CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Football team picked up a huge road victory Saturday afternoon scoring late in the fourth to beat Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 22-19 inside Zinda field.
The Maroon and Grey improve to 3-1, 1-0 SCIAC and open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play with a victory, beating a Stags program who was coming off a 29-21 upset victory over Chapman University a week earlier.
"Today the team made me so proud with the heart and belief in one another they displayed throughout the entire game," explained Head Football Coach Jim Good. "The defense played lights out no matter the circumstances they faced. The offense made a clutch drive when it was needed and the special teams came up with some big plays. Today was a total team effort. Huge thank you to all the parents, alums, fans and friends of the program who made the trip. They were awesome!!"
It all came down to the final possession for the Bulldogs trailing 19-14 with 1:55 to play. Nathan Martinez (Redlands, CA) started the drive off with a 17-yard completion to Michael Mindnich (Bellingham, WA) and then hooked up with Evan Aguon (San Diego, CA) and Khory Day (Fresno, CA) for 6-yards and 9-yards respectively. Two plays later Martinez had a huge run for 21-yards that set UR up with a 1st and 10 from the CMS 12 and after that Martinez found Aguon in the corner of the endzone for the go-ahead score.
After securing the two-point conversion Redlands led 22-19 and had to make one last stand on defense, which they did as CMS quarterback Zach Fogel was picked off down the sideline by Andre Owens (Pico Rivera, CA) that secured the win.
The Bulldogs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the 1st Quarter seeing returner Giovanni Isles (Chino Hills, CA) take the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house. The Stags then put together a long drive of 58-yards in 11-plays that ended with a 35-yard field goal. UR looked like they would get those points back on their next possession going 71-yards on 19-plays covering 9:14, but saw their 26-yard field goal blocked by CMS that kept it a four point game.
With 14:06 to play in the 2nd Quarter the Stags would again put together another long drive. But for the second time was forced into a field goal attempt, which was converted from 27-yards out. The defensive unit for the Bulldogs setup another score right before the half thanks to an interception from Jadin Michaels (Palm Springs, CA). He gave UR a short field, which they would use as Martinez found Isles for a 27-yard hook-up before Kai Thompson (Murrieta, CA) took over capping off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run that gave Redlands a 14-6 lead.
With 1:51 to play right before the half the Stags were able to get within one going 75-yards in 9-plays that ended with an Anderson Cynkar rushing touchdown that moved the score to 14-13.
After a scoreless 3rd Quarter both teams found the endzone in the 4th. CMS took their first lead of the game on a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Justin Edwards that covered 67-yards in 12-plays that lasted 6:18. On the very next series the Bulldogs traveled down to the CMS35, but was stopped short on 4th and 1 turning the ball over on downs. This didn't deter Redlands however as the defense forced a three and out getting the ball back in the hands of Martinez who orchestrated the game winning drive in 1:35.
Martinez finished 14-for-22 covering 192 yards in the air and a touchdown. He also rushed seven times for 32 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Thompson led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown and Andrew Kellstrom (San Bernardino, CA) and Mindnich led the receivers both recording 38 yards receiving.
Defensively the Bulldogs allowed just 282 yards of total offense from the Stags (102 Passing | 180 Rushing). They totaled 72 tackles (28 Solo | 44 Assisted), three tackles for losses, had two picks, a breakup and a quarterback hit. Ryan Place (Alta Loma, CA) and Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) both had seven tackles and Noah Widgins (San Jacinto, CA) added six. Michaels contributed with five tackles, an interception and a breakup and Luke Purcella (University Place, WA) and Jacob Harrold (Lake Havasu City, CA) combined for nine tackles, two of which were for losses.
Offensively the Maroon and Grey totaled 344 yards (192 Passing | 152 Rushing) and 19 first downs. They were at a 64% clip on third down efficiency and averaged 5.5 yards per play. This is due to the battle in the trenches up front, which was won by the UR linemen consisting of Cody Paul (Castaic, CA), Anthony Vargas (Grand Terrace, CA), Calhoun Helmberger (Tacoma, WA), Kaleb Gibson (Pomona, CA), Dominic Perez (Fontana, CA), and Grant Chaney (Upland, CA).
Redlands has another day game on the road next Saturday, October 9 when they travel to take on the University of La Verne beginning at 1:00pm.
