SportsFootball

Leopards plan to devour Bulldogs

The Homecoming football game was a successful 37-16 win against the Menlo Oaks. Senior running back Anthony Rice (#7) avoids senior Robin Morris (#52) and freshman Kaleo Wong (#18) of the Oaks during a sprint with the ball. Senior Jeff Parness (#40) trailed Rice to ward off defensive players attempting to stop Rice. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
The Homecoming football game was a successful 37-16 win against the Menlo Oaks. Senior running back Anthony Rice (#7) avoids senior Robin Morris (#52) and freshman Kaleo Wong (#18) of the Oaks during a sprint with the ball. Senior Jeff Parness (#40) trailed Rice to ward off defensive players attempting to stop Rice. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Laura Czingula
Staff Writer

At 1 p.m. tomorrow, the University of La Verne football team will host one of its biggest rivals, the Redlands Bulldogs, for the SCIAC conference championship.

Both teams are undefeated in SCIAC going into tomorrow’s match-up and one team will come out conference champions.

La Verne had been on a 25-game winning streak in SCIAC since 1993 and have been conference champions ever since.

Only one other team has been football SCIAC champions in this decade besides La Verne – the Redlands Bulldogs.

Redlands was the conference champion from 1990 to 1992 and ULV has been champion from 1993 to 1995.

Redlands defeated ULV in 1991, at La Verne 27-20, in which 20 of Redlands points were in the second half and once again in 1992, 20-13, again at La Verne for their championship titles.

“There is a huge rivalry between ULV and Redlands and this is a very important game for us,” said head football coach Don Morel. “They are a very talented team and are coming into the game after two strong wins.”

Saturday, Redlands defeated Occidental, 48-13; previously, Cal Lutheran, 53-20.

“We need to practice well this week,” said Morel on Tuesday. “We are going to be mentally tough for this game.”

Last Saturday however, the football team went into its 1996 Homecoming game defeating Menlo Oaks, 37-16, and bringing their overall record to 7-1 and their SCIAC record to 4-0. Menlo went into the game with 5-2 overall record.

As the first couple of minutes ran down the score board in the first quarter, senior wide receiver, Anthony Rice ran in a 2-yard run for his 35th rushing touchdown for the year, breaking his record from last week against Claremont. Rice has established himself as the all-time rushing touchdown leader, beating Darren MacLellan’s record, set in 1994.

After Rice’s touchdown, freshman Armando Hernandez’s kick was good, leaving the score 7-0 at 12:13 in the first quarter.

La Verne’s second touchdown was minutes later when sophomore quarterback, Ryan Hawkins completed a 27-yard pass to Rice in the end zone, moving the Leopards to 14-0.

With 8:51 left in the first quarter and La Verne’s second down, a holding penalty was called against Menlo’s defense which gave ULV a 30-yard gain on the penalty and seconds later sophomore running back Ordell Williams gained 28 yards to the 7-yard line.

Hernandez went for the field goal which was good, bringing the score to 17-0, ULV.

In the second quarter, Menlo finally scored. Junior quarterback Jon DeVille had a 17-yard pass to junior wide receiver Cornelius Ruff in the end zone. The kick attempt was blocked.

As possession changed, ULV fumbled a hook and ladder play with 7:35 left in the half. Another holding penalty was called against La Verne putting Menlo on a first and goal.

Menlo tried for a 22-yard field goal which was good, 17-9.

With two minutes left in the half, sophomore ULV quarterback James Free came into the game, giving up an interception.

“We played a good game,” said Teichmann. “We still have some mistakes that we will clean up for next week.”

With only 33 seconds left in the half, La Verne went for another field goal which was good, 20-9.

As the second half came around. Free completed a 24-yard pass to senior running back Jeff Parness for a La Verne touchdown. After the touchdown the kick was good by Hernandez, 27-9.

“Everyone seem to pick up their men and open big holes for Anthony,” said Parness.

La Verne attempted again for a field goal which was successful by Hernandez for 30-yards, 30-9 ULV.

At 8:58 left in the game DeVille was pressured by ULV’s tough defense, though he somehow found an open man in the end zone for a touchdown and with the PAT no good, 30-16 La Verne still up.

Three minutes left in the game Williams had a 21-yard run for a ULV touchdown that got the crowd excited and made it even harder for Menlo to come close to winning the game.

“I think I did all right, there is always room for improvement.” said Williams. “I scored only because we blocked well.”

The PAT was good for the final score, 37-16.

“We were mentally tougher and physically tougher, than Menlo, that is why we won,” said Teichmann.

Laura Czingula, Sports Editor
Laura Czingula
Other Stories
Veero Der-Karabetian
Other Stories
Previous article
Children deserve better at birth
Next article
Dietz places serving students first

Latest Stories

Related articles

Baseball

A century of La Verne sports

With over 400 athletes across 18 teams, it is easy to take La Verne’s athletic programs for granted. But as with many great things, our sports came from very humble beginnings.
LV Life

Roland Ortmayer, 1917-2008: Ort: A Life Well Lived

Born on Aug. 22, 1917, in College Park, Md., Roland “Ort” Ortmayer was destined for greatness. Yes, greatness is a broad word that can mean many things, but that is what Ort was to the many people he influenced in his life.
News

Ort, celebrated LV coach, dies

Roland “Ort” Ortmayer, called one of the most important figures at the University of La Verne during his 43 years as a professor, coach and athletic director, died yesterday morning of heart and kidney failure. He was 91.
Football

Ortmayer’s impact still felt at La Verne

Roland “Ort” Ortmayer. Just saying his nationally known nickname to one of the many athletes he has coached, students he has instructed, or fellow La Verne community members with whom he has associated brings about a sudden flood of emotions, respect and appreciation that washes over their faces.