by Cesar Rivas

LA VERNE, Calif. - In a gritty clash amidst the intermittent rain at Ortmayer Stadium, the University of La Verne Leopards faced off against the University of Redlands Bulldogs. Despite a determined defensive effort and a persistent offensive grind, the Leopards fell 7-24 against the Bulldogs.

For the second consecutive week, the Leopard defense started their game with a bang. This time, DT #94 David Vega pounced on a loose ball, securing a crucial takeaway at the 10:33 mark in the 1st quarter, setting the tone for the Leopards. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't convert on their first 4th down attempt of the day on the very next drive. Handing back the football to the UR offense on their own 44-yard line, the Bulldogs capitalized on the short field, with Tony Williams Jr.'s 3-yard run swiftly putting Redlands on the scoreboard. A few changes possession changes later, the Bulldogs used excellent field position again, starting from their own 40-yard line, and capitalized with a scoring drive culminating in a 40-yard field goal. The 10-point lead by UR would prove to be the consistent difference for the majority of the game.

Despite a 10-0 deficit, the Leopards showcased their grit. The spirited comeback started in the 2nd quarter, orchestrated by Nick Garcia and the Leo offense with an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ate almost 5 minutes off the clock. The drive culminated in an impromptu Garcia 10-yard pass to a blanketed RB Masen Uribe. The drive was aided by two facemask penalties by the UR defense. ULV narrowed the lead to 10-7 to start the 2nd quarter. Noteworthy in the midst of the battle, ULV freshman WR Jimmy Rumsey emerged as the top receiving target for Garcia, amassing 7 catches for 70 yards, showcasing the Leopards' potential in challenging circumstances.

However, Redlands' QB Tyler Tremain led a spirited drive of his own, guiding the Bulldogs down the field on a 9-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a Tremain to TE Logan Sperline 25-yard pass on the visitors' sideline, expanding UR's lead to 17-7 before halftime.

After a 30-minute lightning delay on the way into the locker room for halftime, both defenses were tasked with shouldering the majority of the 2nd half. Both defenses pitched a shutout right up until the moment when the Bulldog offense, led by the legs of Tony Williams (19 rushes/102 yards/2 TD's), helped put the game out of reach with a late 4th quarter TD. Prior to that point, the 3rd and 4th quarters were littered with defensive highlights by each team. The ULV offense was forced into various difficult situations, being held to punt 4 times, one turnover on downs, and throwing 2 interceptions. To reciprocate the favor, the Leopard defense stymied the UR offense, forcing the Bulldogs to punt twice, fumble once, and throw 2 interceptions of its own in the 2nd half. The singular difference in the final 30 minutes of the game was Redland's late score with 1:36 left on the clock in the 4th quarter. 

Final score: Redlands 24 - La Verne 7 .

Defensive Stars Shine Bright

With the UR offense challenging the heart of the ULV defense, La Verne's defensive lineup stepped up admirably. Austin Marin led the charge with tenacious tackles, accumulating a total of 10. Aidan Clinton (1 INT) and De Lante' Moore showcased their skills with six and five tackles, respectively. Oscar Montenegro's interception, coupled with Anthony Esquivel's key tackle for loss, bolstered the Leopards' defense against the Bulldogs' relentless onslaught.

Closing Thoughts

Despite the challenging weather conditions, both teams exhibited exceptional growth in their discipline, limiting themselves to only 5 combined penalties from both teams. The University of La Verne Leopards will leverage this experience as a steppingstone for their upcoming conference play.

Final Game Stats

Total First Downs: UR 17, ULV 12
Total Rushing Yards: UR 139, ULV 65
Total Passing Yards: UR 193, ULV 124
Turnovers: UR 2, ULV 2
Time of Possession: UR 33:03, ULV 26:57
Red Zone Efficiency: UR 2-3, ULV 1-2

Next Game: California Lutheran University. October 7, 2023. Thousand Oaks, Calif. 7pm