Redlands 46, Dubuque 9

REDLANDS, Calif. — The No. 25 University of Redlands football team lived up to the high expectations for the 2008 season in its season opener at home on Sept. 13, crushing the University of Dubuque (IA) by a 46-9 final.

Unable to find a rhythm in their running game, the Spartans were held to -30 yards rushing by a top-notch Bulldog defense. Dubuque did, however, gain 275 yards through the air.

On the other hand, Redlands used a variety of options on offense, using the three-headed monster on the ground and going to the air with its team captain and 2007 SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year, senior quarterback/punter Dan Selway.

Starting on defense, the Bulldogs forced Dubuque to a three-and-out opening drive. After a missed field goal and a Spartan drive that resulted in a punt, the maroon and gray strung together an eight play, 65-yard drive that ended with a touchdown by means of a Selway pass to senior running back Jeff Stewart. On the ensuing extra point attempt, the Bulldogs pulled off a two-point conversion with a lateral from junior wide receiver Brenden Barkate to sophomore kicker Joe MacMillan.

At the end of the first quarter, the game remained close with Redlands out in front 8-0. That changed in the second quarter, as the Bulldogs entered the locker room at halftime with a 29-3 lead.

Following an interception by sophomore defensive back Mike Nicolini, senior running back Zach Schafer pounded in a goal line touchdown run. Redlands got the ball back quickly as Dubuque quarterback Colton Hansen botched a snap and fumbled the ball, which sophomore defensive back Tom Mouwen recovered at the Dubuque 20-yard line. Senior wide receiver Kenny Romero ran unguarded to the left side of the endzone on the first play of the drive when Selway rocketed a 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs up 22-0.

Dubuque tallied its first three points of the game off of a Jordan Williams field goal following a 15-play, 65-yard drive with 2:53 left in the first half.

Selway marched the team downfield for the Bulldogs' final score of the half as Schafer muscled in a one-yard touchdown run and MacMillan successfully completed the extra-point attempt.

Half No. 2 in the season opener started with a drive engineered by Stewart. He rattled off two four-yard runs, a 10-yard run, a six-yard run, a nine-yard run and eventually a 15-yard march to the endzone for the score, putting Redlands up 36-3.

MacMillan cleared a 33-yard field goal attempt on the next offensive drive for the Bulldogs after Redlands' defense forced the Spartans to another three-and-out situation.

The Spartans finally found the endzone by means of Hansen as he ran a five-yard run in for a touchdown. Andrew Fioramonti missed the extra-point attempt, hitting the left upright, leaving Dubuque in single-digits with a 39-9 score in favor of Redlands.

A seven-play, 60-yard Bulldog drive spanned two quarters, and senior fullback Tom Romaine (Ahwatukee, AZ) scored on a 15-yard run to score what would be the final touchdown of the game.

Selway completed 22 of 30 passes, tossing two touchdown receptions and gaining 229 yards. In addition, he scrambled past the line of scrimmage three times for 28 yards total.

Leading all rushers, Schafer gained 68 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns while catching four passes for 26 yards.

Stewart picked up 66 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving, recording two touchdowns, and Romaine accumulated 35 yards on five carries and scored a rushing touchdown.

Romero led the Bulldog receivers in receiving yards with 80 and scored one touchdown as well. Junior wide receiver Sean Scott also proved to be a popular target for Selway, catching five passes for 54 yards.

Defensively, Nicolini stole the show, posting 15 total tackles and 12 solo tackles. He also intercepted a pass and brought the Spartan ball carriers down behind the line of scrimmage two times for a loss of nine yards.

Senior defensive lineman Brock Arndt fortified the offensive line with six total tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. In his Bulldog debut, freshman linebacker Ian Sluss got the starting nod and compiled five tackles and one sack.

Instilling fear in the Spartan offense, senior defensive lineman Gavril Gabriel recorded three tackles, all for a loss, and sacked Hansen twice.

Also leading the maroon and gray on defense were senior defensive lineman Josh Cunningham, senior linebacker Eddie Stamm and senior linebacker Mack Gordon. All three notched four tackles apiece, and Cunningham also added a quarterback hurry and a tackle for loss to his defensive resume.

Hansen led all quarterbacks with 264 yards passing, and he tallied a touchdown as well. Kevin Hartzog averaged 4.2 yards per carry on five attempts, gaining 21 yards and standing as the only Spartan to finish the game with positive net yardage on the gorund.

The popular receiving target for Dubuque was Edward McIntosh as he caught six passes for 60 yards. Jean Metezier reeled in five catches for 25 yards, adding to Hansen's receiving threats.

Scott Heiar punted seven times for 272 yards total, averaging 38.9 yards per punt. In the fourth quarter, Heiar booted a punt 62 yards, which stood as the longest punt of the game for either team.

On defense for the Spartans, Orlando Watson and Matt Brown led the way with 10 tackles apiece. Jajuan Burton picked off Selway once and ran for 19 yards on the interception return.

Redlands hosts non-conference Whitworth University (WA) next Saturday at Ted Runner Stadium at 7 p.m. while Dubuque starts its Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) play against Luther College (IA) at Luther at 1 p.m.

Press release submitted by Redlands on Sep 14, 2008 at 06:42 PM Eastern