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Sep 23, 2006
TACOMA, Wash.
— For the first time in 180 games, the Puget Sound Logger football team posted a shutout, 21-0, over the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags in a NCAA Division III game on Saturday afternoon in Tacoma. With the win, the Loggers improve to 3-0 for only the third time in the past 25 years but the second time in the past three seasons.
While defense proved to be the big story in the end, the Puget Sound offense made big plays to seal the win. Senior Aaron Bean gave the Loggers their first points of the game at the 8:57 mark in the first quarter, catching a 19-yard pass from sophomore Kavin Williams to give UPS a 7-0 lead after the PAT by sophomore Justin Dougherty.
The defensive battle continued through the first quarter and into the second but Puget Sound's Isaac Blum quickly gave the Loggers a 14-0 lead, returning a punt 69 yards to the endzone with 14:16 remaining in the first half.
Following halftime, the Loggers struck early once agains as Williams found sophomore wide receiver Darrell Stewart for a 30-yard touchdown strike and after the kick by Dougherty, the Loggers led, and eventually took the win, 21-0.
Claremont had chances to score but the Logger defense held strong, denying them access to the endzone. Following the Loggers second touchdown, the Stags were able to drive the ball 61 yards on 16 plays but the field goal attempt by Zach Mallove was wide right. On their next drive, Claremont-M-S drove the ball 50 yards on seven plays but Logger safety Matt Vanek (Pocatello, Idaho/Highland) intercepted an Aaron Gonzales pass on the UPS 7-yard line to stop the drive.
Offensively, Rory Lee ran the ball 21 times for 72 yards. Williams was the Loggers second-leading rusher with 57 yards on 10 carries but he did most of his damage in the air, connecting on eight-of-13 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Bean finished the game with three receptions for 40 yards and the touchdown while Stewart ended the afternoon with two receptions for 36 yards and the score. Brian Ames only had to punt the ball twice, averaging 31.5 yards per punt.
Defensively, the Loggers were led by eight tackles from senior linebacker Steve Martin, who also added 1.5 tackles for loss in the win. Junior Mike Griffith had a big play on special teams, blocking a CMS punt in the fourth quarter at the Claremont 14-yard line. Vanek had the Loggers only interception and Jason Owens (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) and David Mensonides (Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma Baptist) each recorded a sack for the Loggers.
Claremont was led offensively by Gonzales, who completed nine-of-19 passes for 92 yards and one interception. D.J. Lillard was the Stags leading rusher with 51 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Chris Davis led CMS with seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss.
Today's game marked the first time that the Loggers have shutout an opponent in 180 games, dating back to a 25-0 win over Oregon Tech in 1986.
The Loggers will be at home again next Saturday as the Pacific Lutheran Lutes come to Baker Stadium to open up the Northwest Conference season for both squads. The game will also be the highlight of the University of Puget Sound homecoming festivities. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium.
Press release submitted by Puget Sound on Sep 23 2006 at 08:36 PM