Taylor Perez-Graham
Staff Writer
Despite showing major improvements, the Leopards suffered their first conference loss Saturday night, falling to Redlands, 40-21.
La Verne had a two game winning streak before the Bulldogs put it to a halt.
“We are still mathematically in the equation of being able to win conference and SCIAC,” head coach Chris Krich said.
The Leopards are now 2-1 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 2-3 overall.
“The season is going relatively well,” senior wide receiver Mat Koontz said. “SCIAC competition wise, I think we still have a shot.”
La Verne threw five interceptions and had a total of 112 yards in penalties.
All three touchdowns from the Bulldogs covered 40 yards or more.
The tone of the game was set in the third play when Bulldog senior running back Brad Crisanty took a hand off and ran 44 yards to score the first touchdown of the night for the Bulldogs giving the visitors a quick 7-0 lead over the Leopards.
The Bulldogs scored again within less than four minutes of the last touchdown when a pass was picked off by Redlands deep into the Leopards territory setting up for a one yard scoring pass to Crisanty to make the game 14-0.
The Leopards managed to score with 5:03 left in the first quarter. A 19-yard run made by sophomore quarterback Travis Carter, followed by a 15-yard pass from Carter to junior tight end Gustavo Viramontes. That set up a 9-yard scoring pass to sophomore wide receiver Jonathan Lilly, putting the Leopards on the scoreboard, 14-7.
With 13:09 left in the second quarter, the Bulldogs got on La Verne’s 28-yard line to set up a 45-yard field goal from junior kicker Kevin Grady to close out the second half 17-7.
Early in the third quarter Grady manage to make a 22-yard field goal to continue the lead over the Leopards 20-7.
Less than two minutes later La Verne had a 70-yard drive down the field leading to a three yard run from Carter to score for the Leopards making the game 20-14.
In the Bulldogs’ next possession, the Leopards had two penalties and allowed a 22 yard pass play. The Bulldogs scored again continuing a 27-14 advantage.
The Leopards then threw their fourth interception of the night, which lead to a 21-yard scoring pass keeping the visitors up 33-14.
With 4:36 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored on an 88-yard pass play.
The Leopards finished off the night with a 30-yard scoring pass from Carter to freshman wide receiver Brian Okereke.
Carter threw for a total of 245 yards while senior running back Matthew Biggers ended the night with 78 yards on 22 carries and Viramontes caught four passes for a team high of 50 yards.
“Next week we will come out stronger and show our top potential,” Lilly said.
“We need to score more,” Biggers said. “We will beat them.”
The Leopards are looking to redeem themselves next game during La Verne’s Homecoming game at Ortmayer Stadium 1 p.m. Saturday against Pomona-Pitzer.
Taylor Perez-Graham can be reached at taylor.perez-graham@laverne.edu.
