LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Pacific overcame a 13-0 second quarter deficit before turning the tables on their hosts during a 41-23 non-conference victory over Occidental on Saturday night in front of 1,884 fans at Jack Kent Stadium.
With the road victory, the Boxers wrapped up its non-league schedule with a 2-1 record. The Tigers evened its count at 1-1.
Pacific trailed at the end of the first quarter 6-0, and fell behind another score at 13-0 before getting their land legs. The Boxers then proceeded to outscore Oxy 27-3 over the next quarter and a half on their way to the final 18-point margin.
The Tigers scored at the end of the first quarter and then again early in the second to grab the 13-0 lead. The Boxers wouldn't score until just 2:15 remained before the half, when Kamana Pimentalcapped a nine play, 81-yard drive with a six yard run.
A few moments later, an Andy Harris interception gave the Boxers the ball right back. Four straight completions by quarterback Warner Shaw, three of them to running back Bronson Barretto, got the visitors right back into the end zone. The go-ahead score came on a 19-yard strike from Shaw to Barretto to make the count 14-13. But Occidental would then go on an impressive eight play, 74-yard drive in just 46 seconds to punch in a field goal to take a 16-14 margin into the halftime locker room.
The third quarter would be all Boxers. Pacific took the second half kick-off and marched 68 yards in eight plays, with Shaw finding Nathan Suymatsu for a 11-yard scoring strike.
Two drives later, the Boxers went to the ground, riding the legs of Barretto five times including the one-yard score. Pacific now led 27-16 at the end of the third quarter.
Occidental would get back on the board on a six yard completion from Bryan Scott to Kaleb Mitchell (27-23), and then get the ball back with a chance to take a go-ahead score. But near the midfield stripe, Mark Jacobson forced a fumble that Avery Richardson recovered, give the visitors the ball back.
Pacific when moved down the field, the big play coming via the air when Shaw found Suyematsu on third down on the Oxy 25 yard line. A personal foul tacked on another 15 yards. Two plays later, Shaw found Zak Porche in pay dirt, six yards on the scoring toss.
Barretto would add one more score to the final ledger on a one yard burst with 2:24 left.
Pacific had 436 yards of total offense--309 through the air and 127 on the ground. Shaw completed 24 of 34 passes for all of those 309 yards, with three TD's and no interceptions. Suyematsu had 10 catches for 130 yards while James Berry added six catches for 105 yards.
Barretto finished with 112 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns, and he caught four passes for another 44 yards and a score. Pimental added 49 yards rushing.
Kwame Do had 126 yards on the ground for Occidental and Scott passed 53 times (26 completions) for 258 yards. 11 of those grabs were by Cordell Harris for 129 yards.
Dalton Schwetz had six solo tackles and seven total for the Boxer defense. Xavier Harvey and Jeff Bejema had quarterback sacks.
The Boxers will now begin Northwest Conference play next Saturday (Oct. 3) when they host Pacific Lutheran, start time is 1 p.m.
Boxers take control in second half, win 41-23
/seasons/2015/boxscores/20150926_y9mt.xml
2015
Pacific
41
Occidental
23
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific (2-1) | 0 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 41 |
| Occidental (1-1) | 6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
Sep 26, 2015