CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Football team captured the 2024 SCIAC Football Championship with their 37-34 win over Chapman on Saturday afternoon at Merritt Field.
Season Impact: With the win, the Sagehens were crowned the SCIAC Champions for the second time in program history to improve to 8-2 overall.
The Sagehens were led by
Grady Russo who had a game to remember completing 35 of his 49 attempts for 397 yards as well as 102 yards on the ground. Russo accounted for all five touchdowns with four through the air and one of the ground.
Quinten Wimmer led the receiving core with 164 yards and two touchdowns while
Sander Wimmer had 86 yards and a touchdown as well.
Thomas McConnell led the defense with nine tackles while
Omaru Konneh,
Ethan Norris, and Alden King came away with sacks.
A game you had to see to believe in the 2024 SCIAC Championship that saw the Sagehens come back from a 21-point deficit in the first half. Chapman controlled the game early on with the opening score of the game and then added two early scores in the second quarter to make it 21-0.
The Sagehens found their offense just before halftime after they struck for their first score of the game with a 30 yard pass from Russo to Wimmer but Chapman came back quick with a touchdown to make it 28-7 heading into halftime.
Pomona-Pitzer had a huge third quarter to get back into the game outscoring Chapman 16-0 in the third.
Jackson Walker started the scoring in the second half with a 35-yard catch for a touchdown and then Russo scrambled for a 22-yard run to make it a one-score game at 28-20.
The Sagehens got three more back off of a 24-yard field goal from
Jack Walker and then took their first lead of the game after an 18-yard pass from Russo to
Sander Wimmer to go up 29-28 with 8:19 left to play.
The Panthers finally responded with a big eight play 90-yard drive to reclaim the lead at 34-29, but the Sagehens put together a great last drive and Russo found Wimmer over two Chapman defenders to pull down the game-winning touchdown with 28 seconds to play.
Chapman got down the field and tried a desperation field goal attempt that sailed wide and the Sagehens captured their second SCIAC Championship in program history.
Up Next: The Sagehens will now enter the NCAA tournament and will find out their next opponent after the NCAA Selection Show
