CLU Sports

SALEM, Ore. - The Kingsmen football team rallied late but eventually dropped its 2009 season opener on the road Saturday afternoon to Willamette (OR) University, 20-13. Brian Stuart rushed for 140 yards in his team debut but CLU was outdueled by the Bearcat offense and its big play ability.

Following a scoreless first two possessions by both teams to begin the game, Bearcats quarterback Brian Widing found Scott Schoettgen for an 86-yard touchdown throw and catch to open the scoring with 4:45 left in the opening period.

It was the first time the Kingsmen defense allowed a pass play of 50 yards or more since October 6, 2007.

Schoettgen was the featured target despite a heavy rush oriented offensive Willamette playbook catching five of the six team receptions for 191 yards and a score.

On CLU's ensuing possession Derek Wilson provided a short field following a 40-yard kick return to the Kingsmen 46-yard line. A steady dose of handoffs to Stuart supplied a first-and-goal at the Bearcats nine-yard line.

The Kingsmen then faced a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line when CLU quarterback Jericho Toilolo was held out of the end zone and the team trailing 7-0 after one period.

After holding on defense Cal Lutheran again enjoyed a short field and reached the Willamette red zone once again. Facing a fourth down from the 12-yard line the Kingsmen brought out 2008 Division III's leader in field goals per game Jackson Damron. The kick sailed wide left and CLU was left shut out following two scoring chances while the defense held strong holding the deficit at 7-0 heading into halftime.

After passing for only 32 yards in the opening half the Kingsmen received the second half kickoff and on its first play completed a 44-yard pass from Toilolo to Christian Edwards. After a pair of rushes the CLU offense had its longest drive of the day going 61 yards on only three plays.

However the offense stalled failing to convert a third down-and-three bringing on Damron who converted a 34-yard field goal providing the first points of the season and cutting the deficit to 7-3.

Again the CLU defense held strong forcing a three-and-out and starting a potentially go-ahead drive on their own 40-yard line. Following a 12-yard rush by Toilolo the Kingsmen were on the outskirts of Damron's range at the 37-yard line, but three straight sacks by the Bearcats pushed CLU out of field goal range.

Kingsmen punter Josh Oosterhof pinned the Bearcats deep in their own field averaging 54 yards per punt with three downed inside the opposition's 20-yard line.

After pinning Willamette at its eight yard-line, the Bearcats recorded two big plays including a 45-yard Deon Horne scamper and 44-yard pass to Schoettgen. The drive culminated with a Horne nine-yard touchdown run and a blocked extra point attempt leaving the score 13-3.

Horne finished the day as the game-high rusher with 143 yards and the score on 18 carries.

CLU trailed by 10 in the fourth and was looking to keep pace when Willamette's Blaze Rogers snatched the lone turnover of the game with an interception just inside Kingsmen territory.

Willamette was looking to drain the clock while scoring in the process and was able to achieve both rushing the ball five of six plays and Mikey Lemon scored on a four yard rush making the score 20-3.

Cal Lutheran put a 50-yard drive together on 13 plays capping the possession with a 45-yard Damron boot cutting the game to 20-6 and a two possession game.

The Bearcats were able to run for 199 yards in the game and looked to run its way to victory late in the fourth quarter. The Cal Lutheran defense came up big stopping WU on a fourth down play at the CLU 44-yard line giving them a short field with 5:55 to go.

CLU never quit converting a pair of fourth downs with a 26-yard catch and 29-yard touchdown grab by freshman Matt O'Brien in just over two minutes of game clock elapsed.

The defense forced a third-and-long for the Bearcats but Schoettgen managed to catch a 32-yard pass for his fifth grab of the game, sustaining a pivotal drive for WU and wasting away valuable time for a CLU final offensive push.

The clock halted at 13 seconds when CLU forced a WU punt and one final effort to score. Junior Justin Haulcy-Bateman looked for an opening but was stopped for a loss and a declined CLU penalty with no time left ended the contest.

Cal Lutheran (0-1) will host Pacific Lutheran (WA) University in the CLU home opener on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m.

Box Score: WU 20, CLU 13 - F