CLAREMONT, CA  — The University of La Verne football team came within a play of its first win of the season but fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags, 22-19, in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Zinda Field. The Stags scored on a 23-yard touchdown on their offensive possession in overtime to edge the Leopards in a tight SCIAC matchup.

In overtime, the Leopards' offense took the field first and had to settle for a 27-yard Joshua Workizer field goal. Despite a holding penalty that moved the Stags to the 23-yard line, CMS ended the game two plays later on Roman Ramirez's 23-yard touchdown reception.

The Leopards built momentum early with a strong defensive effort and balanced offense. After a scoreless first quarter, La Verne drove down the field off back-to-back completions from Ahmias Hart to Jimmy Rumsey and a 21-yard pitch and catch to Ronald Ropke that put the Leopards on the three-yard line. Thaj Stevens Nguyen capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run, giving the Leopards a 7-0 lead.

La Verne's defense forced key stops throughout the first half, holding CMS to just three points before halftime. Andres Viernes snagged an interception off a deflection. Manuel Ortiz made a big tackle for loss, and Devin Martin sacked quarterback Luke Gildred on back-to-back plays. Martin finished with four tackles and three quarterback hurries.

In the third quarter, CMS responded with a touchdown drive to start the half, but couldn't convert the extra point. La Verne quarterback Brian Rudden answered on the Leopards' first possession with a 69-yard touchdown strike to Noah Allen, La Verne's longest play of the game, to extend the lead to 13-6. Rudden finished the day 7-for-14 for 121 yards and one touchdown, while Hart added 77 yards on 6-of-10 passing.

The Leopards took a 16-6 lead with 6:20 left to play when Workizer drilled a 21-yard field goal. CMS countered with a nine-play drive that included a 12-yard gain on fourth and 10 to cut the deficit to 16-13.

The Stags got the ball back with 2:47 to play and drove to the Leopards' three-yard line. CMS kicker Samuel Brewer converted a 20-yard field goal to force overtime as time expired.

Tyler McCown led La Verne on the ground, with 53 yards, while Hart scampered for 24.

Chase Yanez led the Leopards with eight tackles, one for a loss, and one breakup. D'Artangion Martin finished with seven tackles, Jomar Brown and Dylan Reiner each added five.

The Leopards head back to Sixth Street next week when they play the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at 7 p.m.