Turnovers Tarnish Football Opener
Kingsmen commit five turnovers in 31-17 loss to Willamette (OR)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif - The California Lutheran University football team committed five costly turnovers in a 31-17 loss in its season opener against Willamette (OR) University on Saturday at home. The Kingsmen took a four point lead into halftime but were outscored 28-10 in the second stanza.
CLU lost the ball on the game's opening drive when Willamette's Blaze Rogers forced a fumble by wide receiver Danny Hernandez. The Bearcats took over just 40 seconds into the game, but the CLU defense held and Mitchell Rowan missed a 47-yard field goal attempt.
Willamette put up the first score with a Rowan field goal from 32 yards out to cap a 12 play, 45-yard drive for the Bearcats.
CLU lost its second fumble early in the second quarter at Willamette's 26 yard line when wide receiver Jesse Matlock was stripped of the ball after a 13-yard reception. Willamette took over and returned the favor as CLU's Garrett Redd stripped the football away from Kyle Johnson at the CLU 26 yard line.
The Kingsmen took the lead with 1:15 remaining in the first half on a two-yard touchdown run by running back Antoine Adams. The score capped a 13 play, 98-yard drive that lasted over seven minutes.
In the third quarter Willamette scored two touchdowns within a minute of each other off of CLU turnovers and to take a 17-7 lead. CLU quarterback Jericho Toilolo was sacked and fumbled the ball on the CLU 18 yard line. On the next play Willamette's Merben Woo took a handoff and scampered 18 yards for the go-ahead score.
On the very next drive Toilolo's pass deflected off wide receiver Sean Coen and landed in the hands of Arlin Taylor who took it back 18 yards for the score.
The CLU offense got back on track in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. Toilolo led the Kingsmen on a nine-play, 38 yard scoring drive that resulted in a 39-yard field goal from Jackson Damron.
On their next possession, the Kingsmen went 54 yards and 12 plays and scored a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Toilolo to cut the CLU deficit to 14.
Damron's onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and the Bearcats were able to run out the clock including a fourth-and-short to end the game.
Adams highlighted the CLU running attack with 73 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown.
Toilolo ended with 157 passing yards and completed 18-of-28 pass attempts.
The five receivers he connected with were all seniors. His main target was Hernandez, as he hauled in seven catches for 69 yards. Kevin Shaifer caught five passes for 23 yards, Matlock had four catches for 44 yards and Rob Fierro and Coen each added one reception.
Willamette gained 345 yards of total offense (240 rush yards, 105 passing yards), while the Kingsmen put up 286 yards (129 rush yards, 157 pass yards).
Seniors Clayton Cardenas and Jacob Calderon led the Kingsmen defense with nine tackles each. Calderon added a sack and a forced fumble. Redd tallied eight tackles to go along with his forced fumble and recovery in the second quarter. Juniors Roland Jenkins and Victor Edwards also recorded eight tackles apiece.
Cal Lutheran will travel north to Pacific Lutheran (WA) University for another non-conference matchup on Sept. 20. Last season the Lutes defeated CLU 48-17 in Thousand Oaks to open the 2007 season.
Game statistics: Willamette (OR) 31, Cal Lutheran 17 - F
