Tigers Provide Homecoming Crowd with Exciting Overtime Win

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2007) - Regulation wasn’t quite enough time for the Tigers and the Panthers today on D.W. Patterson Field. Occidental gave the alumnae an exciting finish to the 2007 Homecoming game after rallying back from 7-0 and 14-7 deficits to send the game into overtime.

It was worth the wait for the 2,200 fans in the stadium as the Tigers walked away with a 21-14 victory.

Occidental won the toss, obtaining possession of the ball first. After an Oxy penalty and quarterback, Justin Goltz, being sacked, he recovered to complete passes of 25 yards and 10 yards to senior wide receiver Rocky Ciasulli for a touchdown. Neil Martin came in to finish off the play and give the Tigers their first lead of the game at 21-14.

In overtime Chapman’s junior quarterback Eric Marty completed a pair of passes for a total of 18 yards to start the drive but was unable to convert on second, third and fourth downs with just five yards to go.

The Panthers got on the board in the first quarter after driving 66 yards down the field on 12 plays. The possession ended with a two yard run by senior Ian Galanis marking the only score of the opening frame.

On the first drive of the second quarter Occidental quickly reciprocated with a score of their own. Jason Haller picked up 14 yards on the ground and Goltz completed two passes to Ciasulli, including a nine yard TD completion.

Following a 7-7 halftime score and a scoreless third quarter the Panthers again took the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers opened with the ball, but a 77 yard Tigers drive ended with a turnover on a fumble at the Chapman three yard line. Chapman ran two short rushing plays before Marty completed a pass to Harrison Dull that turned into a long play as he ran 94 yards down the gridiron into the end zone.

The ensuing drive by the Tigers finished in the end zone when Goltz again found Ciasulli who tumbled past the goal line 21 yards after the play began. Senior Bo Renaud rushed for five yards on the drive and Chris Washington caught a 13 yard pass for a first down to set up the TD pass.

Chapman had a chance to close the door as they regained possession with 4:46 remaining in regulation. After gaining two first downs Marty was sacked by Alex Ochoa, pushing the Panthers back from midfield to their own 39 yard line. Two plays later Occidental defensive back Daniel Tromello intercepted Marty for the second time on the day, ultimately ceasing any chance of Chapman scoring to end the game with under a minute to play.

Goltz completed 12 of 30 passes for 146 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Oxy had two players total 100 yards or more as Haller rushed for 152 and Ciasulli grabbed eight passes for an even 100. Washington finished the game with 53 all purpose yards including 22 on punt returns and 18 on kick returns.

Defensively Jarred Salha was all over the field leading all players with 9.5 tackles including nine solo stops with one of his tackles for a loss of seven yards. Senior James Leonard forced a fumble and finished the game with six solo tackles, 7.5 total. Patrick Sarkissian and Tromello had 7.0 and 6.6 tackles respectively. Sarkissian was also credited with 1.5 sacks while Brian Crider and Alex Ochoa each recorded 1.0. Tim Creamer and James Sabo combined for a sack that pushed the Panthers back two yards. Victor Lopez joined Sarkissian for a sack as well. Tromello broke up three plays to go along with a pair of interceptions that he returned for 13 yards. Salha and Leonard also broke up two plays apiece.

Alex Groh punted the ball five times for an average of 46.6 yards per attempt with two landing inside the 20 yard line and his longest of the day sailing 50 yards. Joey Coverson averaged 64.0 yards on three kickoffs.

Occidental totaled 320 yards with 174 coming on the ground. The team gained 16 first downs and were 1-1 on fourth down conversions.

The Tigers improve to 7-1, 4-1 SCIAC while the Panthers fall to 5-3 overall.

Today was the final time that 16 senior Tigers players would wear black and orange at Patterson Field. Prior to the game Matt Andersen (injured in the second game of the season), Coverson, Mike Covino, Ciasulli, Crider, Garrett Hostetler, Christopher Kyles, Leonard, Lopez, John Morris, Anthony Ostland, Renaud, Sabo, Cesar Serrano, Danny Southwick and Elen Thompson were recognized and thanked for their contributions for the Tigers football program throughout the past four years.

Next Saturday evening the Tigers will travel to Whittier College to face the Poets in the final SCIAC game of the 2007 season. The “Battle of the Shoes” will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.