Cal Lutheran’s Offense Lags Last Period, Falls

After being on the go for 15 straight hours Saturday, Cal Lutheran College pooped out in the final 15 minutes, losing to Portland State, 27-20, in front of a Civic Stadium crowd of 2,390.

The Kingsmen were leading the defending Western Football Conference champions, 20-13, after three quarters, but surrendered two fourth-quarter touchdowns as their record fell to 0-3 in the WFC and 4-4 overall.

The Cal Lutheran day began in Thousand Oaks at 5 a.m. Saturday. After catching a 7:40 a.m. flight to Portland, the team unpacked and sat through a meeting and convocation before suiting up against a much larger and more rested Portland State team.

What began as a game to write home about ended as a somber post script: P.S.--I love you not.

The Vikings (1-1, 3-4), besides playing in their hometown, were rested from being idle the previous two weeks.

“The two weeks off really helped us,” said Viking wide receiver Brian Coushay. “We rested up, got healthy and were ready to play.”

Portland quarterback Terry Summerfield directed the Vikings on successive drives of 62 and 60 yards for the tying and go-ahead touchdowns. The winning score came on a two-yard plunge by fullback Darrin Humphreys with 8:13 remaining in the game.

Portland evened the game when Summerfield hit tight end Barry Naone with a seven-yard scoring pass on third down in the last quarter.

The Kingsmen had three possessions after Portland’s last score, but a fumble off a reverse by wide receiver Greg Harris ended a drive to the Viking 26. Quarterback Tom Bonds misfired on three straight passes and threw an interception on a bomb attempt with 23 seconds remaining to dash any Kingsman comeback hopes.

“We played as well as we can play,” said an emotionally-exhausted Bob Shoup, the Cal Lutheran coach. “Our defense did all we can invent. This is tough to swallow.”

Six CLC defensive starters were sidelined with injuries, but the inexperienced replacements, along with the anchor of the defensive line--Mike Miller--repeatedly thwarted Portland. Miller, a senior, recorded three sacks and recovered a fumble.

“Miller has developed into a dominant player at this level,” Shoup said.

Portland ball carriers expected the remainder of the defense to be run-of-the-mill after they got past Miller, but they were surprised.

“We definitely took CLC lightly,” said Coushay, a graduate of Newbury Park High. “They were much better than we expected. I’m glad we came back, though, because I have friends on that team.”

Coushay was perhaps the most dangerous Viking. He caught eight passes for 106 yards, including Portland’s first touchdown, and returned seven punts for 55 yards. The game had added meaning for Coushay, who was not recruited by CLC out of high school or Santa Barbara City College. It was kind of a touche for Coushay.

The Vikings often passed from the shotgun formation and Summerfield’s passes rained on the field like pellets from a cartridge. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 308 yards. Bonds, who was relatively healthy after suffering a shoulder injury three weeks ago, connected on 21 of 39 passes for 289 yards.

After taking a 17-13 halftime lead, however, CLC managed only a 29-yard field goal by Kurt Lohse in the second half.

The fourth quarter fizzle turned a long day into a very tough day.

Portland State opened the scoring with 7:20 remaining in the first quarter when Summerfield hit Coushay with a 12-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone. The pass capped a 63-yard drive.

CLC quickly got in the end zone for the first time with help from Noel Hicks. The speedy halfback took a screen pass from Bonds and bolted down the sideline for 49 yards. Then, after a 16-yard completion to Joe Monarrez, Hicks took pitches for a gains of eight yards and a three-yard touchdown. Lohse missed the conversion kick.

Bonds was intercepted on CLC’s next possession by defensive back Eric Burcham, who starred at Burbank High and Glendale City College before transferring to Portland State last year. The turnover led to a 31-yard Mike Erickson field goal, which gave Portland a 10-6 lead.

The advantage was short-lived. Bonds hit Joe Fuca for 32 yards, Darren Gottschalk for nine, and Fuca again for 16 on the next Kingsman possession to move the ball to the Vikings’ 11-yard line. Hicks took a quick pitch for 10 yards, then dove over the middle from the one for the score.

Kick holder Victor Wilson then stood up and passed to Gottschalk for a two-point conversion to put CLC ahead, 14-10.

Erickson and Lohse traded field goals, leaving CLC in the lead at halftime, 20-13.