CLU Sports

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The offense, defense and special teams for the Cal Lutheran football team all took their turn scoring in a 49-7 victory over Pacific Lutheran (WA) University on Saturday.

Box Score: CLU 49, PLU 7 - F

The Kingsmen scored touchdowns on four-of-five first half possessions and six of their first seven drives.

The win evens Cal Lutheran's record at 1-1, notched its second straight win over PLU, and won its first home opener since 2006.

The CLU offense took the ball after senior free safety Garrett Redd intercepted PLU quarterback Jordan Rasmussen on the game's opening drive and returned it seven yards to the Lutes' 29 yard-line.

The Lutes defense got an early glimpse of what was to come all day with Jericho Toilolo completing a 14-yard pass to Christian Edwards and senior Brian Stuart taking three carries for 15 yards, including a three-yard scoring run.

Stuart finished the day with 49 yards rushing on 15 carries finding the end zone three times. He is the first CLU running back to rush for three touchdowns since Tyler Ruiz against Chapman in 2004.

After the CLU defense forced its first of eight PLU punts, Toilolo led the offense down the field in nine plays totaling 76 yards capped off by a 10-yard touchdown pass to freshman Matt O'Brien. It would be the first of a pair of touchdown passes by the senior quarterback.

As the Kingsmen looked to solidify its lead Pacific Lutheran put together a drive for 18 plays, traveling 67 yards and lasting over nine minutes. The Lutes had several key plays including Greg Ford catching a 39-yard pass to move in to CLU territory early in the possession.

The Lutes, whom failed to convert a single third down all game (0-for-15), kept their drive alive on fourth down plays of three and 13 yards, but had their luck run out on a fourth-and-goal from the CLU 13-yard line when Rasmussen threw incomplete for Tyler Bowen.

As great as their successes were on offense its only non-scoring drive of the first half, aside from a kneel down with only seconds left, was a five-play sequence featuring a false start, sack, delay of game and back-to-back sacks to force a fourth-and-35.

However CLU recaptured its success on the following trip down the field as Stuart picked up his second score of the game with 1:31 remaining in the first half on a one-yard run, culminating a six-play, 59-yard drive.

Cal Lutheran used a timeout after forcing a three-and-out late in the half hoping to add some points before halftime. Junior Derek Wilson slithered his way through numerous tackles and went 69 yards for the punt return touchdown making it 28-0 at intermission.

It marked the longest CLU punt return for touchdown since Sean McGaughey took one 78 yards early in the 2000 campaign.

Up 28-0 at the half, the Kingsmen picked up where they left off to begin the third quarter, going 60 yards on 10 plays. Stuart capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown, his third on the day, to put the Kingsmen up 35-0.

The CLU defense was shutting down and shutting out the Lutes while Toilolo captained the offense to another successful drive. He found senior Chris Hammond on a 33-yard strike and following a holding penalty hit Christian Edwards on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

Following the Toilolo-Edwards connection a majority of the first team offense was relinquished of their playing duties for the day. The senior QB's final scoring toss was the end of a 16-for-22, 240 yards and two score performance while Christian Edwards' final grab gave him six catches and his first career 100-yard receiving game.

The offense had five touchdowns to its credit, the special teams unit added its own while the defense was perserving the chance for its first shutout win since 2005. Redd intercepted Rasmussen taking it 39 yards for the score for his career pick-six.

To start the final quarter, CLU linebacker Michael Azhocar tormented the Lutes over its first three plays recording a tackle, sack assist and his first career interception on consecutive plays.

In a day where the Lutes struggled to pass, it all came together on one drive going 5-of-6 for 74 yards, culminating with a Drew Griffin 21-yard touchdown score with 6:31 left in regulation.

The safety combination of Eric Lopes, who led CLU with six tackles and Redd, was the next high man with four stops to go along with his two interceptions played major roles in PLU's inability to pass effectively. Sophomore linebacker Luis Schmitzberger Jr. contributed to the cause with a game-high 1.5 sacks.

The Lutes managed only two net rushing yards in large part to the CLU defensive front line. Senior Sawyer Merrill highlighted this group with a sack, forced fumble and pass break up.

Sophomore kicker Jackson Damron kicked off eight times for an average of 65.5 yards and three touchbacks. He hit seven-of-seven extra point attempts but missed his only field goal attempt from 37 yards out.

The 49 points is the most by a Cal Lutheran team since 2006 when it put up 55 against University of La Verne.

After scoring only three points on three red zone trips last week the Kingsmen answered this Saturday going totaling 35 points in seven red zone chances. CLU also won the turnover battle with four forced while committing none.

Cal Lutheran (1-1) will take next week off before they open SCIAC play and host Whittier College on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.