CLAREMONT, Calif. – Cal Lutheran football (6-2, 4-2 SCIAC) is back in the win column, staying perfect on the road as it took down the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags (3-5, 1-5 SCIAC) 21-18 on Saturday afternoon.
The Kingsmen set the tone immediately, capping off a 14-play, 57-yard opening drive with a touchdown. Cal Lutheran converted three third downs of at least five yards on the almost eight-minute drive.
After holding the Stags to a field goal, the Kingsmen led another long, dominant drive, converting two fourth downs; the 11 play drive capped off by a 31-yard bomb on 4th & 6 from
Joe Farley to junior wide receiver
Tyler Woodworth.
A seemingly promising CMS drive stalled out in Cal Lutheran's red zone when defensive linemen
JD Vargas and
Max Juarez slammed the door, keeping the Stags short of the line to gain.
Punts from both sides sent the game into halftime with a 14-3 Kingsmen advantage.
After a pair of three-and-outs to start the second half, a five play drive got the Stags in the end zone and cut the Kingsmen lead to four.
CMS was unable to capitalize on a Farley interception, giving the Kingsmen the ball back with five minutes left in the third quarter.
An eight play, 71-yard drive was highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Farley to Woodworth to get the Kingsmen in the Stag territory, ending in an ultimately crucial insurance touchdown to put the Kingsmen up 21-10.
After three three-and-outs and a turnover on downs spanning from the end of the third to middle of the fourth quarter, CMS broke the skid with a nearly 70 yard drive in under three minutes and converting a two-point conversion to cut the score to 21-18.
Following the score, the Stags forced a quick three-and-out, the Kingsmen only able to shave about a minute on the clock, giving CMS the ball on their 27-yard-line with five minutes to play.
The Kingsmen defense stepped up though, only surrendering one first down and forcing a CMS false start, ultimately resulting in a punt.
Following the punt, the Kingsmen were able to run out the clock, securing their sixth win of the year, their first time reaching that total since 2021.
The Kingsmen will travel to Pomona next Saturday, Nov. 8 to take on the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in their season finale.
