by Greg Maher
Staff Writer
In Rocky Balboa’s first fight, all he wanted to do was prove that he could go the distance with the champ. Last year the University of La Verne football team won the SCIAC title outright for the first time in school history, proving they too could go the distance.
Just like Balboa, who successfully defended his title once he won it, so did the University of La Verne football team defend its title, capturing SCIAC for the second straight season in 1994.
The Leos mauled the Occidental Tigers, 30-6, last Saturday at Ortmayer Stadium, capping off a 9-0 season. Senior wide receiver Bill Battin said “I feel excellent, what a great way to go out.”
The tone was set early as Oxy fumbled on the first two plays of their opening drive. They recovered them both, but were forced to punt after losing yards.
La Verne then lined up their offense for the first time in the game and what was displayed was a picture-perfect example of how an offense successfully runs the football.
At the snap of the ball, every lineman made his block, every other offensive player followed out their instructions, and what unfolded was a huge hole designed for the running back to go through. That is exactly what senior Darren MacLellan did. He found is way through the hole and sprinted 58 yards, all the way to the Oxy 5-yard line.
A few plays later it was MacLellan again, this time leaping up and over the Oxy defense into the endzone for the touchdown. Junior Juan Contreras then kicked the extra point, giving the Leopards a 7-0 lead.
Just about the rest of the first quarter was spent exchanging punts.
With under one minute left in the first quarter, and Oxy in possession of the ball, the La Verne defense made its statement. Senior Lou Parra hit Oxy quarterback Davin Lundquist, popping the ball out, and senior Chris Salabaj was there to recover for La Verne.
The Leos then took the ball into field goal territory and Contreras made a 28-yarder, giving La Verne a 10-0 lead 46 seconds into the second quarter.
After another Oxy punt, La Verne once again lined up its potent offense. The drive started with a 28-yard pass from junior Ryan Campuzano to senior Bill Zernickow. A few plays later it was MacLellan again. He raced 21 yards into the endzone, but it was called back due to a La Verne penalty. The favor was returned on the very next play as Oxy was called for interference on a pass that was intended for sophomore Anthony Rice, giving the Leos a first and goal situation. They failed to get into the endzone, but on a gutsy call, the Leos went for it on fourth and two and succeeded, getting another first down.
They still did not get in the endzone, so they tried for a field goal only to have it blocked.
As Oxy took over possession of the ball, the first half clock ran out and ULV took a 10-0 lead into the locker room.
On the first drive of the second half, into the endzone went MacLellan for his record breaking 30th career touchdown, giving La Verne a 17-0 lead.
This record broke Curtis Frick’s mark of 29, set in 1975.
MacLellan rushed 27 times for 169 yards on the day. He is also SCIAC’s leading rusher, finishing the season with 1,379 yards on 221 carries. He is also second on the Leopards career rushing list with 2,396 yards on 383 carries, behind Frick’s 2,661.
The La Verne defense continued to punish Oxy and they once again were forced to punt.
La Verne took over and almost lost the ball on a fumble, but recovered, bringing up a third down with 12 yards to go. ULV then lined up Rice in the backfield, handed him the ball, and he turned on the jets, blazing 66 yards down the sidelines for another Leopard touchdown, giving the Leos a 24-0 lead.
Oxy then put together some offense and went 88 yards on 13 plays. They scored on third and goal on a 3-yard pass from Lundquist to Kiki Casillas. The two-point conversion was stopped and the score was La Verne 24, Oxy 6.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Campuzano hit Rice for a 35-yard touchdown pass, giving the Leos another score. Contreras missed the extra point, and the final score was 30-6, ULV.
“We made our dreams a reality. It feels good, we worked hard all year and solidified as a team,” senior Tyrone Youngblood said.
The team then all huddled at one end of the field hoisting Head Coach Rex Huigens on to their backs in an emotional celebration for winning back-to-back SCIAC championships.
“We are not planning on playing one more game,” Huigens shouted.
“We’re going all the way,” the team shouted in unison.
“I feel great, the guys feel really well. We’re ecstatic about winning the championship again. It’s hard to put into words right now, I just hope we get to play another week,” said Huigens.
Play another week they will. The team learned early Sunday morning they will be traveling to Collegeville, Minn., to face St. John’s University tomorrow at 10 a.m. PST in the first round of the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
Greg Maher
