Occidental Loses Its Title to Redlands

Three years ago, Redlands was the sole tenant of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basement. In the 1986 and ’87 seasons the Bulldogs won only one game total. Meanwhile, Occidental was earning its 13th and 14th SCIAC titles.

Although Mike Maynard turned the Redlands program around in 1988 and ‘89, Occidental proved superior in consecutive conference championship games.

But it was pay-back time Saturday night.

Redlands savored sweet revenge, an SCIAC championship and a penthouse view with a 52-14 triumph over Occidental before 3,239 at Ted Runner Stadium. The Bulldogs improved to 7-1 overall, 4 1/2-0 in the SCIAC with a game remaining against winless Whittier.

Although the conference title does not guarantee the Bulldogs an NCAA Division III playoff berth, the 38-point margin of victory should help their chances. Going into the showdown, they were ranked fifth in the West region, one of four areas from which the 16-team national field is drawn.

Occidental fell to 5-3, 3 1/2-1 in one of its most lopsided losses in school history.

After Ben White’s 61-yard opening kickoff return, the game went downhill for the injury-plagued Tigers. They were unable to capitalize from the Redlands 35 in starting quarterback Derrick Williams’ only series of the game.

“He’s a gamer,” Occidental Coach Dale Widolff said of the freshman from Crenshaw High. “He tried to play on a sprained ankle, but he just couldn’t go.”

Neither could the Tigers’ leading rusher, 5-5 1/2 freshman Brian Madlangbayan from Oceanside.

After four first-half carries for 13 yards, Madlangbayan took himself out of the game. From his sideline vantage point, Madlangbayan couldn’t believe what the Bulldogs were doing.

“I was real surprised,” he said. “They just kicked our butt.”

Indeed, Redlands scored on eight of nine possessions through 3 1/2 quarters, and the Bulldogs gained a school-record 659 yards, including 500 on the ground.

Curt Landreth led the charge with 205 yards in 30 carries and four touchdowns, including two on pass receptions. Running mate Sean Trejo picked up 64 yards in 16 carries and quarterback Brian Harmon was nine of 13 for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

“That is as good a SCIAC team as I’ve ever seen in my 10 years,” Widolff said. “We just couldn’t stop them. Our defense just didn’t give us a chance to win.”