by Echelle Avelar
Sports Editor
Cal Lutheran never knew what hit them as the University of La Verne football team stomped the Kingsmen 34-10 Saturday for its first league game of the season cranking out a 1-1 record.
La Verne heads into this Saturday’s matchup against Sonoma State University with both teams ready to go.
The Cossacks enter the matchup with a 0-3 record. But their record with La Verne stands 2-1. With La Verne winning in 1979 27-0. Sonoma taking it 21-0 in 1980 and again in 1981 with Cossacks up, a final toll of 16-7.
“We need the win. We’ve come a long way with such a young team. We need to confirm it,” said Frank Scalercio, head football coach for Sonoma State University.
When asked how he plans on controlling La Verne’s running game he said,”I’m not sure. They’re big up front. We came close to Portland State two weeks ago, but we need to play with more emotion.”
Keeping his eyes on ULV’s offense is just one of Sonoma’s concerns.
“I think No. 7 (senior Anthony Rice) is a pretty good player. He made some big plays against Cal Lutheran last week. I’m going to watchout for him, also I have to keep an eye on Coffee. We have to shut them down before they get a chance,” said Scalercio.
Scalercio looks forward to the game and expects to be prepared even after coming off a loss to St. Mary’s College.
“Well we had a real good day at practice yesterday. I think we’re ready. When the knock comes on the door we’ll be ready to answer it,” said Scalercio.
“We’re going to take our best shot at the game. We’re having a good week at practice too. The team is getting better,” said ULV head coach Don Morel.
“We’re going to move the ball anyway we can and we’re going to keep developing our offense,” said Morel.
At last weeks game against Cal Lutheran, La Verne got a quick lead given by junior wide receiver Liron Wilson, who put La Verne on the board with 8:11 still remaining in the first quarter.
After senior running back Anthony Rice carried the ball for a ULV first down sophomore quarterback Ryan Hawkins blasted a 34-yard pass to a wide open Wilson who scored the touchdown. Freshman Armando Hernandez added the point after the touchdown giving the Leopards the 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Kingsmen still trailed. Cal Lutheran’s quarterback Ryan Huisenga found Aaron Hene for a 31-yard touchdown pass tying the score at a tight 7-7.
Rice, sweeping the line, carried for a 4-yard touchdown, his first of two scores for the night, with 9:05 remaining in the second quarter. Hernandez’s point made it 14-7.
After a Kingsmen’s field goal attempt came up short the score still stood with Leopards up.
The biggest play of the game came deep in the third quarter when senior defensive back Mike Dillard intercepted the Kingsmen’s ball and ran it 23 yards for the Leopards third touchdown. With 8:42 left, ULV held tight to a 21-7 lead.
Still in the third, La Verne would not let up as Rice sprinted, 35 yards, by Cal Lutheran’s defense and drove the score to an easy 27-7. Rice finished the evening with 201 yards and 32 carries.
Forced to kick, the Kingsmen’s 43 yard field goal gave them a 27-10 boost still with ULV leading.
La Verne took control of the ball as senior, tight end Pete Teichmann intercepted the ball. Minutes later Hawkins returned the favor giving Cal Lutheran control of the ball.
The defense applied pressure all throughout the game and forced the Kingsmen to a 4th down in the fourth quarter. Once the Leopards had the ball, Hawkins handed the ball to sophomore running back Ordell Williams. Switching plays with Williams and junior wide receiver Fred Coffee, Williams went 10 yards for his first score of the season, but the fourth touchdown of the night. After the PAT ULV’s led sailed to 34-10.
The Kingsmen could not recover from the huge deficit that the Leopards had made, but struggled to increase their final score.
The game ended with Leopards 20 points up and a 1-1 La Verne record, Cal Lutheran 0-2.
