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Oct 27, 2007

Football Struggles Against Claremont on Homecoming


 

Whittier College took on SCIAC rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Memorial Stadium on October 27 and the Stags spoiled Homecoming for the Poets, scoring 30 unanswered points in the second half on their way to a 50-21 victory.  The loss drops the Poets' record to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The Poets started the scoring on their second possession of the game when Anthony Pomponio '09 broke through with a 47-yard touchdown run to give Whittier the early lead.  Claremont found their answer with three minutes left in the first quarter on a two-yard run from running back DJ Lillard.  The first quarter ended with the score knotted at seven.

The Stags started the second quarter with the ball and took the lead on their first possession of the quarter on a twelve-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Larsen to Travis Nishioka.  Whittier responded on their ensuing possession with an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive capped by a 42-yard touchdown pass from Josh Scurlock '08 to Shawn Briggs '08 to tie the score at fourteen.  Larsen and Nishioka hooked up again to give the Stags the lead going into halftime, this time a 51-yard strike.  The extra point attempt failed to make the score 20-14 at the half.

In the second half, the Poets took the lead on their first possession of the half as Scurlock scrambled three yards to find the end-zone with 9:14 left in the third.  With the score 21-20 in favor of the Poets, the Claremont offense explode,  scoring on their five of their next six possessions.  Larsen found Nick Marineau from eleven yards out to give the Stags the 26-21 lead.  After an interception, the pair connected again, this time for a 76-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 33-21. 

In the fourth quarter, the Stags offense continued to roll.  Nick Shepherd capped a 12-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 40-21.  With 11:36 left in the game, Zach Mallove hit a 36-yard field goal for the Stags.  Their final tally came with just under three minutes left on a 35-yard touchdown run by Lance Rutledge to make the score 50-21 as the game came to a close.

The Stags defense held Scurlock in check as he threw for just 126 yards and a touchdown, going 10-for-25 with four interceptions.  He also carried the ball 18 times for 81 yards and another score.  Briggs caught four passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.  Pomponio rushed for 60 yards on eight carries with a touchdown.

Sean MacNeil '09 led the Poets defense with 9.5 tackles and a forced fumble.  Arlo Castelo '08 pitched in with 7.5 tackles, one for a loss. 

Lillard had a huge game for the Stags, carrying the ball 27 times for 175 yards and a touchdown.  Larsen led the aerial assault, going 12-for-26 with 259 yards and four touchdowns.  His favorite target was Nishioka, who caught six passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns.  Marineau also scored twice as he caught five balls for 107 yards.

Defensively, the Stags got a pair of interceptions from Charlie Sarosy.  Landon Patoc also had an interception and 6.5 tackles.

The Poets travel to Redlands on November 3 as they continue conference play with just two games to go.  Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm.  The Whittier College athletics department is arranging for a fan bus to go to the game.  Seats are five dollars per person and can be reserved in the Graham Athletics Center main office starting on Monday, October 29.