Annabel Secaida
Staff Writer
Even after facing a 50-48 loss against Whitworth Saturday at Ortmayer Stadium, the La Verne football team still put on a phenomenal fight for its home opener.
The team is now 1-1 overall.
The Leopards were ahead 48-44 until the last 30 seconds of the game when the Pirates scored.
Racking up 672 yards and scoring seven touchdowns, La Verne had a great game offensively.
Both teams put up a fight, but in the end, it was about who had possession of the ball last. With only three seconds to spare, La Verne had one last chance to score.
The last pass was caught by senior wide receiver Jon Lilly but was ruled incomplete because the ball came loose after he was pushed out of bounds.
“We set the tone with high set offense and kept it close,” head coach Chris Krich said. “Both sides were not going to give up.”
Lilly was the star of the game, earning 274 yards on eight receptions and catching six touchdown passes, breaking La Verne’s school record.
Lilly was also named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for his record-breaking performance and Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Week Tuesday.
“Jon Lilly is one of the top receivers in the country,” Krich said. “Every time he touches the ball it’s a highlight.”
Each time Lilly scored he helped the Leopards tie or lead Whitworth.
He started the game with a 40-yard reception within the first five minutes and scored at least once more each quarter with a high of an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
It was his 25-yard score that allowed La Verne to lead Whitworth until the last 30 seconds.
“It definitely all came from my team’s help,” Lilly said. “I just took the opportunities that I was given, but it still feels unbelievable and surreal.”
It was not until 3:10 in the second quarter when sophomore wide receiver Ezra Broadus’ reception touchdown allowed La Verne to lead 28-21.
After a Whitworth touchdown, the Leopards kept the lead 28-27 after senior defensive lineman Nik Gutierrez blocked the extra point.
In an offensively high powered game, a quarterback becomes the root of success. For the Leopards that is junior William Livingston, who threw for 469 yards and seven touchdowns.
“The offensive as a whole was a highlight,” Livingston said. “Eleven guys working together and making plays.”
After returning the ball 38 yards to the La Verne 43-yard line, sophomore running back Dallas Parent helped give the team its last opportunity to win.
“At the end of the game I did what I could on special teams to put our team in a position to win the game,” Parent said.
Senior linebacker Christian Lozon led the defense with 16 tackles, followed by senior defensive back Manuel Macias with 13 tackles and two sacks.
Even with the offensive firepower, mistakes are made. With two interceptions and one fumble, the Leopards hope to evaluate their game and fix their mistakes going into conference.
The Leopards will host their first SCIAC game at 7 p.m. Saturday against Occidental at Ortmayer Stadium.
Annabel Secaida can be reached at annabel.secaida@laverne.edu.
