Football pounces Poets in 38-22 win
Campus Times
October 18, 1996
Though it was an extremely cold Saturday night in Whittier, the University
of La Verne's football team was hot, defeating the Whittier Poets 38-22.
Right away in the first quarter, both teams were hungry for a win. Whittier
quarterback Bryan Perez had an 82-yard run for the first touchdown on the
Poet's opening drive.
Senior running back Jeff Parness answered with a 6-yard run for the second
touchdown of the game to tie the score 7-7 with 7:01 remaining in the first.
Whittier came into some trouble when junior linebacker Anthony Russo from
ULV knocked out Perez, breaking his collar bone. The game was delayed for
about 10 minutes waiting for an ambulance to take him off the field. After
the ambulance was gone, both teams were ready to play and La Verne took
over.
In the second quarter, the Poets fumbled and freshman defensive lineman,
Michael Barreiro was there to scoop it up giving ULV the ball on the 1-yard
line.
Senior running back Anthony Rice finished the play with a pick off for a
1-yard gain and a touchdown. Freshman kicker Armando Hernandez added the
extra point for a 14-7 La Verne lead with 14:10 left in the half.
It was La Verne's ball, at 12:06 in the half, and it was on the 20-yard
line first and 10. Rice carried the ball to the 28-yard line. A pass to
junior wide receiver Fred Coffee was slightly bobbled, but caught for 19
yards and the Leopard first down.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Hawkins, passed the ball to Rice which was completed
for a 6-yard gain, while junior wide receiver Ervie Barnes also carried
the ball, but a penalty for holding was called again against La Verne.
At second down and 10, Rice carried the ball 14 yards for the first down.
On fourth down, ULV attempted the kick from the 16-yard line. The 26-yard
field goal by Hernandez was good, and La Verne led 17-7 with 1:48 left in
the half.
Though there was little time left in the half, Whittier fought down the
field for a touchdown. Another pass interference penalty against ULV did
not help, giving Whittier the ball at the 9-yard line. The pass was good
to Poet Dan Young in the end zone, giving Whittier a touchdown at 47.8 seconds
left ending the half 17-14.
"I think we started up slow, taking them lightly in the first half,"
said senior defensive back Mike Dillard. "At half coach (Don) Morel
was upset because we weren't doing our job. We could have lost if we did
not pick it up in the second half."
The second half La Verne did pick it up and started out with an interception
by junior defensive back Darryl Jackson who returned it 13 yards to the
2-yard line. Rice had a touchdown run and the kick by Hernandez was good,
making the lead, 24-14 at 9:37 in the third quarter.
Jackson intercepted a Poet ball again at 6:21 in the third quarter and the
Leopards took the ball over. Rice gained 7 yards on a the third down, and
carried again for 7 yards for the Leopards first down.
Rice ended with 36 carries and 157 yards in the game.
Whittier saw what was coming and took a time out, so they could try to prevent
a touchdown. The time out was no good and Rice found a wide open hole through
Whittier's defense for another touchdown and a 31-14 score.
In the final quarter of the game, Hawkins started out with a completed pass
to Barnes who gained 22 yards. Rice then carried the ball 7 yards for a
first down.
Hawkins looked for an open man in the end zone, but was sacked on the play
at the 13-yard line, for a 9-yard loss. Rice regained the yards which brought
up a third and goal from the 3-yard line. Coffee fought his way through
the defense tumbling himself into the end zone for a touchdown, 38-14.
As the clock ran down, the Poets fumbled another ball and senior linebacker
Roger Armijo was there to receive it and run 60 yards. Unfortunately, La
Verne was unable to capitalize on the turnover.
The Poets answered right back minutes later with a 77-yard run by Battles,
for a touchdown with 1:54 left and a score of 38-22.
"We played more focused in the second half, " said Dillard.
"We did not play up to our potential," said senior offensive line
backer Pat Samsonas. "We still have to work a lot harder, especially
if we want to beat Chapman next week. It was an ugly win but we will take
it."
The Leopards have a bye this weekend but play at Chapman next Saturday at
7 p.m.