SCIAC Showdown set as Kingsmen enter Tiger territory

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2009) – Last year it all came down to a last second field goal, and the Tigers walked away from Cal Lutheran University with a victory, ultimately clinching their fourth Southern California Intercollegiate Conference title in five years. This week will be no different as the teams both enter the weekend with 3-0 league records and have high hopes with their sights set on claiming the 2009 crown and earning an automatic bid to the Playoffs.

While CLU holds the all-time edge, 20-11, No. 21 Occidental has won five of the last six meetings between the schools. This season the Kingsmen opened the season with a loss to No. 22 Willamette University but have since won five straight. Occidental has defeated each of it’s opponents since falling to No. 5 Linfield in week two.

Team Notes:
Controlling the ball for more than half the game against the University of La Verne, the Tigers earned a 14-13 victory to push their record to 5-1. Occidental accumulated 324 yards of total offense with 196 coming through the air and 128 on the ground. The Tigers earned 18 first downs and converted four third down conversions while they were successful on their only fourth down conversion opportunities. Occidental scored on one of two red zone chances.

Cal Lutheran stormed past Chapman on the road last week in the first of three consecutive road games. The Kingsmen earned a 49-13 victory over the Panthers after collecting 556 total yards of offense. CLU gained 260 rushing yards and 296 passing yards in the win. The Kingsmen picked up 27 first downs and were 5-for-10 on third down conversion chances although they were 0-for-1 on fourth down conversions. CLU scored on six of their seven red zone opportunities last weekend.

Offense:
Jason Haller rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown while Scott Saunders connected with Jordan Inabnit for the other on a 36-yard completion. Neil Martin capped off each of the plays with a PAT to give the Tigers the edge. Jordan Washington, Chris Washington and Jason Lehman each had five catches in the game.

CLU looked to Brian Stuart for four rushing touchdowns on 20 carries that tallied 165 yards with his longest run a 48 yard gain. In the air both Matt O’Brein and Jake Speckhard caught TD passes. Senior quarterback Jericho Toilolo was 17-for-25 for 219 yards and one score. Cal Lutheran spread out the offensive duties with eight different players rushing at least once and eight players catching at least one pass.

Defense:
Occidental’s defense led the Tigers to their fifth victory of the season as the defensive line play of Alex Wertheimer, Jesse Fischer and Jim Hildensperger was incredible. Wertheimer harassed the ULV offense with four sacks for a loss of 20 yards and an additional six tackles for a loss of yardage. He earned seven solo tackles in all while breaking up a play and adding a pair of quarterback hurries. Fischer had a pair of sacks, adding 3.5 more tackles for a loss of yards, while blocking a PAT attempt by ULV. Hildensperger earned the final Oxy sack of the game as both players finished with six tackles. Dillon Tucker had the only interception of the game for Occidental. Overall the Tigers’ defense allowed ULV just five yards rushing in the game.

The CLU defense was led by Roland Jenkins who finished with nine tackles. Alexander Moe had a sack while Rian Younker and Josh Appel combined for a second sack. Moe forced a fumble and Younker had six tackles against Chapman. Garrett Redd broke up a pair of plays for the Kingsmen and 22 players made at least one tackle in the game.

Special Teams
J. Washington returned nine combined punts and kicks with his longest return a 22 yard kickoff return as he totaled 122 return yards to go along with 46 receiving yards. Saunders did the punting last week as he pinned the Leopards on the one yard line with a 59 yard punt, his longest of the game. Six of his eight punts landed inside the 20 yard line.

Cal Lutheran used two punters with Josh Ooserhof punting twice and pre-season All-American candidate Jackson Damron getting an opportunity to punt as well. Damron was responsible for kicking off and left the Panthers deep on their side of the field all night. Derek Wilson and Justin Haulcy-Bateman each returned a pair of punts and Haulcy-Bateman added two more kick returns for 85 yards. Stuart added an 11 yard kick return to his 165 rushing yards to lead all players with 176 all purpose yards.

For those who are unable to make it out to the final home game of 2009 you can watch the game live at KADYtv.com and listen as Craig Dunkin, Tim Walsh and Kevin Walsh call the game for you at oxybroadcast.com. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.