Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The University of Redlands football team faced off against a top-five nationally-ranked opponent for the second week in a row, taking on No. 5 Linfield College (OR) in Ted Runner Stadium on Saturday night. Following the annual "Rah Rah Redlands" event, the Bulldogs battled it out against a disciplined and talented squad from the Northwest Conference but suffered a 3-36 loss to the Wildcats.
Redlands successfully moved the ball on its first possession, earning an opening first-down off of back-to-back pass-plays by junior quarterback Kevin Russell (Lacey, WA) to senior wide receiver James Ramirez (La Verne, CA) and senior running back Bobby Brown (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA). However, the Linfield defense stymied any momentum over the next three plays to force the first punt of the game.
The Bulldog defense returned the favor on the Wildcats' first drive, stopping the opponents at mid-field with tight pass coverage and good pressure on the quarterback.
On Linfield's second possession, the Wildcats' drove to the Redlands six-yard line where the Maroon and Gray defense halted their advancement with solid effort. The visitors settled for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:22 left in the opening quarter.
The big play of Redlands' ensuing drive came on a 35-yard strike from Russell to senior wide receiver Sam Angelo (Woodinville, WA). Angelo went on to finish the night with a team-leading 61 yards on five catches.
After the teams traded15-yard penalties, Linfield marched downfield for the game's first touchdown with just over two minutes left in the opening frame. However, the Bulldogs remained relentless and successfully blocked the extra point.
The Maroon and Gray continued to battle defensively, but the Wildcats held the advantage in possession and continued to put up points. Early in the third quarter, senior linebacker Michael Tootle (Las Vegas, NV) showed off the Bulldogs' tenacity with a huge sack of Linfield quarterback Sam Riddle for a loss of 10 yards. Two plays later, Redlands' sophomore defensive backConnor Hoffman (Tustin, CA) forced a Wildcat fumble that was recovered by junior defensive back DJ Dawson Jr. (Atwater, CA) on the Bulldogs' own eight-yard line.
Unfortunately, the Redlands offense struggled to find its rhythm until late in the game, when it mustered five first downs in the final 15 minutes.
Junior kicker/punter Sean Murray (Phoenix, AZ) put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with a successful 27-yard field-goal midway through the fourth quarter. Overall, he provided a solid night as the team's punter as well, averaging more than 40 yards on each of his nine attempts.
Immediately following the Bulldog field goal, Linfield lost possession of the ball, thanks to a junior defensive back David Nwagbara (Santa Rosa, CA) interception. This was the first pick of his career at Redlands.
By the final whistle, junior defensive back Curran Fudge (Oklahoma City, OK) and sophomore defensive back Aaron Mandell (Seattle, WA) had provided a team-leading eight tackles apiece.
Redlands (0-2) works to rebound during its bye week before traveling to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Oct. 4 for the first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game of the season at 7 p.m. against the Sagehens.