Sonoma State Mutes Cal Lutheran, 24-2

It would be a small step, but Cal Lutheran might come a little closer to winning a football game if its offense could outscore its defense.

Then, perhaps, the Kingsmen could outscore the other team.

For the third time this season the Cal Lutheran offense did, indeed, fail to outscore the defense, and visiting Sonoma State prevailed, 24-2, in a nonconference game Saturday afternoon.

Cal Lutheran displayed the kind of attack that could make the pep band forget the music to the school fight song.

Of course, Cal Lutheran’s first mistake might have been wearing its home purple jerseys against a team that hails from wine country.

The Sonoma defenders simply trod them underfoot.

Cal Lutheran (0-4) had only eight first downs, three courtesy of Sonoma penalties, and 122 net yards.

Quarterback Cassidy O’Sullivan completed nine of 30 passes for 81 yards, and Brian Kane led the Kingsmen in rushing with 27 yards in nine carries.

“People don’t know how good this team is,” Cal Lutheran Coach Joe Harper said of the Cossacks (2-2). “(Sonoma is) probably the most talented defensive team we’ll play.”

Sonoma scored what stood up as the winning touchdown one minute into the game. On the Cossacks’ second play from scrimmage, quarterback John Spear hit Henry Milton with what looked like a short-yardage pass in the right flat.

However, Milton shook off a tackler and raced 55 yards for a touchdown.

Late in the first quarter, Cal Lutheran closed the gap to 7-2.

With Sonoma pinned on its seven-yard line, Milton swept right, bounced off a few tacklers and fumbled the ball into the end zone.

Cal Lutheran safety Nicko Rising pounced on the ball but it popped out of his arms and Sonoma recovered. The Kingsmen were awarded a safety on the play.

Cal Lutheran continued to give up ground grudgingly but Sonoma struck for 10 points in the last 3 1/2 minutes of the half.

The Cossacks marched 88 yards in 18 plays midway through the second quarter, and Glen Campbell dipped in from two yards for the touchdown.

On the last play of the half, Sonoma faked a field-goal attempt. The play failed, but Cal Lutheran was called for a personal foul, and, given the opportunity, Ed Beaulac kicked a 25-yard field goal.

As has been its recent pattern, the Cal Lutheran defense was particularly stingy in the second half.

Sonoma earned its only second-half score on a 32-yard drive set up by Len Bradley’s 12-yard punt.

“I think the Cal Lutheran defense needs to be praised,” Sonoma State Coach Tim Walsh said. “Nobody has really run the ball against Cal Lutheran all year. We thought we could do it, but we didn’t.”

Cal Lutheran played a blitzing, gambling defense and held Sonoma to 115 rushing yards but surrendered 277 passing yards.

“I think we got a big boost from this game, knowing we can play with these guys,” said Rising, who had a team-high 10 tackles.

Cal Lutheran experimented with a no-huddle offense but ditched it in the second half.