CLU Finds Bright Spots Amid the Rubble of a 34-13 Defeat

There was a festive mood at Cal Lutheran’s Mount Clef Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The hometown fans stood through much of the fourth quarter. Kingsmen players exchanged high-fives.

True, Cal Lutheran lost again--this time to Santa Clara, 34-13--but that was not the point.

The Kingsmen (0-5), whose offense had scored only one touchdown in their first four games, found the end zone twice.

“That is a cause for celebration,” Cal Lutheran Coach Joe Harper said. “It ain’t no ho-hum deal.”

It might have been to the Broncos (4-2), whose second-team defense surrendered both fourth-quarter scores, but again, that is missing the point.

Santa Clara had sprinted to a 34-0 lead and the Kingsmen looked more like court jesters. But the Kingsmen would be quick to point out that they enjoyed some pleasant surprises, including one from their backfield.

The Kingsmen might have found an elusive running back. His name is Cassidy O’Sullivan. Unfortunately, he played quarterback.

Sullivan, a sophomore and the eighth quarterback used by Cal Lutheran in the past year, began the season as a wide receiver. Saturday marked his third game behind the center.

He attempted 11 passes, completing six for 95 yards, but it was his running that ignited the crowd of 2,000.

He gained 117 yards in 27 carries and scored the Kingsmen’s first touchdown, a one-yard run.

“That was the best feeling in the world,” O’Sullivan said. “People give me a lot of stuff about (the Cal Lutheran offense) but I take it all in stride. They realize I’m not a quarterback.”

Santa Clara had a quarterback. It also had some receivers. And a running back.

Bronco tailback Aron Wise finished with 118 yards in 18 carries--100 yards before intermission--and scored three touchdowns. He left the game midway through the third quarter, as Coach Terry Malley cleared his bench.

Before Malley did so, however, Bronco quarterback Craig Bergman connected with Tony Evenson on a 68-yard scoring pass for a 34-0 lead.

Alonzo Williams added the Kingsmen’s second touchdown when he cut right, beat several Santa Clara defenders to the outside and scored from six yards.