LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne football team scored late to get within reach of visiting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. But the Stags recovered the ensuing onside kick to end La Verne's comeback chance and beat the Leopards on homecoming 30-17.
"We kept in striking distance but we just couldn't make enough plays in the long run to overtake them. I'm proud of our players as they stayed positive and did an outstanding job fighting adversity. I can't say enough about our will to fight to the end," said University of La Verne head football coach
Chris Krich.
Nicolas Garcia finished with 182 passing yards and a touchdown.
Jonathan Martin stepped under center late and contributed 131 yards and a crucial rushing touchdown. The receiving trio of
Jimmy Rumsey,
Makena Ramos-Kamaka, and
Juan Gutierrez demonstrated promising signs of growth. Rumsey finished with 107 yards, Ramos-Kamaka added 100 yards, and Gutierrez totaled 73 yards with a touchdown.
Justin Edwards led the Stags' attack, accounting for 227 rushing yards.
CMS set the tone early in the first quarter, crafting a meticulous 14-play drive covering 61 yards, culminating in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Wal Kuhlenkamp to Anderson Cynkar. La Verne responded with a 15-play drive covering 71 yards, but their progress was halted on the goal line, forcing them to settle for a field goal by
Max Jimenez, marking his first of the season to close the deficit to 7-3.
The Stags extended their lead with an 8-play, 65-yard drive that resulted in another touchdown late in the first quarter, pushing the score to 14-3.Â
The Leopards caught a break in the second quarter in a potential game-changing moment when CMS punter returner Ben Kim attempted to field a punt inside the CMS red zone. La Verne's
Salah Odeh seized the opportunity and recovered the loose ball, setting up the Leopards on the Stags' 11-yard line. The Leopards capitalized on the opportunity with Garcia connecting with Gutierrez for an 11-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 14-10.
CMS showcased their offensive prowess once more before halftime, putting together a drive assisted by 45 yards of Leopard penalties, resulting in a score and taking the tally to 17-10.
After the Stags extended their lead to 30-10 in the fourth quarter, the Leopards gained momentum in a late-game effort to close the gap. Martin led the La Verne offense down the field late, orchestrating a nine-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in him scrambling into the endzone, making it 30-17.
In a last-ditch effort, La Verne attempted an onside kick, but CMS was quick to recover, and with 1:47 remaining, they successfully ran out the clock, sealing their victory on the road.
La Verne's defense, led by
Chase Yanez,
Devin Martin, and
Anthony Esquivel, showcased their mettle. Yanez led the Leopards with eight tackles and a tackle for a loss. Austin Martin secured the lone Leopard sack, and Esquivel totaled seven tackles.Â
The Leopards held the CMS passing game in check, with CMS quarterbacks managing only nine completions in 18 attempts, totaling 39 yards.
The Leopards will regroup and prepare for their next challenge against Pomona-Pitzer, scheduled at home for Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 1 p.m. in Ortmayer Stadium.
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