SCIAC Showdown: Tigers vs. Kingsmen

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2008) – It is only week seven for the Tigers football program, but the outcome of this Saturday’s game will be instrumental in determining the winner of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title as both Occidental College (6-0) and Cal Lutheran University (5-1) enter the game undefeated in league play at 3-0.

After breaking back into the Top-25 polls with a 28-15 upset of the then # 14 University of Redlands on Oct. 1, the Tigers have steadily moved up the Division III national rankings to their current spot at # 18 as voted by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

While the conference title is on the line, the Tigers have more to play for as they look for revenge following the meeting these two teams shared last season. On Oct. 27, 2007 the Kingsmen broke the Tigers’ 32-game regular season win streak, defeating Oxy 43-25 on Patterson Field.

The Tigers will travel to Thousand Oaks for a 1:00 p.m. kick-off with the hopes recording their fifth win over CLU in six years. Before last season, the Tigers posted four consecutive victories, and have won five of the last seven meetings, dating back to 2001.

During the thirty year history of these two football programs meeting on the gridiron, CLU holds an overall edge with 20 victories to Oxy’s 10.

The two teams are very well matched, both appearing atop numerous conference and national statistical categories on both sides of the ball.

Look for a defensive battle as the Kingsmen are currently ranked first in the nation in pass efficiency defense (72.1 yards/game), second in the nation in pass defense (118.8 yards/game) and fourth overall on defense (221.2 yards/game).

CLU has allowed the fewest first downs in the conference (tied with Redlands), given up just seven touchdowns and recorded 19 sacks. The Kingsmen have held opponents to just five scores in 11 Red Zone chances this season while their defense is 20th in the nation in scoring with 13.2 points per game. Senior defensive lineman Jacob Calderon leads all Division III players with 1.8 sacks per game and 2.8 tackles for a loss per game.

Alternatively, the Tigers are ranked 12th in the nation as they average 452.3 total yards per game, which leads the conference. They have scored 36.0 points per game on offense (23rd in Division III) and lead the SCIAC with 218.0 rushing yards per game, including 17 touchdowns (tied with Redlands), which puts them 27th in the nation. Bryan Fiorito and Justin Goltz have each rushed for more than 65 yards per game through six games in 2008.

The Tigers’ passing efficiency is also ranked nationally (13th) as Goltz, the Tigers’ senior quarterback, is 10th in Division III with a pass efficiency rating of 166.9. Jason Lehman and Chris Washington are averaging 100.2 and 74.3 yards per game, respectively, with 6.5 and 5.2 receptions per game, to lead the way for the Tigers.

Oxy is also atop the conference having converted 34 of 73 third-down conversion opportunities. Occidental’s offensive line has protected their Tiger quarterbacks, allowing just five sacks all season.

Each team has converted four fourth-down conversions. CLU is 19-of-25 and Oxy is 22-of-26 on Red Zone scoring chances.

Cal Lutheran opened the season with a 31-17 loss to the Willamette University (OR) Bearcats, who are currently 8-0 overall at this point in the season, but have been on a roll ever since. The Kingsmen are averaging 364 yards per game, scoring 26.4 points per game with 232.8 and 131.2 yards passing and rushing, respectively.

CLU quarterback Jericho Toilolo averages 241.17 yards per game, 224.3 coming through the air. Jesse Matlock (71.5 yards/game) and Danny Hernandez (49.5 yards/game) are Toilolo’s favorite targets this season. On the ground Antoine Adams has rushed for 83.6 yards per game through five games with Alex Gomez next in line with 29.0 rushing yards/game.

Occidental’s defense has held opponents to 106.5 rushing yards per game. The Tigers have recorded a conference leading 21 sacks (tied for 11th in Division III) pushing back the opposition 121 total yards. The Occidental defense has stopped five of 11 Red Zone chances for their opponents.

Both kicking games are solid as well. CLU has hit 15-of-20 field goal chances as Jackson Damron is first in the country with 2.5 field goals per game. Damron is also 13-for-15 on PAT chances.

The Tigers have notched 5-of-7 field goal tries with Neil Martin hitting four. He is also 25-for-27 on PAT attempts. Oxy punter Alex Groh has averaged 42.5 yards per punt, which puts him eighth in the nation.

With a chance to represent the SCIAC in the NCAA Post season on the line, it is sure to be an exciting game as both teams will leave it all out on the field.