Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
CLAREMONT, Calif. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers allowed 27 points in the second half to begin the 2021 season with a 34-10 loss to the Claremont Mudd-Scripps Stags on Saturday.
Cruz Montana connected with Sean Bodi for a 29-yard touchdown to open the game's scoring in the early second quarter. A 26-yard field goal by Huxley Richardson, which answered CMS' first scoring drive, gave the Pioneers a 10-7 halftime lead on the 95-degree day at Zinda Field.
The Stags outgained Lewis & Clark, 429-252, overall, of which 251 were on the ground. Jonathan Newsome had five receptions for 64 yards to lead the Pios. Anakin Mares totaled 12 tackles.
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Key Moments
Lewis & Clark started its first two drives in or near CMS territory. Sam Meinhard nabbed his first career interception off CMS starting quarterback Holden Thomas on the Stags opening drive. Starting at the CMS 37-yard line, Cruz Montana completed three of his first five passes to set up a field goal attempt, which was missed from 26 yards out by Alex Koga.
The Stags moved into Lewis & Clark territory for the first time on their third series. 11 plays into the possession, Thomas was picked off by Silas Ticeson in the endzone. Montana and the Pios offense went on a 16-play, 80-yard drive that didn't see a single double-digit gain until Bodi caught the 29-yard TD pass. Montana found five different receivers on the drive.
Lewis & Clark (0-1) did not commit a turnover.
CMS (2-0) scored on its first four possessions of the second half. A short field set up Joshua Martinez's 26-yard run on a three-play drive. After Justin Edwards scored from one yard out, Thomas connected with Anderson Cynkar for a 79-yard touchdown on the drive's third play. The Stags capped off a 10-play, 68-yard drive with a 15-yard reception by Jack Grasberger from Thomas with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
Deeper Look
- Thairen Sivongsa took over at quarterback in the fourth quarter and went 4 for 5 for 29 yards including a 25-yard pass play to Newsome midway through the period
- Montana finished 20 for 45 for 180 yards and a TD
- His longest pass was to Elijah McGee in the second quarter, one of McGee's three catches for 43 yards
- The Pioneers ran the ball 21 times for an average of two yards, while CMS averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 55 tries
- Dyontae Navarrete led the Pios with 26 yards rushing on five carries, while Edwards (96) and Martinez (95) led the Stags in rushing yards
- Lewis & Clark's 50 pass attempts are its most since the Pios threw 64 times in a 39-28 loss to Puget Sound in 2016
- Bodi joined fellow receivers Isaac Cordova, Ben Burnham, Devon Guest and Keegan Holly with their first receptions as Pioneers, as Lewis & Clark had 10 different pass catchers on the day
- The Pios did not earn a sack, but Jake Bushman, Marvin Pusung-Zita, DJ Smith and Ticeson were credited with tackles for loss
- Meanwhile, the Pioneers allowed five sacks
- No one for CMS had more than one reception
Looking Ahead
Lewis & Clark opens the home schedule on Sept. 18 against Whittier.