THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The California Lutheran University football team lost a tough game against University of Redlands as 18 seniors took the field for their last time in Violet and Gold. The game also recognized the veterans in attendance in honor of Veteran's Day. The Bulldogs won the game 21-17.
On the first possession of the game, Adam Friederichsen completed a pass to Wendell O'Brien for a 78-yard touchdown. Redlands answered back with a field goal, but the Kingsmen lead 7-3.
Redlands forced CLU to two four and out possessions in a row, but the Bulldog offense struggled to find their own rhythm. Friederichsen looked to break the silence as he found Aaron Lacombe for a 29-yard pass to get out of CLU's own end zone. However, a holding penalty in a following play stopped the Kingsmen momentum and ultimately resulted in a punt.
With the start of the second quarter, CLU started to find their stride. Friederichsen threw to Josh Mooney for a 25-yard play that fell just short of a touchdown. Just two plays later, Friederichsen completed a touchdown throw to Richard Caceres to take a 13-3 lead.
Caceres had a 15-yard long sideline catch to start the drive for CLU. A 23-yard pass to Lacombe put the Kingsmen in the red zone for the second time in the quarter. CLU extended its lead to 17-3 on a 30-yard field goal from Dominick Grimm.
Redlands tried to answer back, relying on quarterback Levi Plante. The Bulldogs opted to keep the offensive unit out on fourth down, and it proved to be the right decision as Plante rushed for the first down. The Kingsmen defense kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone, but they kicked a field goal to raise the score to 17-6. Redlands used good game management to get the ball back late in the second quarter and added another field goal to make it 17-9.
Redlands received the ball to start the second half, and they worked their way down field on 12 plays. The drive resulted in a 25-yard field goal. The Kingsmen were unable to create some breathing room, and ultimately turned the ball over on downs.
The Bulldogs cruised down the field hungry to take the lead for the first time today. Plante and Josiah Alvira were both huge running threats for Redlands and combined for 187 yards in just three quarters. However, the Kingsmen defense continued their success defending the end zone forcing Redlands to settle for another field goal. CLU led 17-15 with almost a full fourth quarter to go.
Redlands relied on a bit of a trick play utilizing wide receiver Cole Blackburn to throw to Plante down the sideline for 30 yards. Plante then completed a 23-yard play to Blackburn. Those plays set up Redlands to take the lead on a touchdown run by Alvira. The Bulldogs elected to try for two, but the jump pass was dropped in the end zone. Redlands took a 21-17 lead with half a quarter left in the game.
The Violet and Gold looked to answer back, but a forced pass from Friederichsen was intercepted by Tristan Corwin and returned for eight yards. Plante then found some running room, but a hit by Christian Rivers forced a fumble. CLU recovered it on its own eight-yard line with four minutes left.
The Kingsmen weren't able to move the ball downfield on the ensuing possesion and turned it over on downs. Redlands was able to run out the clock and won the game 21-17.
Friederichsen and Lacombe led CLU offensively. Friederichsen threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns, and Lacombe contributed 129 receiving yards on eight receptions. Defensively, Nick Gordon had eight solo tackles and five assisted tackles. Lucas Quinn added six solo and three assisted.
Plante was the key for Redland's offense this game rushing for 73 yards and throwing for 112. Alvira rushed for 126 yards, while averaging 7.9 yards per carry. Corwin came up with the clutch interception for the defense, while Daniel Gonzales contributed seven solo tackles.
Box Score: CLU 17, UR 21
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director / Makenna Pellerin (Sports Information Intern)