Cal Lutheran Gets Defensive in Win

Cal Lutheran is known for its prolific no-huddle, quick-pass offense and a leaky defense. The Kingsmen are reshaping their reputation.

In a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at La Verne, Cal Lutheran stopped a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter and ate up the remaining 7 minutes 12 seconds to preserve an 18-16 victory Saturday.

The victory wasn’t as impressive for the Kingsmen as the 44-20 rout of then-nationally ranked Muhlenberg (Pa.) the week before, but it may have had more impact. The Kingsmen (2-0) positioned themselves for a showdown with longtime SCIAC power Redlands next week.

“It’s another conference game for us and it’s big because it’s Redlands,” Cal Lutheran quarterback Chris Czernek said. “We haven’t won against them in a couple of years. They always have good talent and they’re always around the top of our conference.”

What is telling about the Kingsmen is they won with an offense that often self-destructed. Czernek completed 30 of 50 passes for 238 yards but had three passes intercepted.

Cal Lutheran was at its best on the final drive. Spurred by the running of Tyler Ruiz, the Kingsmen converted four short third downs and left La Verne without an opportunity to regain possession.

Ruiz rushed 10 times for 42 yards and picked up three first downs.

“It was the kind of drive we needed at that time,” Coach Scott Squires said.

La Verne, playing its season opener, cut Cal Lutheran’s lead to 18-16 on Kevin Traveler’s five-yard run. Quarterback Gabe Lujan connected with Cam Styles on the two-point conversion attempt, but an illegal motion penalty nullified the play. On the next play, Lujan threw a slant pass to James Evans, but defensive back Jay Morris made the tackle at the two.

“I got a little anxious,” Lujan said about the penalty. “We tried to isolate the linebacker and we wanted him to either drop back into the end zone or sink up into the slot. He kind of settled there and I just had to try to make a play because the rush was coming.”

La Verne took its only lead, 10-9, when Lujan connected with Evans on a 41-yard pass play in the third quarter. Evans made a juggling catch over defensive back Travis Young.

Cal Lutheran grabbed a 15-10 lead early in the fourth quarter on Sergio Gonzales’ diving nine-yard touchdown reception from Czernek.

Lujan was 17 of 21 for 171 yards.

Eric Stephens

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In a junior college game:

Long Beach 38, Hancock 27--Jason Baughman passed for 272 yards and four touchdowns and the Vikings never trailed in a game between nationally ranked teams.

No. 19 Long Beach (2-0) took a 7-0 lead after Nate Tago returned a fumble 12 yards for a touchdown. Baughman connected with Clint Bingham, who had nine receptions for 147 yards, on touchdown plays of nine, 22 and five yards.

The No. 11 Bulldogs (1-1), who out-gained the Vikings, 401 yards to 371, drew within 35-27 with 11:55 to play on a 40-yard pass from Ryan Canfield to Chad Clark. Hancock’s Robert Matheny had 103 yards and two touchdowns in 14 carries, and Andre Nickleson had 113 yards in 20 carries.