Box Score CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Pomona-Pitzer Football team had their five-game win streak snapped with a 23-21 loss to Redlands University on Saturday night at Merritt Field.
The Sagehens lost a hard fought battle to a traditional SCIAC powerhouse in what was arguably the biggest game for the Sagehens in recent memory.
With the loss to Redlands, the Sagehens fall to 5-2 overall and drop to second overall in the SCIAC. Redlands improves to 6-1 and now has sole possession of first place in the SCIAC.
Pomona-Pitzer was led by sophomore wide receiver Ryan McGee who tallied 140 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Junior Running back Aseal Birir notched his sixth-straight 100 yard rushing game as he finished with 104 yards, 90 of which were in the first half alone. Sophomore quarterback Edward Sias completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
The Sagehens' offense stalled out on their first drive of the game and turned the ball over on down to Redlands at the Bulldogs 25-yard line. Redlands marched down the field but had its field goal attempted blocked and the Sagehens took over at their own 20-yard line.
Pomona-Pitzer jumped out to a 7-0 lead as they responded on their next possession with a seven play 80-yard drive capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Sias to McGee.
Redlands once again got down in Sagehen territory but the defense stayed strong and held the Bulldogs to a field goal to cut the lead down to 7-3.
The Sagehens came back and scored another touchdown on their second-straight possession as freshman Karter Odermann punched in a touchdown from seven yards out to extend the lead to 14-3.
Pomona-Pitzer dominated the first half against the Bulldogs but Redlands found some offense in the form of a 51-yard Hail Mary to end the half on a 4th and 10 to cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime.
The Bulldogs got the ball at the beginning of the third quarter and went down the field to cut the lead down to one point at 14-13 as they converted a 37-yard field goal.
Redlands' offense was built on big plays against the Sagehens as they scored on their third-straight possession with a 61-yard bomb to Kyle Kabeary as the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game at 20-14 with 6:09 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs got the ball back and convert on their last scoring drive of the night, which ended on a 48-yard field goal by Alex Raya to push the lead to 23-14.
Facing their largest deficit of the game, the Sagehens responded with a 58-yard touchdown pass to McGee that cut the lead down to two points at 23-21.
The next three possessions of the game resulted in interceptions as sophomore Elan Harris picked off his second ball of the game and senior Tyler Montgomery picked off Redlands in the end zone after Sias threw his only interception of the night.
The Sagehens still had a chance to win the game late as they held possession with under three minutes to go in the fourth but a turnover on downs after three-straight incompletions gave the Bulldogs the ball back on their own 40 yard line.
Redlands was able to successfully run out the clock and steal first place away from the Sagehens.
Up Next: Pomona-Pitzer will next travel to SCIAC opponent La Verne on Saturday, November 5th at 1:00 p.m.
