by Erica Aguilar
Features Editor
The last game of a disappointing football season ended as the University of La Verne Leopards tried to take down the host Redlands Bulldogs on Saturday night. What hoped to be a light at the end of La Verne’s tunnel turned out to be only another landslide, as ULV was defeated 42-14.
At the beginning of the first quarter, La Verne received the kickoff but had to punt with 12:11 on the clock. Shortly after receiving the kick, Redlands scored their first touchdown, as quarterback Marty Rincon threw a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Hayes. The kick was good and the Bulldogs took the lead, 7-0.
As La Verne received the kickoff, they could only hold the ball for 16 seconds before fumbling on a carry. Because of the turnover, Redlands managed to score another touchdown with an 8-yard pass from Rincon to Hayes again. DeMichiel made another kick to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
The Leopards received the kickoff again, this time driving the ball 16 yards down field but again had to punt. When the Bulldogs got the ball, they ran and passed for 72 yards before scoring yet another touchdown. The first quarter ended with a 21-0 Bulldogs advantage.
La Verne started the second quarter off poorly. On an early possession, sophomore quarterback Gary Tessitore threw an interception, after a 44-yard drive. But the Leopards defense held the Bulldogs this time and forced them to punt.
With 10:07 left in the first half, La Verne drove 63 yards in nine plays and Tessitore scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Immediately following the ULV touchdown, Redlands scored again on a carry. After a Tessitore pass was intercepted, Redlands wide receiver Alex Eckert scored the last touchdown before the half ended, giving the Bulldogs a 35-7 lead.
Junior offensive fullback Nino Pepper said, “Both sides of the ball could’ve been better. We could have executed better. Turnovers were way important. I think we lost momentum when we turned the ball over.”
In the third quarter, Redlands received the kickoff. In the first five minutes of the second half, neither La Verne or Redlands could move the football. But after a 85-yard drive, the Bulldogs scored on a 1-yard run. The Leopards received the kickoff and held the ball for 3:24 before scoring. Junior running back Derrick Smith scored on a 2-yard carry, cutting the Redlands lead to 42-14.
Before the end of the third quarter, La Verne turned over the ball for the fourth time, but Redlands missed a field goal attempt.
ULV also attempted a field goal, but missed. Both teams held the ball until the end of the game, but neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Senior wide receiver Liron Wilson said, “If we would’ve improved our turnover ratio, we would’ve had a better season. We would’ve won at least five or six games if we would have not turned over the ball as much.”
La Verne ended the 1997 football season 2-7, and 2-3 in SCIAC.
