Football team loses 18th in a row.
Nolasco Pesina
Staff Writer
In a game which both teams played great smashmouth defense, penalties by the Leopards and big plays from the Redlands Bulldogs’ defense proved to be the deciding factors Saturday as the Bulldogs defeated the Leopards, 27-7.
“Last week was a tough lost, we know what we did wrong and we need to prevent those things from this game,” Jorge Villagomez defensive end said.
“Redlands is a physical and discipline team, we have to eliminate the big play defensively, offense needs to protect the ball and we need to take advantage of all opportunities,” head coach Andrew Ankeny said. “We match up well against this team size and speed wise, it’s just going to come down to who wants it more.”
The Bulldogs scored first, after a 30-yard interception return by linebacker Jordan Garcia putting the ball on the Leopards 2-yard line.
Then three plays later Bulldog fullback Tyson Moll scored on a two-yard run and after an extra point making the score 7-0 with 5:10 left in the quarter.
It did not take long for quarterback Thomas Arguello to forget about the turnover as he raced 69 yards for the touchdown, after a successful point after attempt making the game 7-7 with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs then took back the momentum with a 54-yard kickoff return by Tyler Aubrey, putting the ball on the Leopards’ 31 yard line. This led to 32-yard field goal by Redlands’ Joe MacMillan, making the score 10-7 Bulldogs.
The Bulldog defense struck again when cornerback Vince Aiello intercepted Thomas Arguello and returned it 29 yards for the touchdown that put the Bulldogs up by 10, 17-7, with 1:22 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter both teams’ defenses dominated, forcing three-and-outs.
Then with 2:12 left in the half the Bulldogs’ place kicker Joe MacMilian made a 25-yard field goal making it 20-7 going into half.
“We need to do the same stuff, we just need to make sure we open it up,” quarterback Thomas Arguello said.
The Leopards looked good in the third quarter putting together a 15-play drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock, till they were forced to punt.
Then in after a punt by both teams, the Bulldogs offense struck again adding another touchdown after an eight-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a five-pass from quarterback Dan Selway to wide receiver Evan Reuter.
This made the score 27-7 Bulldogs with 6:17 left in the game. And that’s the way it would finish.
The Leopards put up 272 yards of total offense to Redlands’ 212.
But La Verne also racked up 13 penalties for 98 yards, which was a real set back that not many teams can dig themselves out of.
La Verne continues SCIAC conference play Saturday as it hosts Pomona-Pitzer for the annual Homecoming game at 1 p.m. in Ortmayer Stadium.
Nolasco Pesina can be reached at nolasco.pesina@laverne.edu.
