Kingsmen Outrun by Occidental

All of a sudden, a taut football game between Cal Lutheran and Occidental turned into the SCIAC’s Fastest Man competition.

Charles Jordan won that unofficial title Saturday night. The 5-foot-6 Occidental senior returned two punts for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, sending Cal Lutheran to a 45-28 defeat at Occidental.

Jordan had already returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season but didn’t field his first punt until regular punt returner Jerome Drumgole was injured.

“The second time, it was unbelievable,” Jordan said. “I was tired. I was just trying to run out the clock a little bit, but the hole was there.”

Taking the silver medal in the competition was Occidental quarterback/punter Davin Lundquist. Twice Lundquist caught Cal Lutheran returner Pete Marine from behind. Marine had 234 yards in return yardage, but never reached the end zone.

“(Lundquist) took good angles on me both times,” Marine said. “I just tried to outrun him . . . but he’s a good runner.”

Lundquist also rushed for 124 yards in 16 carries out of the Tigers’ option offense.

Despite allowing 28 unanswered points at one point and rushing for a net minus-31 yards, the Kingsmen (4-4, 2-3 in conference play) could have closed to within 38-31 with 9:45 left had Dan Leffler made a 41-yard field goal.

But the snap from center bounced to holder Ryan Huisenga and Leffler’s kick was blocked by Chris Weissman.

With 4:51 left, Jordan’s 50-yard return gave the Tigers a 38-21 lead.

Cal Lutheran had to punt on its next possession, and Jordan went 56 yards for a touchdown with 1:39 to play to give Occidental (7-1, 4-1) a 45-21 lead.

Kingsmen quarterback Adam Hacker completed 19 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Occidental scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 28-14 lead into halftime.

With 13:16 left in the second, Joe Smith caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Lundquist to complete an 85-yard, 11-play drive and tie the score, 14-14.

Cal Lutheran was held to 29 yards in the second quarter after gaining 134 in the first.

Oxy’s Brian Madlangbayan ran 19 yards for a touchdown to break the tie and Andrew Wind intercepted Hacker’s pass and returned it 36 yards for another touchdown in the final minutes of the half.