Mistakes Again Ruin Kingsmen

Seeking a Cinderella ending against a nationally ranked opponent, it was instead the same old story for Cal Lutheran on Saturday.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Kingsmen were victimized by mistakes and lost, 45-23, to Pacific Lutheran of Tacoma, Wash. in a nonconference football game at Cal Lutheran.

“I thought we gave the game away,” Cal Lutheran Coach Scott Squires said.

The Kingsmen committed six turnovers, after committing five in a season-opening loss at Menlo.

“Turnovers are just killing us,” Cal Lutheran quarterback Zack Hernandez said. “I don’t know what it is. We hung with them, or we could have, if it weren’t for all the turnovers.

Pacific Lutheran (1-0), ranked 20th in the NAIA preseason poll, recovered four Cal Lutheran (0-2) fumbles, converting two into touchdowns and one into a field goal. The Lutes also had two interceptions, one setting up a touchdown.

Even when the Kingsmen did something right, it turned out wrong. A 55-yard punt from All-American Jeff Shea was returned 57 yards for a touchdown by Pacific Lutheran’s Kevin Lint.

“Don’t look at the scoreboard,” Squires said. “I think we gave them, what, 28 points [actually 24] on the turnovers? That stuff has got to stop or I’m going to get old in a hurry. And I like my hair and all that stuff.”

Mechanical problems rendered the scoreboard inoperative. But had it worked, it would have shown Pacific Lutheran quickly up, 14-0, in the first quarter.

The Lutes recovered Jermaine Dixon’s fumble at the Pacific Lutheran 34-yard line on Cal Lutheran’s first possession. Peter Finstuen scored four plays later on a 28-yard run.

Finstuen, a junior slotback, finished with 148 yards and one touchdown in 20 carries and had six receptions for 84 yards and another touchdown.

Lint’s punt return gave the Lutes a 14-0 lead with 4:57 left in the first quarter.

Pacific Lutheran scored again for a 21-0 advantage, before Cal Lutheran scored on a 23-yard completion from Hernandez to wide receiver Tim Kirksey in the second quarter. Kirksey had seven catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

Almost as soon as they made up ground, however, the Kingsmen backtracked when the Lutes scored on a 10-yard reception by Karl Lerum (eight catches, 143 yards, two touchdowns). The touchdown came three plays after a deflected Hernandez pass was intercepted by Ed Nau and returned four yards to the Cal Lutheran 23.

Cal Lutheran struck back with a school-record, 57-yard field goal by Ryan Geisler, a freshman from Camarillo High. His first college field goal made the score 28-10 at halftime.

“That was exciting,” Squires said.

Hernandez lost fumbles on Cal Lutheran’s first two drives of the second half. The first one was returned 10 yards for a touchdown by Josh Wyrick, building Pacific Lutheran’s lead to 35-10.

Hernandez was replaced by Derek Brown late in the third quarter.