Chesnut Triggers Cal Lutheran Win Over Hayward

In a defense-oriented battle, Cal Lutheran held off a late offensive surge by Cal State Hayward to win a 16-6 nonconference football game Saturday.

Trailing, 16-0, the Pioneers (1-2) scored on an eight-yard touchdown run by quarterback Rick Neugebauer with 5:10 to play, then moved inside the Kingsmen 10-yard line with less than two minutes left.

“I’m happy that we held them off,” Cal Lutheran Coach Bob Shoup said.

Hayward could not hold off Cal Lutheran (2-0) on the final play of the first half, which was perhaps the game’s key play. Running back Noel Chesnut broke to his right on a draw play and dashed 27 yards for a touchdown. The score gave CLU a 10-0 lead.

“I felt I needed to do something to help spark the team,” said Chesnut, who finished with a game-high 76 yards in 12 carries. “We usually don’t run that much. It’s a great pleasure when we do.”

It was not a great offensive game by either team. CLU quarterback Jim Bees completed just 9 of 28 passes for 98 yards and was sacked three times. The Kingsmen finished with 209 yards total offense to 181 for the Pioneers.

Hayward got its final chance to pull out the win when Cal Lutheran running back Dean Henderson fumbled at the Pioneer 43-yard line with 2:12 remaining.

Neugebauer came right back with a 47-yard pass over the middle to Craig Roberts, who earlier had a reception of 26 yards on the same play during the Pioneers’ scoring drive. CLU defensive back Mark Staley tackled Roberts at the Kingsmen 10 to prevent the touchdown.

The Kingsmen then held Neugebauer to two yards on two runs, sandwiched around two incomplete passes, and took over on downs.

Cal Lutheran’s Greg Maw kicked a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first half, and the Kingsmen went 75 in five plays moments later to take a 10-0 halftime advantage.

The CLU kicking game was effective. Kent Sullivan, a senior who had a 74-yard punt in the second quarter, drilled a 52-yard field goal that had plenty to spare at the 2:09 mark of the third quarter for a 13-0 lead. Maw added a 19-yard chip shot with 44 seconds left in the quarter.

“I’d like to hit drives like that in golf,” Shoup said of Sullivan’s kick, which was the longest of his career.

CLU held Hayward to 29 yards in total offense in the first half. Linebacker Ken Steward led the way with 12 tackles, including three for losses.