by Gregory D. Maher
Special to the Times
There is the story of the fighter who wants to go one more time with the champ. Sometimes he is fortunate enough to win and end his career in a blaze of glory. On the other hand, the fighter gets humiliated, never posing a threat to the champ, getting beat to a pulp. Unfortunately, that last fight is all most people remember even if the fighter had a great career.
Despite Pomona-Pitzer’s football past, good or bad, all most people will remember is how they went one more time with the champs and were humiliated and beaten to a pulp, 69-14.
Pomona-Pitzer declared last year that its football team would withdraw from the SCIAC and no longer compete against the University of La Verne or the University of Redlands because they cannot be competitive with them.
Last Saturday night they did not compete with them. The Leopards dominated the playing field racking up 69 points and only allowing 14.
“It is a real shame that Pomona has decided they can’t compete in the conference. I guess they have decided to pick up their marbles and go play somewhere else,” said Head Coach Don Morel.
The win kept La Verne undefeated on the season with a 4-0 record overall and 2-0 in SCIAC.
Most teams try to establish a running game so they can have a successful passing game. La Verne tallied up 362 rushing yards never really needing that passing game.
The first drive of the game for the Leos was beautifully choreographed as La Verne went 75 yards mostly on the ground with senior tailback Anthony Jones scoring from 5 yards out with 8:45 to remaining in the first quarter.
Senior Juan Contreras then kicked the extra point making it 7-0, La Verne.
Jones gained 155 yards on 16 carries and scored three times in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff Pomona’s Tommy Lawrey received the kick and raced 92 yards before finally being pushed out of bounds by Contreras. A few plays later, Pomona’s James Regan ran in from the 1-yard line, and after the extra point it was 7-7.
For a moment, the weak militia fighting the powerful army looked as if they thought they had a chance. After La Verne came up short on a fourth down attempt Pomona got the ball thinking they had a shot to make their move. Its first play of the drive was for a 1-yard loss. The second play was a pass that was caught, but senior defensive back Carl Caston was there to deliver a bone-jarring hit that left the receiver on his back and the ball up for grabs. Senior defensive back Keith White intercepted the tipped ball and raced to the end zone for the ULV touchdown bringing Pomona-Pitzer back to reality. Pomona was forced to punt on its next drive giving the ball back to the hungry Leos. Junior Anthony Rice and Senior Anthony Jones both ran well on the drive but it was Jones with a 40-yard run and a 33-yard run, the latter taking him into the end zone making it 21-7 after Contreras’ extra point with 44 seconds remaining in the quarter.
After both teams exchanged a punt, Pomona got the ball again only to fumble on the 5-yard line. On the next play senior quarterback Ryan Campuzano hit junior Jeff Parness with a 5-yard touchdown pass with 13:15 left in the second quarter.
After exchanging a few series, Pomona fumbled the ball and a pack of Leopards were there to recover. La Verne had a 10-yard run by Jones called back because of holding, but that didn’t slow them down because a few plays later senior Robert Graves caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Campuzano giving the Leos a 34-7 lead after Contreras missed the extra point.
After the kickoff, Pomona fumbled yet another time and La Verne capitalized again. Rice ran 13 yards on the reverse and three plays later Jones rushed in for the touchdown giving the visiting Leos a 41-7 lead. On Pomona’s next possession they gave up the ball again this time it was an interception. Two plays later junior Bryan Schnakenberg rushed in for a 1-yard score at the 3:17 mark. After the extra point, it was 48-7 La Verne. Pomona then put together a little bit of offense throwing a couple of good passes. One of them was a 17-yard touchdown pass from Pomona quarterback Jack Ramirez to wide receiver Jeremy Concannon. The half ended and it was La Verne 48-Pomona 14.
After the half the bleeding never stopped for Pomona as some of the non-starters for La Verne started having their way with them. Freshman running back Ordell Williams sprinted 45 yards for another Leo touchdown. Contreras made good on the extra point making the score 55-14. On the following kickoff Pomona’s James Regan almost broke away, but once again Contreras was their to save the day grabbing Regan by the arm and hammer throwing him out of bounds.
“We are just breaking down in a couple of spots on the kickoff team, but to be a complete football team we must be equally good in all areas,” said Morel.
After Pomona failed to capitalize on good field position, La Verne got the ball again and scored on a 20-yard run by Williams. Contreras converted making the score 62-14. On Pomona’s next possession, junior defensive back Arath De la Torre intercepted the ball and went 30 yards for the score with 11:25 remaining in the game. The final score was 69-14 in favor of the Leos. This marks the last game ever for the two teams in football.
The Leopards have a bye this week but will face Whittier at home on Oct. 14, at 1 p.m.
