CLAREMONT, Calif. — It was all about defense as the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen fell to the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags, 17-10, Saturday afternoon at Zinda Field.

Field position played into the game tremendously as both defenses had to come up with key stops. Whenever the Kingsmen found a stop, the Stags answered back with one of their own. 

Points were hard to come by as three touchdowns and two fields happened throughout the game. Cal Lutheran suffered its first SCIAC loss of the season. CLU is 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference. 

The teams were almost even on the gridiron when it came to total yards. Cal Lutheran had just barely more than CMS at 272 to 253. Both teams had trouble moving the ball as CLU went 4-of-13 on third-down and CMS was 5-of-15. 

The biggest difference on the day was a costly turnover and many flags. The Kingsmen lost a fumble on the opening kick which allowed the Stags great field position. CMS took advantage of that and had an early 7-0 lead. 

Cal Lutheran had its chances at great field position, but for each big return, there was a flag that negated the field position. Cal Lutheran eventually got on the board early in the second quarter. Jabar Byrd found an opening and ran for a 57-yard touchdown to tie the score.

Both teams also put up some points in the second half. After more great field position, the Stags threw a touchdown pass from 17-yards out and went up 14-7. 

The Kingsmen answered late in the second quarter as Christian Antezana added a 29-yard field goal to make it 14-10. 

The only points in the third and fourth quarter was a field goal from the Stags. Cal Lutheran had its chances but came up short. A big drive by CMS finally iced the game. The Stags held the ball for the final 9:29 of regulation and walked away with the 17-10 win. 

The Kingsmen defense was big and stepped time and time again as they kept the score close. Ethan Pulley had a career day and recorded a career-high 22 total tackles, six of which were solo. He added one tackle for loss. 

Zion Brown was second with nine tackles and Izayah Mora and Mason Evans each accounted for eight. Anthony Rios-Carlsen and JW Windsor were next with six and Ty Lozano and Tecoy Porter both had five. Porter tallied one sack and Rios-Carlsen had one tackle for loss.    

Eli Peters was at quarterback for the whole game and threw for 124 yards on 13-of-20 passes. His long of 50 yards to Pierce McLurkin set up Antezana for the field goal. McLurkin caught seven passes for 84 yards.

Byrd stepped into the main running back spot with Chris Anderson sidelined. Byrd made his presence known early as eh rushed for the 57-yard touchdown. Altgether, he put up 79 yards. Peters had the second-most yards with 47.

The Kingsmen look to bounce back next Saturday as Cal Lutheran host Pomona-Pitzer Saturday at 7 p.m. in Rolland Stadium.

Box Score: CMS 17, CLU 10
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Release byRyan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director