The University of Redlands football team squared off against the Chapman University Panthers in an important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown on Saturday night under the lights in Ted Runner Stadium. With another well-balanced and effective offensive attack, the Bulldogs racked up 420 yards and 21 first downs to capture a 31-13 victory over the Panthers. In addition, the Redlands defense limited the Panthers to just 209 yards of offense in a stellar on-field effort.
With tonight's result, Redlands is one of two teams to remain undefeated in conference competition, with Pomona-Pitzer Colleges sharing the spot at the top.
Although Chapman scored a 28-yard field goal on its opening drive, the Bulldogs remained steadfast in their execution of the game plan by answering with a touchdown. On first and 15, junior running back Alex Andrighetto (Portola Valley, CA) provided an explosive 60-yard rush to move Redlands to the Chapman nine-yard line. Two plays later, junior quarterback Mitch Kidd (Salinas, CA) threaded the needle on a 10-yard strike into the end zone to a well-covered junior wide receiver Kyle Kabeary (Indio, CA). After freshman kicker Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) split the uprights, Redlands regained the lead at 7-3 with 4:41 left on the first-quarter clock.
By the end of the first frame, the Bulldog defense had begun to chip away at Chapman's offensive line and worked to find paths to the quarterback. Junior defensive lineman Tristan Corwin (Wildomar, CA) applied quality pressure early in the Panthers' second drive, before junior linebacker Mitch Shepherd (Seattle, WA) pushed the play-caller back eight yards on a sack on third and eight to force the punt.
But Chapman mustered another score on its subsequent possession, forcing Redlands to overcome a 7-10 deficit at the midway point of the second quarter. Another impressive rush set up the resulting scoring play, with senior running backDevin Appleton (San Jose, CA) taking advantage of great space on a 49-yard carry to the Panther 26. Kidd also added to the ground attack with a 13-yard jaunt, before Appleton converted the touchdown on second and goal from the four-yard line.
The teams entered the locker room at the halftime break with the Bulldogs leading 14-10.
After the teams traded field goals to start the third quarter, the Maroon and Gray defense came up with a big-time stop, forcing a three-and-out scenario to earn great field position. On the Panthers' first down, junior linebacker Curren Lapes(Dana Point, CA) pressured the quarterback, before senior linebacker Justin Lantz (Corona, CA) stepped up with a sack on third down.
The ensuing drive allowed Redlands to extend its lead to two scores at 24-13, with Andrighetto leading the charge by carrying the ball four times and hauling in one catch. He entered the end zone on a 19-yard scamper that seemed to be over more than once, but he continually found space around the Panther defense to prevail with the touchdown
Another three-and-out showing by the Bulldog defense set up the home team's final score of the game, which came off of the feet of Andrighetto after a six play, 47-yard drive. This time Appleton set up the score with five carries for positive gains, including one for 20 yards. Andrighetto's 13-yard rush to the house capped off his 11-carry, 123-yard performance on the night. Appleton finished the game with 118 yards on 10 carries.
In addition to Kabeary, Kidd connected with junior wide receiver Cole Blackburn (Sammamish, WA) for 69 yards on seven strikes, while also finding five other receivers just one time each.
Defensively, sophomore defensive back DJ Hollingshead (Citrus Heights, CA) appeared to be everywhere, tallying 11 tackles, including one for a loss of five yards. He also recorded two quarterback hurries and one pass break-up. Shepherd notched nine tackles, while senior defensive back Connor Hoffman (Tustin, CA0 and junior defensive backDustin Nascimento (Aiea, HI) each supplied eight.
Redlands (4-1, 3-0 SCIAC) looks forward to taking on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday, October 22, during Homecoming Weekend. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. in Ted Runner Stadium.