Southland Roundup : Occidental Ground Game Grinds Up Whittier, 20-7

Occidental’s Vance Mueller ran for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns in 26 carries Saturday night to lead the Tigers to a 20-7 victory over Whittier in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at Occidental.

Jeff Goldstein, the other half of Occidental’s split-back offense, gained 100 yards in 16 carries, his third 100-yard game in a row.

The Tiger defense threw Whittier for minus 11 yards rushing, while Occidental (5-1, 3-0) rolled up 275 yards rushing and 141 passing. Whittier (5-2, 2-1) finished with 203 total yards.

Occidental scored on Mueller’s 36-yard touchdown run down the left side early in the first quarter. The Poets responded with their only score of the night, a 24-yard touchdown pass from Mike Owens to George Casillas later in the quarter.

Occidental scored on Pat Guthrie’s four-yard touchdown pas to John Billingsley late in the second quarter. On Whittier’s next possession, Owens was sacked and fumbled to Occidental at the Whittier 23. Mueller later scored on a one-yard run.

Azusa Pacific 30, UC Santa Barbara 10--The Cougars, ranked No. 3 by the NAIA, overcame seven turnovers to beat the Gauchos at Santa Barbara.

Tailback Christian Okoye led Azusa Pacific (6-0) in rushing and in fumbles, losing the ball four times, including two inside the Santa Barbara 10. Another Okoye fumble in the first quarter set up the only touchdown for Santa Barbara (1-4).

Okoye still was able to rush for 138 yards in 24 carries and a touchdown to give him 904 yards in 123 carries and 8 touchdowns for the season.

Santa Clara 51, Cal Lutheran 23--Quarterback Greg Calcagno passed for 180 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Broncos past the Kingsmen in a Western Football Conference game at Santa Clara.

Matt Shaw rushed for 99 yards in 18 carries and 2 touchdowns for Santa Clara (6-1, 3-2), which jumped ahead with 28 points in the first quarter.

Quarterback Tom Bonds led Cal Lutheran (4-3, 0-2), completing 10 of 23 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Cal Poly (SLO) 34, CS Northridge 21--Joey Kolina ran for two touchdowns and Sinclair Miles returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdowns as the Mustangs spoiled the Matadors’ homecoming before 5,000 fans at Northridge.

Quarter Chris Parker ran 11 yards for a touchdown and hit Richard Brown on a nine-yard scoring pass for the Matadors (4-3, 1-1) but it wasn’t nearly enough against the Mustangs (3-4, 1-1).

Redlands 34, La Verne 24--Quarterback Jamie Garton completed 16 of 29 for 226 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Redlands to an SCIAC game at Redlands.

Ed Soto rushed for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns for Redlands (4-3, 2-1). Mark Van Allen completed 19 of 49 for 357 passing and 2 touchdowns for La Verne (2-4, 2-2).