Cal Lutheran Boots Away Its Chances

Cal Lutheran could not overcome six missed field-goal attempts and fell to Pacific Lutheran, 20-14, in double overtime Saturday in a nonconference game before 3,100 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Wash.

The Kingsmen (1-1) capped a 67-yard drive on a one-yard touchdown run by Dorian Stitt with 56 seconds to play in regulation to pull within 14-13. Ryan Geisler’s extra point forced overtime.

However, the usually reliable Geisler missed four field-goal attempts in regulation and one in each of the overtimes. After his second overtime miss, Pacific Lutheran’s Jacob Croft scored on a one-yard run.

Geisler, a sophomore from Camarillo High who set a school record with a 57-yard field goal last season against Pacific Lutheran, missed from 30, 53, 41, 26, 42 and 36 yards. The 53-yard try was short and the others were wide to either the left or right.

Pacific Lutheran (1-0) scored first on a 21-yard pass from Chad Johnson to Anthony Hicks, a transfer from Washington, with four minutes to play in the first half. David Krueger missed the extra point.

Cal Lutheran responded with an 83-yard drive and scored 53 seconds before halftime on a 28-yard pass from Zack Hernandez to Eugene Sullivan. Geisler’s extra point gave the Kingsmen a 7-6 lead.

Hicks, who had 85 yards in 19 carries, gave the Lutes the lead on a five-yard run late in the third quarter and a two-point conversion run by Shipley Ennis made the score 14-7.

The Kingsmen outgained Pacific Lutheran, 310-263. Stitt, a sophomore from Royal High, rushed for 87 yards in 20 carries and senior Fredrik Nanhed added 50 yards in 11 carries.

Hernandez completed 18 of 38 passes for 182 yards. Josh Salic, Greg McAllister and Jason Fowle each had four receptions.

Cal Lutheran, which defeated Menlo College in its opener last week, was trying to avenge last season’s 45-23 loss to Pacific Lutheran, a longtime NAIA power playing its first season at the NCAA Division III level.