Occidental Rolls Past Whitter in 38-13 Rout

An unlikely pair of stars emerged in Occidental College’s 38-13 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over visiting Whittier on Saturday night.

Freshmen Derrick Williams and Brain Madlangbayan had a hand in all five Occidental touchdowns.

Madlangbayan, a 5-foot-6, 175-pound tailback from El Camino High in Oceanside, scored on runs of 14 and four yards and a 20-yard pass from Williams. Madlangbayan replaced Gary Little, Occidental’s leading rusher last season who is out for the year after breaking his leg in a scrimmage two weeks ago.

Williams, who played behind junior quarterback John Selle in the Tigers’ 20-12 loss to the University of San Diego last week, threw for two touchdowns and scored on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter.

He completed five of 11 passes for 76 yards.

“(Williams) did OK,” Occidental Coach Dale Widolff said. “He made some mistakes but he made some outstanding plays. He has a strong arm and is incredibly fast.”

Whittier quarterback Leonard Barton, a fifth-year senior who has not played football in three years, fumbled on the Poets’ first play of the game.

Occidental (1-1 overall, 1-0 in SCIAC play) recovered at the Whittier nine, but the drive stalled after the Tigers were penalized for delay of game and Williams was sacked for a five-yard loss.

Mark Collinsworth booted a 34-yard field goal to give Occidental a 3-0 lead with 8 minutes 59 seconds left in the first period.

Later in the quarter, Occidental’s Brady Dargan recovered a fumble by Whittier’s Sean Brady at the Poets’ 14.

Madlangbayan scampered in on the next play to put Occidental ahead, 10-0, with 46 seconds remaining in the first period.

Occidental added two more touchdowns before halftime. Jason Minami intercepted a Barton pass and returned the ball to the Whittier 38.

Eight plays later, Williams hit Marc Krock with a six-yard scoring pass to put the Tigers ahead, 17-0.

Less than three minutes later, Williams connected with Madlangbayan on a 20-yard scoring strike with 14 seconds left in the first half to cap a three-play, 50-yard drive and increase the margin to 24-0.

Whittier (0-1, 0-1 in SCIAC play) started the third quarter by chewing up more than eight minutes on an 18-play, 79-yard drive before relinquishing possession on downs at the Occidental five.

But on Occidental’s ensuing possession, Madlangbayan fumbled in the Occidental end zone and Whittier defensive end Rean Kailiuli recovered to put the Poets on the board.

Exactly one minute later, Madlangbayan burst up the middle on an eight-yard scoring run with 5:34 left in the third quarter to give Occidental a 31-7 lead.

Whittier’s Steve Saban plunged in from a yard out midway through the fourth period.