On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, Michael and I travelled over the Conejo Grade to Thousand Oaks to witness the final regular season game for the 17th ranked California Lutheran University Kingsmen (7-1, 5-0 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) as they hosted the Occidental Tigers (4-4, 3-2 SCIAC) in the final game to ever be played at venerable Mount Clef Stadium.
In 2011, the Kingsmen will move into their new home, the $8.9-million William Rolland Stadium.
As you would expect, the stands were packed and many former CLU players and coaches were present to say goodbye to CLU's intimate football home since 1963.
National Anthem
Mike studying the immaculate turf
The weather was perfect and, as always, CLU games are free and fan friendly thus the sideline vistas.
Oxy QB and Center working on the basics
Kicking-off to start Mt. Clef's Last Hurrah
Sun, Packed Stands and the LOS
It doesn't get any better than this!
Power Run by CLU's Deme'Trek Chambers
Hands Up!!!
An Occidental Defensive Lineman trying to get in the CLU QB's passing lane.
Chambers again from ground level
He could go all the way!
Powerfully built Derek Martinez
on the Sweep
Oxy DBs came to play!
How did #16 not block this Oxy punt?
Ryan Nastor returning a CLU punt . . .
. . . for really good and exciting yardage
CLU Field Goal attempt just before halftime
CLU held a narrow 10-0 lead after two periods over the fired up Tigers.
The Division III football experience at its best
While I sat in a cloth folding chair just outside the end line, this Kingsmen fan brought his own leather recliner to our end zone seating area. Try that at an Auburn-Alabama game!
Kingsmen swarming on defense
Chambers' second TD run
Deme'Trek Chambers would have a splendid day rushing for 168 yards on 24 carries. CLU would go on to gain 302 of its 411 yards of Total Offense on the ground.
Pressuring the Oxy QB
The CLU defense played great as well limiting the Tigers to 165 yards of Total Offense and forcing a colossal 12 Oxy punts!
One on One
CLU's Final TD in Mount Clef Stadium
A 15 yard TD strike from QB Jake Laudenslayer to WR Matt O'Brien.
Now THAT'S a PAT stance!
The Kingsmen went on to win 24-0, their first shutout since 2005. They finish the regular season at 8-1, 6-0 SCIAC. This is CLU's second consecutive SCIAC championship season.
CLU will find out on Sunday at about noon who their first round NCAA Division III football playoff opponent will be and where they will play that game.
GOOD LUCK KINGSMEN!!!
Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest . . .
Tyler Bowen's TD grab with
1:10 left in the game
Jason Johnson's #19 ranked Pacific Lutheran Lutes (7-1, 4-2 Northwest Conference) were hosting Brandon Bennett's Willamette Bearcats (7-2, 4-1 NWC) in the regular season finale for both squads.
It sounded like a great match-up and the final score bore that out as the Lutes won 24-21 in the closing seconds of the game. Now Pacific Lutheran must wait to see if their 8-1, 5-1 NWC record, good for second place in the NWC behind #12 ranked Linfield (8-1, 6-0 NWC), is enough to earn them an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
In NCAA Division I play yesterday, Johan Hammarqvist's West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3, 2-2 Big East) beat the Cincinnati Bearcats (3-6, 1-3 Big East) 37-10.
The Washington Huskies (3-6, 2-4 PAC-10) enjoyed a Saturday off as they prepare for next Thursday night's game in Seattle against UCLA 4-5, 2-4 PAC-10).
What a great time of the year in the American football year!!!
3 comments:
Sorry I didn't see you at the CLU game, but it was a really nice day. (However, I am in that "stance" photo, directly above Oxy's #19 in my gold University of Denver polo shirt.)
Kinda sorry to see old Mount Clef go.
Unfortunately, PLU did not get in. CLU is at Linfield (again) on Saturday.
Gold is definitely your color!
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