THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - In their final non-conference game of the season, the Cal Lutheran football team traveled to Salem, Ore. where they faced the Willamette Bearcats this afternoon at McCullough Stadium, coming away with a nail-biting, down to the wire 27-24 victory. It was the first victory for CLU in the state of Oregon since a win against George Fox in 1965.
The running and passing game proved strong for the Kingsmen in the first half as they were able to completely shut out the Bearcats going into halftime. CLU out-rushed and out-passed Willamette 136-71 and 146-16, respectively, repeatedly pounding the ball between tackles.
Capitalizing on good field position, the Kingsmen got a drive started late in the first quarter with sophomore quarterback Adam Friederichsen finding senior wide receiver Ricky Johnson down the field for a 35-yard pass. The completion would set up a first and goal for Cal Lutheran. A rush from Isaac Seymour and three more from CJ Washington would result in a touchdown putting CLU on the board, 7-0.
The score wouldn't hold for long as the Violet and Gold looked to extend their lead. A minute into the second quarter Washington would rush for a combined 29 yards on two consecutive plays to bring up another first and goal for the Kingsmen. Senior running back Ben Chavez II would then rush in for a six-yard touchdown extending their lead to 14-0.
Later in the quarter freshman line backer Josh Cruz forced a Willamette fumble that sophomore Lucas Quinn would recover at the Kingsmen 16-yard line. After an eight-play, 83-yard drive down the field, and just one yard away from making it a three score game, an unfortunate fumble would put the ball back into the Bearcats' hands, yet they were unable to capitalize on the CLU error.
With less than five minutes left to play in the second quarter Friederichsen would drive down the field yet again finding back-to-back completions to senior tight end David Lederer, along with three consecutive rushes from Chavez. Senior running back Ushali Ellison would rush for two yards bringing up a fourth and one at the five-yard line. A false start, however, would bring the Kingsmen back forcing them to attempt a field goal. Chris Taylor would nail a 27-yard kick, putting Cal Lutheran ahead 17-0.
With under two minutes left of play in the first half, a 20-yard rush from Chavez brought the Kingsmen into Willamette territory yet again. The 48-yard drive would end with a successful field goal attempt. The hard right hook by Taylor would send Cal Lutheran into the half shutting out the Bearcats 20-0.
Willamette saw their first points of the game early in the third quarter on a successful field goal attempt, but CLU was quick to respond. Back-to-back rushes from Chavez for a total of 17 yards would start an eight-play, 71-yard drive for the Violet and Gold about midway through the third quarter. Chavez would cap the drive off coming up clutch on a third and one with a 24-yard straight-line rush into the end zone, pushing Cal Lutheran's lead to 27-3.
What was looking like a blowout would not hold as the Bearcats offense put up an astounding 21 points in the fourth quarter. In just three drives, Willamette totaled over 240 yards in roughly nine and a half minutes.
A clutch stop by freshman Laz Ford would not be enough as Willamette maintained possession on an impressive catch that was deflected twice. The miracle catch along with a personal foul two plays later would ultimately enable the Bearcats to score, giving them their first touchdown of the game.
On Willamette's next possession, junior Logan Sanders would break up a could-have-been touchdown bringing up a third and 11, however, the Bearcats would score on the following play, pulling within 10.
Willamette would then regain possession on a successful onside kick and despite tough defense by the Kingsmen, a pass interference penalty would keep the Bearcats hopes alive. A 17-yard rush and 31-yard touchdown pass would bring the score to 27-24.
With three seconds left, senior Jack McFarland would come out to punt for CLU. His 31-yard punt was received at the Willamette 12-yard line and called for a fair catch. In the final play of the game, senior EJ Edinburgh was able to run the Bearcat's tight end out of bounds to secure the 27-24 victory.
Offensive leaders included Chavez who rushed for 132 total yards with two touchdowns, Washington who rushed for 55 total yards with one touchdown and Johnson who totaled 91 receiving yards. The Kingsmen defense was led by Ronny Camacho with 11 total tackles, Trevor Roe with nine, DeJon Rothschild with seven and Edinburgh also with seven.
After a bye week, Cal Lutheran (2-0) will be back home on Saturday, Oct. 3 to open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play against conference opponent Whittier. The Kingsmen will take on the Poets at William Rolland Stadium at 7:00 p.m.
Box Score: CLU 27, WU 24
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