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Football strangles hapless Poets, 59-7

Junior Anthony Rice (#80) looks downfield for running room as he maneuvers around Whittier defensive back Peter Marshall, Jr. (#22). Rice rushed the ball a total of five times and covered 34 yards, which led him to score two touchdowns for the Leos. He also caught a total of four passes for 49 yards. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
Junior Anthony Rice (#80) looks downfield for running room as he maneuvers around Whittier defensive back Peter Marshall, Jr. (#22). Rice rushed the ball a total of five times and covered 34 yards, which led him to score two touchdowns for the Leos. He also caught a total of four passes for 49 yards. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Rosie Sinapi
Sports Writer

By the time Whittier back-up quarterback Michael Guth came into Saturday’s football romp, the damage had already been done. The Leopards were up 52-7 and there was no sign of the Leos tiring. So when Guth threw a slant pass straight into the back of his receiver, causing the Poet to fall, no one laughed. The fans just shook their heads and wondered if it would ever end.

The Leopards went on to score one more touchdown as they stomped the Poets, 59-7, at Ortmayer Stadium.

“The guys did a great job coming off a bye week,” said Leopard Head Coach Don Morel. “They managed to keep up the intensity throughout the contest.”

Intensity will be just what the Leopards need as they head into tomorrow’s 1 p.m. game against Azusa Pacific University. Although the Cougars are NAIA and, therefore, non-conference, a win could earn the Leopards a place on the Div. III ranking.

The Leopards are still unranked, which has many thinking La Verne is being passed up for a possible playoff bid, because SCIAC is considered an easy conference.

Morel says this does not mean that La Verne’s good work will go unnoticed.

“We had the same situation last year where we were unranked early in the season, we eventually received recognition,” said Morel. “We really can’t concern ourselves with that right now.”

Senior running back Anthony Jones agrees. “It’s not like we’re always thinking about it, but it plays in our minds. We didn’t look past this game [Whittier], but we were looking forward to Azusa because a win against them will help with the situation [ranking].”

Azusa is having a fair year, with a 3-2-1 overall record; La Verne’s big defensive line has shut down opponents, allowing only 218 offensive yards per game.

If this year’s performances are any indication, La Verne may have the upper hand. Azusa averages 313 yards per game, while the Leos manage 464 total offense yards per game.

Cougar opponents have been able to break through the Cougar defense, which has 21 tackles per game.

Opponents have averaged 267 yards and 18 points per game against the Cougars. Azusa has only managed to score an average of 20 points.

According to Morel, La Verne’s offense should have no problems scoring points, but slowing down the Cougar offense will be essential.

The Cougar version of the Leopards’ Jones can be found in running back Marcus Slaten, who averages 160 total yards per game. Equally as effective is wide receiver Darryl Nolan, who leads the Cougars in pass receiving with 39 receptions for 566 yards, for a 14.5 yard average per reception.

“We’ve played very well all season long especially, our defense, such as Doug Dubois. In next week’s game, I look toward them as being a factor in stopping Azusa.”

Senior linebacker Dubois, who heads up the linebackers, was a definite factor in the Whittier win. The line held the Poets to 155 yards.

Signs of Leopard domination were seen early in the first quarter when they shut down the prolific arm of Poet quarterback Tyrone Phillips. Dubois provided most of the pain for the Poets, as he kept Div. III receiving standout Art Cuellar to just 30 yards throughout the game.

While the defense was having no problem pacifying the Poets, the offense found scoring to be a breeze as they converted two first quarter possessions into touchdowns.

The Leopards drew first blood, due in part to a 79-yard punt return by junior running back Jairanai Smoot.

Senior quarterback Ryan Campuzano took it in five plays later. Senior kicker Juan Contreras split the uprights to put the Leos up 7-0 with 8:37 left in the first quarter. The Leopards regained the ball four plays later and produced another touchdown as Jones took the play in a yard to make the score 14-7, in favor of the Leos.

The second quarter meant more woe for the Poets as junior wide receiver Anthony Rice scored on two consecutive Leo possessions, one on a 5-yard run and another on a 12-yard run. Contreras kicked both times for the extra point, giving the Leopards the upper hand, 28-0, with 6:24 left in the half.

For Poet fans, the only action they saw from their team was during a three-play drive, which accounted for 72 of the 155 yards the Poets gained, as well as the Poets’ lone touchdown. With 3:18 left in the half, Poet Ron Regan took the ball in from two yards out, making the score 28-7 after Ryan Rudd’s kick.

Jones turned on the burners again and with only 25 seconds left on the clock, he took the ball in from 5 yards out on a Campuzano pitch, to end the half with the Leopards leading 35-7.

“I give a lot of credit to my performance today to the offensive line,” said Jones, who finished the day, 23 for 147 with three touchdowns. “I don’t think I had as good a day as it appeared, but as long as we win, I’m happy.”

The Leopards continued its assault in the second half. With Campuzano still in, he connected with junior wide receiver Anthony Hayes for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Contreras’ kick made the score 42-7 with 11:56 left in the third.

A minute later, the Leos scored again after freshman Kevin Foreman recovered a Guth fumble. Two plays later, Jones capitalized on Guth’s fumbled snap, taking the ball 4 yards for another Leopard touchdown. Contreras’ kick brought the score to 49-7.

With second- and third-string players in for the Leopards, the Poets were still unable to gain any momentum and the Leopards scored again off a 42-yard Contreras field goal, taking the score to 52-7 with 12:05 left in the game.

After several unsuccessful Poet drives, the Leopards capitalized off another Guth fumble. This time junior linebakcer Brian Zavala recovered the ball on the Whittier 26-yard line. La Verne’s Melvin Kahanu, who was in for Campuzano, pitched the ball to freshman running back Ordell Williams, who ran the ball 1 yard for the final touchdown of the game. Contreras’ kick ended the game at 59-7.

Rosie Sinapi
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Veero Der-Karabetian
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