Banged up Bulldogs heading for Chapman

Injuries are a growing concern for University of Redlands football coach Mike Maynard, whose Bulldogs will play at Chapman at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

It may be a nonconference game but it is still crucial because if the Bulldogs can beat Cal Lutheran the last game of the season and forge a three-way tie with Occidental it will need that win to further its case for an at-large playoff bid which the SCIAC rarely gets.

The Bulldogs (6-1) are thinning out at wide receiver Tyler Aubrey and tight end Pete Tobiason are already out. Brian Putman, Brendan Barkate and Evan Reuter, who form possibly the top receiving trio in the conference, are all game-time decisions.

The defensive line is also a concern.

The Panthers (3-4), who have two wins by a combined seven points, always find a way to come up big against the Bulldogs no matter how much they seem to be struggling. Sot it should be a battle.