REDLANDS, Calif. - The University of Redlands football team overcame a 21-point deficit to secure an exciting 27-24 victory in overtime against the visiting Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday afternoon in Ted Runner Stadium.
Redlands improves to 3-5 overall and 3-1 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action, while Pomona-Pitzer sits at 6-2 and 3-1. Today's win was the Bulldogs' first in OT since October 15, 2005. That year Redlands beat Whittier College 30-24 in OT inside Ted Runner Stadium. Karl Mikolan had a 25 yard Touchdown run to win it.
During the first half, the Sagehens seemingly controlled the game en route to a 21-point lead through their first three possessions.
But the Bulldogs came out of the halftime break with belief and determination, which was evident on the first play of the third quarter.
"It was a total team effort. Markelle Raymond (Lansing, MI) started it off with the huge kickoff return to set the tone," stated Head Coach Jim Good.
After beginning his return in the U of R end zone, Raymond wove in and out of the descending Sagehens until he was finally brought down at the visitors' 34-yard line. The ensuing drive led to the Bulldogs' first score of the game, with Tyler Tremain (Folsom, CA) connecting on passes of 13 and 8 yards while also contributing rushing gains of six and two yards. The culminating pass to Seth Weller (Olympia, WA) put Redlands on the board with 9:33 to go in the third.
This fired up the Maroon and Grey sideline, as the momentum began to shift in favor of the home team.
"Our defense started making some stops to get [Pomona-Pitzer] off the field quickly," Good added.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kamdin Karmann (Riverside, CA) wrapped up the opposing quarterback for a five-yard sack, before Laurence Williams (Corona, CA) snagged an interception for a 22-yard return to halt a Sagehen drive. On Pomona-Pitzer's next possession, the Bulldog defense forced them to punt, which set up Evan Aguon's (San Diego, CA) 28-yard return to the visitor's 44. Three plays later, which included a 14-yard completion to Michael Mindnich (Bellingham, WA) and a 28-yard rush by Aguon, the Bulldogs made their way into the end zone to make it 14-21. Tremain found Aguon on a one-yard scamper for the score.
Shortly thereafter, Redlands came up with another huge defensive play to stop Pomona-Pitzer, as Jax Lee (Richland, WA) and Craig Hunter (Murrieta, CA) stood up Sagehen quarterback Skylar Noble for no gain and the turnover on downs.
This provided 3:37 for the Bulldogs to move the ball 47 yards and even the score at 21. Tremain hit Mindnich and Joseph Rosales (Goodyear, AZ) for key gains through the air while also carrying the ball nine yards. On third and four, Tremain maneuvered his way into the end zone from 14 yards out for the game-tying touchdown.
With 80 seconds on the clock, the Sagehens still had an opportunity to take the win with their final possession. However, Redlands continued to pressure the quarterback and forced him into four incomplete passes, which eventually led to a punt to end the drive. Defensively, the Bulldogs remained relentless, with Luke Purcella (University Place, WA) adding a quarterback hurry to the stat sheet.
The overtime period saw Pomona-Pitzer muster a field goal from 22-yards after enduring more defensive savviness from the Maroon and Grey. With the ball on the Bulldog four-yard line, Derwin Johnson (Indio, CA), Lee, and Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) came up with huge tackles, which forced the Sagehens to settle for the field goal.
One more drive and two plays later, Tremain found open space to cut up the middle and then to the far pylon for the biggest touchdown of his young career.
Tremain finished with 160 passing yards and 68 rushing yards, with Mindnich leading the receiving corps with 64 yards.
Raymond racked up 84 yards on just two kickoff returns, while Aguon averaged 24.5 yards per punt return.
Defensively, Hunter paced the Maroon and Grey with 12 tackles, including two for a loss of four yards. Jacob Sega (Oceanside, CA) closely followed with 10, as Purcella added nine.
Redlands escaped without a single penalty on the day, while Pomona-Pitzer gave up 10 for a loss of 87 yards.
The Bulldogs head to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday, November 5, for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Stags. They look to avenge their early-season, non-conference loss from September 24.
"We just try to be the best we can today," Good added when asked about next week's showdown against CMS.
