MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – The University of Redlands Football team dropped their third game in a row Saturday falling 21-3 to No. 8 Linfield University.
The Bulldogs traveled up to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Wildcats and despite holding their high-powered offense to just 21 points, was unable to get anything going offensively as they would combine for just 84 yards of offense, with 62 coming through the air and another 22 on the ground. Redlands has now lost to Linfield three times over two seasons.
Myles Herrera (Yucaipa, CA) was 10-for-16 for 62 yards with 27 of them coming on one play. He also threw an interception. Calel Olicia-Aramboles (Westfield, CA) led the ground attack with 38 yards on seven carries, averaging 5.4 yards per rush. Michael Mindnich (Bellingham, WA) finished with three catches for 41 yards, averaging 13.7 yards per catch.
Linfield struck first with 5:48 left on the clock in the opening quarter putting together a 10-play, 92-yard drive. Redlands was able to respond on their next series taking the ball down the field in eight-plays for 51-yards ending in a 37-yard field goal for Vicente Garcia (Fontana, CA).
A big turnover on downs for the UR defensive unit to start the second quarter ended a 17-play, 74-yard drive for the Wildcats that covered 9:36. But two minutes later the Bulldogs gave the ball right back and this time Linfield would respond needing five-plays to move the score to 14-3. The Wildcats earned another opportunity to put points on the board late in the frame, but UR defensive back Dre Owens (Pico Rivera, CA) would end that attack picking off Wildcat Quarterback Blake Eaton, returning it 16-yards keeping the score 14-3 at intermission.
A turnover early in the third quarter by the Bulldogs setup Linfield with a short field and they would use it, covering 51-yards in 6-plays that moved the score to 21-3. These would be the last points put up though by Linfield as the Bulldog defensive unit would shut them out across the final 22:00 minutes.
Garcia totaled seven punts for 300 Yards, averaging 42.9 yards per punt, with a long being for 53 yards and another three put inside the 20.
Craig Hunter (Murrieta, CA) and Michael MacDonald (Chino Hills, CA) led the defense both recording double-digit tackles. Hunter finished with 12 (7 Solo/5 Assisted) and MacDonald with 10 (4 Solo/6 Assisted). Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) totaled seven, five of which were solo, while Luke Purcella (University Place, WA) and Mikey Duran IV (Ceres, CA) combined for 12 tackles, two sacks for 12 yards lost and four tackles for losses for another 16 yards.
Redlands has one final non-conference tune-up next Saturday, September 24 when they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps beginning at 7:05pm.