Poetic Justice for Cal Lutheran

Before this season, the Whittier College football program could have rightfully been dubbed the “Dead Poets Society.”

The Poets averaged one victory over the last three seasons and were every team’s favorite homecoming opponent.

But the Whittier team that showed up Saturday at Cal Lutheran’s homecoming was a far cry from the Poets of the past and had a chance to take sole possession of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference lead.

Instead, Whittier will have to settle for a share of second place after being defeated by the Kingsmen, 28-16, at Mt. Clef Stadium.

Cal Lutheran (3-3, 2-1 in the conference), which was Whittier’s only victim a year ago, avenged that defeat, won its second consecutive game and moved into a second-place tie with the Poets (3-2, 2-1).

To do it, the Kingsmen shut down an offense that was averaging 417 yards per game and a passing attack that was ranked second in NCAA Division III.

“They were a walkover last year and we didn’t get it done,” Cal Lutheran Coach Scott Squires said. “But we did today. Our defense played out of their heads and shut them down big time.”

Whittier finished with minus two yards rushing and Cal Lutheran sacked Poet quarterbacks eight times for 51 yards.

Safety Mattias Wikstrom knocked Whittier quarterback Steve Luce out of the game on a sack in the third quarter, forcing backup Bryan Perez into action.

Perez, who completed three of 10 passes with one interception, was not nearly as effective as Luce, the division’s ninth-ranked passer, who completed 15 of 38 for 201 yards before leaving with a sore left shoulder.

Derek Brown started at quarterback in place of injured Zack Hernandez and helped manufacture an 8-0 halftime lead.

The Kingsmen took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter when a snap bounced off the chest of Whittier punter Mike Alarcon and went out of the end zone for a safety.

A Poet fumble led to a 32-yard field goal by Ryan Geisler in the second quarter, and Mike Schuyler blocked a punt to set up Geisler’s 22-yard field goal just before halftime.

Whittier tied the score in the third quarter after Angel Rivas intercepted Brown’s pass and took it 58 yards for a touchdown. Khalid Fluker ran for a two-point conversion to get the Poets even.

Eric Jensen replaced Brown and handed off to Dorian Stiff for a 66-yard touchdown run on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Stitt finished with 114 yards in 16 carries.

Mark Williams’ interception set up Geisler’s 28-yard field goal two minutes later, giving the Kingsmen an 18-8 lead.

A short punt by Whittier gave Cal Lutheran the ball at the Poet 17, and Billy Busch scored from the one two plays later to make it 25-8 with just over 10 minutes left.