Lack of Leadership Costs Occidental in a 28-10 Loss

Occidental College had no answer for Azusa Pacific quarterback Brian Hunt in a 28-10 nonconference football loss Saturday night at Occidental.

Hunt, the second-leading passer in the NAIA Division II ranks, completed 19 of 37 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown. The senior from Glendora also ran for touchdowns of two and six yards.

“He’s a really, really good player, I can’t imagine we’ll see a better player than him,” Occidental Coach Dale Widolff said.

Not only was Occidental unable to pressure Hunt in the last three quarters, nor cover his many receivers, the Tiger offense could not move the ball after the opening drive.

Occidental (1-2) scored first on its only sustained drive of the first half. Brian Madlangbayan, a 5-foot-6 scatback, scooted outside and found running room on the second play of the drive for a 20-yard gain. Madlangbayan carried three more times for 11 yards and freshman quarterback Derrick Williams picked up four yards on a keeper. But Williams could not convert on third-and-seven from the seven so Occidental settled for a 27-yard field goal by Mark Collinsworth.

Though Williams was impressive last week in a 38-13 win over Whittier, he lacked a passing touch against Azusa Pacific (2-1).

When the left-hander had time to throw, he overshot his receivers. And when he was chased out of the pocket, he underthrew them.

With eight minutes 18 seconds left in the first half, Williams was replaced by junior John Selle. Williams hit on two of seven passes for seven yards before leaving.

Williams started the second half, but after two possessions without a first down, he was replaced again by Selle, who threw an interception with 1:59 left in the third quarter.

Selle finished with two completions in 10 attempts and had two passes intercepted. Williams completed four-of-14 for 25 yards. It took third-string quarterback Scott Thompson to bring the Tigers a touchdown. His 36-yard pass to Charles Jordan set up his 1-yard touchdown keeper with two seconds left to account for the 28-10 final.

“Derrick Williams is a great talent,” Widolff said. “He can do some great things. But he can also make some bad plays and we have to hope there’s more good plays than bad ones.”

Widolff doesn’t feel as though he has to name one of them his starter and stick with him.

Widolff hadn’t given consideration to adding Thompson to the mix until he saw Thompson lead the Tigers to their only touchdown. The junior transfer from Butte College completed three of four passes for 67 yards.

“That is his history,” Widolff said. “You look at him and there’s nothing special, but he gets the job done. That (playing Thompson) is something we may have to consider.”