By Adam Johnson
D3sports.com
The seniors on Occidental entered Saturday's game at Redlands with an overall 3-0 record against the Bulldogs in their career. They knew this year's game would be the toughest with Redlands ranked 14th and boasting a defense that was allowing only 2.3 rushing yards per game through its first three games.
In a turn of events it was the Occidental defense that set the tone and ultimately won the game. The defense pushed the Bulldogs back 49 yards on 11 tackles including seven sacks for a loss of 38 yards. Oxy forced Redlands to punt nine times, hurried the quarterback five times, broke up five passes, intercepted the Bulldogs once and forced three fumbles.
The senior trio of Anthony Ostland (1.5 sacks, nine total tackles, forced fumble, two quarterback hurries), J.D. Ciasulli (eight total tackles, pass breakup) and Daniel Tromello (interception, two total tackles) played a significant role in pacing the defense throughout the game. Trace Wallace and Nate Sullivan also came up big on defense with nine and eight total tackles, respectively. Jesse Fischer also had a great game with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 15 yards.
"Tonight this team showed the most collective heart and soul effort of any team I have ever played on," Tromello said. "With our backs against the wall we were able to come out and play solid football all around."
Chapman rumbles
Chapman senior running back Mike Christensen ran for a Chapman-record 262 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers defeated host Whittier 35-21. Christensen's single-game rushing mark broke a record that stood for 13 years and his four rushing touchdowns tied another school record.
In a game that featured Whittier's Anthony Pomponio, who ranks 11th in Division III in rushing, it was Christensen who stole the show on the ground. He carried the ball 38 times (also a school record) and had all but one yard of Chapman's total rushing offense.
Christensen's four touchdowns tie a school record last accomplished by Phillip Cruz in 1999. The previous single-game rushing mark of 258 yards was held by Darnell Morgan, who did so in a game against Whittier in 1995.
Viggers triggers victory (again)
A career-long 43-yard field goal by Jake Viggers with 44 seconds remaining pushed Central to a 24-21 over Dubuque.
Facing fourth-and-1, Viggers lined up for the 43-yard field-goal try but Dubuque called timeout. Coach Jeff McMartin then sent the offense on the field to go for the first down before calling a timeout of his own and sending Viggers back out. Viggers, whose previous collegiate best was from 38 yards, split the uprights with plenty of cushion.
Viggers was on familiar ground. It was the third game-winning kick of his Central career. His 30-yarder at Dubuque last year was the difference in a 37-34 triple-overtime victory. And his 25-yarder with just 3 seconds remaining delivered the 2007 conference championship and a 17-14 regular season-ending win at Wartburg.
"Jake's been a clutch kicker and there was no reason to think he couldn't do it," McMartin said. "After the (Dubuque) timeout, we thought we might run it but we didn't get the look we wanted so we went with our first instinct and it turned out to be right."
Anything you can do, we can do better
While neither team was used to the limelight of playing in a game for sole possession of first place in the conference, Carleton and Augsburg played the roles of "top two" quite nicely on Saturday. In a classic shootout, the two teams alternated scores on the first ten touchdowns of the game until it was knotted 35-35 with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter. Following the tie Carleton got tricky, pooch kicked an onside kick and scored two of the final three touchdowns in the game to win 49-41.
When the dust settled, the teams had combined for 1,005 yards of total offense, 90 points, 52 first downs and only six punts.
34 more plays; 66 fewer points
Willamette and Lewis & Clark met on Saturday and it was about as lopsided as they come in Division III. Willamette hung 76 points on the Pioneers, (76-10) which was actually a point less than they scored in 2007 in a 77-17 victory. In the game, Lewis & Clark held the ball for twice as long as Willamette, actually ran more plays, 83-49, and had just three less first downs. However, it was Willamette's nine yards per play average that was the difference. The Bearcats move to 6-0 and a showdown with Pacific Lutheran next week.
News, notes and things you might have missed
• UW-Whitewater has now won 24 straight WIAC games after dropping UW River Falls 52-24.
• Carleton has now been victorious in three homecoming games this season winning at Bethel, St. Olaf and their own on Saturday vs. Augsburg.
• Buena Vista improved to 4-1 overall (4-0 IIAC). It marks the first time since the 2004 season that the Beavers have been 4-0 in league play.
• Wartburg extended its winning streak in weeks following a loss to 18.
• Gustavus Adolphus and Pacific Lutheran combined for 10 turnovers in a 24-14 victory by the Gusties.