Box Score CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Football team dropped a close contest with non-conference opponent Pacific University 38-35 on Saturday night at Merritt Field.
With the loss, the Sagehens drop to 1-2 on the year
The Sagehens were led by quarterback Evan Flitz who was 23-30 through the air for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Flitz also led the ground attack with 45 yards rushing and a touchdown as well. The Sagehens receiving core spread around the action as Nathan Miles had 66 yards and a score, Win Hunter went for 63 yards and a touchdown, while Cole Barry had 61 yards and contributed on special teams with a kick return for a touchdown.
The defense had three Sagehens in double-digit tackle numbers. Nate Barewin led the charge with 14 tackles and a forced fumble, Briggs Garrison and Nick Pacult both had 11 tackles each while William Welch and George Cutting both recorded sacks.
A busy first half of scoring between the two teams started early as Pacific cashed in on some big plays on their first drive and got up 7-0. The Sagehens responded with a five-play drive capped off by a Flitz 24-yard scamper to even the game at 7-7.
The Sagehen defense forced a punt but a fumble on the offensive end gave the Boxers good field position, and they took advantage to go up 14-7.
The Sagehens immediately responded as Barry then took the kickoff return 98 yards to the endzone as the Sagehens struck back big to even the score at 14-14 with 2:05 left in the first.
Pacific had one score left in them in the first quarter as another big play set up a red zone score for the Boxers as they capped off the first with a three-yard touchdown run to go back on top 21-14 heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter was all Sagehens as they pulled out a bit of trickery on their next drive. Clark Baker got the ball on a reverse and then found Miles for a 52-yard touchdown pass as the two teams went even again at 21-21.
Pomona-Pitzer's defense stepped up big in the second quarter as they did not allow a Boxer touchdown. Pacific did cash in on a short 25-yard field goal but the Sagehens got the last score of the half as Flitz marched the offense down the field and capped off a seven play, 67-yard drive with an 11-yard pass to Will Radice to had into the locker room with a 28-24 lead.
After both defenses making some major adjustments, neither team score in the third quarter but the Boxers started the second half scoring with a 10-play drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead at 31-28.
With the Sagehens needing a late score, Flitz took the offense back down the field and ended the drive with a back corner fade to Hunter for a beautiful 21-yard touchdown that put the Sagehens up 35-31 with just 2:17 remaining.
Pacific had one last chance to earn the win down four and then manufactured a 14-play drive that put them on the 13-yard line with four seconds remaining. The Boxers would find the game-winning score on a post over the middle of the field as the Sagehens fell on the last play of the game.
Up Next: The Sagehens will stay at home and host non-conference opponent Willamette on Saturday, September 25th at 1:00 p.m.
