Former area prep stars help Whittier College win season opener
From Whittier College sports infomation director Travis Peters:
EL PASO, Texas - Sophomore quarterback Alesana Sausau and senior running back Paul Schilling combined for 347 yards and four touchdowns as they led the Whittier College football team to a 31-28 come-from-behind victory over Sul Ross State Saturday morning at the Socorro Athletic Complex.
Schilling filled in mightily for graduated running back Anthony Pomponio as he carried 20 times for 117 yards, including three touchdowns on runs of 1, 6 and 7 yards, and averraged 5.9 yards per carry.
Sausau added 13 rushes for 92 yards and a score and sophomore Rodrigo Muratalla pitched in with 11 carries for 44 yards.
Whittier totaled 310 yards rushing, and converted on three of four fourth downs, the biggest on fourth-and-two with 4:55 to play in the third.
Schilling punched it in from 6 yards out to cap a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ate up over 10 minutes to open the third quarter. The score gave Whittier a 24-21 lead.
After Sul Ross State (0-2) and Whittier traded punts on their ensuing possession the Lobos reclaimed the lead, 28-24, on a Laurence Smith 35-yard run. The drive took a mere 1:06 and lasted just two plays.
Whittier got the ball back with 13:09 left in the game and needed only six plays to score the eventual game winning touchdown.
Freshman Daniel Enriquez (Whittier HS) carried the ball on consecutive plays for 14 and 5 yards, and freshman Marcus Langkilde hauled in a 40-yard pass to set up Schilling's third score of the game. The six-play, 66-yard drive ate up just 2:07 but gave the Poets a 31-28 advantage.
Junior Josh Lomeli (La Mirada) then sealed the win with an interception on Sul Ross' final drive.
9 Comments
Leave a comment
About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Good Win For Whittier!!
Whittier has been down for a while and needs to recruit more locals than they already do. I would like to see Hammer out. Whittier should do the smart thing and hire one of these successful high school coaches with local connections.
We were doing so good without mentioning any St. Paul *rap. Makes me sick. Murray do you get 5 cents for everytime St. Paul is mentioned in your blog? You must be rich. Speaking of St.Paul, did you see Vince Young be a daddy to Mcnairs kids and took them to breakfast? When is St. Paul's Daddy (Servite) taking you to breakfast. LMFAO!
Formerpoet,
I agree, with that veteran O-line of Alex Durazo 3yr starter, James Constancio 4yr starter (SP), along with Cody Mcdermott, Daniel Akers, Richard Duran (Schurr), Efrain Gonzalez (Garfield), we should see some solid play this year.
The defense also seems stronger than last year, So I can't see a losing season.. Hopefully, everyone stays healthy. If they don't have a winning season this year, I think we'll definitely see some changes..
Hopefully B.J. Hammer will get the team to a .500 record... or else he is fired. He has not won more than 6 games since he took over for Carlson back in 06.
In addition to local players Duran and Lomeli Whittier also has St. Paul grad, James Constancio at right guard.
I agree, it is great to see ara players representing.
Can this be Whittier's year?
Also, Richard Duran, Schurr High grad '07, anchored the o-line that produced over 300 yards rushing.
Edgar Rodriguez (DB,P) from el rancho playing football again at La Verne.good to see area players representing
Josh Lomeli out there representing La Mirada and Cerritos College. Glad to hear he is out there getting it done. Great kid with a great attitude.