-yard touchdown throw to Kaleb Hatten (Modesto, CA) that moved the deficit to 55-7. The big play defensively came late in the 3rd by Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) who made a Sportscenter Top 10 play with a one-handed interception that ended a Poet drive.
In the 4th quarter Redlands put the game away outscoring WC 10-0. Herrera added insurance finding Logan Sperline (Moses Lake, WA) for a 14-yard touchdown grab and Vicente Garcia (Fontana, CA) tacked on three points converting a 39-yard field goal.
Martinez finished 11-for-17 throwing for 195 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball twice for 24-yards and another score. Herrera was 9-of-14 for 126 yards and two scores. Troy "TC" Williams (San Diego, CA) led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 57-yards, but it was Williams Jr. who found the endzone twice, while totaling 49-yards on the ground. He would also haul in one catch for 37-yards and return a kickoff for 58-yards. Thompson found the endzone once with seven carries for 44-yards. Breen led the receivers with three catches for 66-yards and a touchdown. Kellstrom had three as well for 42 yards and another score, while Hatten and Sperline combined for four catches, 69-yards and two touchdowns.
Garcia contributed 11 points on the afternoon with a 39-yard field and eight extra points.
On the other side of the ball the Bulldogs totaled 57 tackles from 37 different players. Tinsley finished with four tackles along with a pick. Jacob Harrold (Lake Havasu City, AZ) also added four tackles, and André Peeples II (San Diego, CA) put up three tackles, a pick and a break-up. Rosales, Bennett, Jacobs, and Kimble all forced fumbles on the day, and Jacobs provided a sack for a 10-yard loss.
Redlands wraps up their 2021 regular season next Saturday, November 13 when they host California Lutheran University beginning at 1:00pm. That day the Bulldogs will recognize their 32 graduates and will also be competing for the annual Smudge Pot Trophy.