REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Football team opened their 2022 season Saturday night with a home game against George Fox University (GFU). After leading 14-0 in the first quarter, they were then outscored 24-10 in the second half and dropped their first game to the Bruins since 2017, falling 38-31.
The Bulldogs started quickly on both sides of the ball, forcing an early three-and-out before going on a four-play, 30-yard scoring drive led by new starting quarterback Myles Herrera (Yucaipa, CA). The drive was capped off by running back Andrew Kellstrom (San Bernardino, CA) who punched it in from two-yards out.
Redlands followed up their first defensive series with an interception from Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) on the second Bruins drive. This set UR up in George Fox territory where they would cash in, this time with a 49-yard drive, 27 of which came from Kellstrom on the ground before a two-yard touchdown run from Herrera moved the score to 14-0.
The Bruins finally put points on the board to end the opening period using a 41-yard pass and catch from Haiden Schaan to Dillan Dobbins down the sideline, which set up Schaan for a 16-yard scamper, cutting the lead to seven. GFU carried this momentum into the 2nd Quarter finding the endzone for a second time putting together a 9-play, 76-yard drive, that covered 4:47, capped off with Schaan finding Thomas McMillan in the back of the endzone.
Following a three-and-out on offense, UR received another huge defensive play, this time on special teams as Cole Smith (Gaston, OR) forced a fumble off the return, which was recovered by Johrdan Garibay (Santa Cruz, CA). This setup Herrera and the Bulldog offense with a short field, which they would use covering 41-yards in six-plays ending with a 16-yard touchdown grab from Michael Mindnich (Bellingham, WA) giving UR a 21-14 lead at the break.
Out of the half things took a turn for the Bulldogs who were knocking on the door to another score. They were inside the GFU 15, but coughed the ball up on a fumble by Kellstrom. The Bruins took advantage taking it back 51-yards setting them up in UR territory. This led to Schaan finding his top receiver Leon Johnson III for a 30-yard touchdown grab that tied the game up at 21-21. Two minutes later the Bruins got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out. This time they needed just one play as Schaan would connect with Johnson III for a 60-yard catch and run that put GFU on top 28-21.
Redlands was quick to regroup as they would use their next drive to cover 62-yards in eight plays, ending in a 22-yard field goal by Vicente Garcia (Fontana, CA). This cut the deficit to four at 28-24 with 6:35 left in the third quarter. Following another three-and-out forced by the UR defensive unit and a 21-yard punt return by Evan Aguon (San Diego, CA), the Bulldogs would go 22-yards all thanks to Herrera finding Mindnich. But the ensuing 40-yard field goal by Garcia would come up short, allowing the Bruins to get the ball back before going 60-yards ending with a 34-yard field goal, pushing the lead back to seven.
Each team exchanged punts to begin the fourth quarter before the Bulldogs went 71-yards on 13 plays across 5:52 on their second series, capped off with Herrera punching it in from a yard out, tying the game up with 4:47 remaining.
This lead didn't last long though as the second play from scrimmage for George Fox would cover 78-yards down the sideline as Schaan connected with Johnson III over the top, which would be the eventual game-winning touchdown.
Only :56 seconds came off the clock giving the Bulldogs 3:37 to try and force extra time. But their next series ended after four-plays as Herrera would get picked off ending the comeback. The Bruins then cemented their win with a six-play drive that used the final 2:05.
In his first career start, Herrera finished his night going 22-of-32 with 234 passing yards and a touchdown. On the ground he scored another two touchdowns, accumulating 11 yards.
Through the air Mindnich had the only receiving touchdown as he finished with three catches for 42 yards. The Bulldogs top receiver was Aguon who just missed his career high of 108 receiving yards, as he totaled 106 yards, while tying a career-high with nine receptions (vs. Chapman, Oct. 23, '22). Aguon added another 66 yards on three punt returns.
On the ground the Bulldogs leaned on Kellstrom who had 28 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. The carries and yards are new career-highs.
On the defensive side Tinsley picked off his seventh pass as a Bulldog. He also had four total tackles. Jacob Sega (Oceanside, CA) set a career-high and game-high with nine total tackles and added a tackle for a loss (TFL).
As a team the Bulldogs won a number of categories including: First downs (25-15), third down conversions and efficiency (9-2 | 50 percent-18 percent), rushing yards (148-110), and time of possession (37:14-22:46). Redlands gathered 382 yards of total offense and were outgained on yards per play, 7.7 to 4.7. They also allowed five sacks and a total of eight TFL's to the Bruins.
Redlands begins a two-game road trip starting with a non-conference match-up against Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 7:05pm, on Saturday, September 10.
