Karina Rodriguez
Sports Editor
The Leopards lost to the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags, 22-19, in overtime Saturday on the Zinda Field at the Claremont Colleges. La Verne held the lead until the fourth quarter during which CMS tied the game and forced the game into overtime,
Head coach Richard Sanchez was disappointed with the loss despite such a narrow margin.
“We took care of the ball on offense and took the ball away on defense and we had one interception,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez believes that as coaches, their job is to put the players in stronger positions to earn La Verne its first victory. He thinks that overall the team played better with multiple strong points.
“At this point we just keep coaching what we’re doing,” Sanchez said. “Trying to put the guys in better positions and make plays is what we can do as coaches.”
At 8:34 of the second quarter junior running back Thaj Stevens Nguyen ran three yards to give La Verne its first touchdown of the game.
Sophomore Joshua Workizer’s extra point was successful, bringing the score up to 7-0. It was the only scoring for either team in the first half.
During the third quarter, junior wide receiver Noah Allen caught a 69-yard pass by quarterback Brian Rudden for a touchdown.
Allen credits the help his teammate, junior wide receiver Jimmy Rumsey, gave him to be able to grant La Verne another touchdown.
“We just had a little flat route and I caught it and I did a spin move… I saw my boy Jimmy, No. 2, block somebody and I broke through and then all I saw was green,” Allen said.
Allen’s touchdown brought the score to 13-6 for La Verne.
During the fourth quarter, Workizer’s 21-yard field goal was successful, bringing the score up to 16 for La Verne and CMS remaining with six.
“I made my very first career field goal today,” Workizer said.
CMS junior quarterback Robert Litscher scored for the Stags at 04:10 in the fourth quarter, bringing the Stags closer, 16-13.
In the final play of regulation, senior kicker Samuel Brewer hit a 20-yard field goal for the Stags, tying the score at 16.
La Verne got the first overtime possession and Workizer made a 27-yard field goal, bringing the score up to 19-16 for the Leopards.
Workizer credits his coaches’ teachings which helped him score during overtime.
“You know, my coach always taught me to kick it to the upside,” Workizer said. “It’s all you gotta worry about, which is what I did.”
On the Stags’ first possession, senior tight end Roman Ramirez caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Robert Litscher to finalize the game, 22-19.
Junior running back Tyler McCown believes that accountability by the coaching staff is making the La Verne football team better.
“Our coach is holding us accountable, and us holding each other accountable during practice,” McCown said.
“Man, I just think I am so proud of how hard we fought till the end,” he said.
The Leopards are currently 0-5 overall and 0-4 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Next they will face the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at 7 p.m. Saturday on Merritt Field in Claremont.
Karina Rodriguez can be reached at karina.rodriguez3@laverne.edu.
Karina Rodriguez is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and editor-in-chief of the Campus Times. She has previously served as sports editor, social media editor, arts editor and a staff writer.
Lexi Giacobbe is a senior communications major with an concentration in public relations. She is a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine, a staff writer for the magazine, and previously served as a staff writer for the Campus Times. She is also a member of the University of La Verne volleyball team.
