LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran football team traveled to Eagle Rock, Calif. this evening and fell to the Occidental Tigers by a final score of 32-12. The Tigers defense was able to hold the Kingsmen offense to just 99 rushing and 115 passing yards on the night.
Although Occidental was able to strike first, the Kingsmen defense came out strong, especially against the rushing game in the red zone, and was able to hold the Tigers to field goals on their first two possessions.
Finding themselves trailing 6-0, the Kingsmen were able to put together a seven-play, 64-yard drive that saw completions to Sean Bellotti and Alix Moise Jr. as well as rushes from Ricky Johnson, Isaac Seymour and CJ Washington. The scoring drive initially put CLU ahead, yet an illegal formation penalty caused the Kingsmen to have to re-kick and unfortunately the extra point from Chris Taylor was no good on the second attempt.
The second quarter saw a big pick up on a third-and-five for the Kingsmen, with Adam Friederichsen finding Connor Allen down the field for a 21-yard completion. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the next play moved the Kingsmen even further down the field to the CLU 46-yard line, and a 10-yard completion to Bellotti had the drive looking promising, however, the Violet and Gold would eventually turn it over on downs due to a controversial ball spot.
With less than five minutes left to play in the half, Occidental was able to move the ball down the field yet again and score to extend its lead to 13-6.
Cal Lutheran came out the gates strong in the second half, driving the ball all the way down the field for a touchdown. The drive saw four consecutive rushes by Washington for a combined 27 yards, a completion to Allen as well as rushes from Seymour who punched in the touchdown to pull within one.
Yet the Tigers would score again on a blocked PAT that was returned for a two-point conversion, giving Occidental a 15-12 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Occidental would further extend its lead, scoring on its next two possessions to pull ahead 25-12.
An interception about midway through the fourth quarter would put the ball back in Occidental's hands, who was able to take advantage of a tired CLU defense. Riding on the shoulders of Kwame Do, who rushed for a combined 55 yards on the drive, the Tigers put the game away, 32-12.
Offensive leaders for the Kingsmen includ Washington who had 17 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown, Bellotti with four receptions for 45 yards and Allen with three receptions for 30 yards.
Friederichsen finished with 115 yards on 11-for-24 passing while Occidental quarterback Bryan Scott tallied 258 yards on 26-39 passing and one touchdown.
The CLU defense was led by Nick Gordon who had 10 tackles along with Josh Heidemann and Lucas Quinn who each had nine. The Kingsmen defense was able to hold one of the nation's top rushers, Do, to just 65 yards in the first half, yet fatigue would set in as Do was able to end the night with 156 yards and two touchdowns.
The Kingsmen (4-4, 2-4 SCIAC) will wrap up their season on the road next weekend as they travel to La Verne to take on the first place Leopards on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:00 p.m.
Box Score: OXY 32, CLU 12
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