Michael Sahagun (Redlands/Rosemead) and Alex Villalobos (La Verne/San Gabriel) after La Verne’s 49-42 win Saturday
By Jazmin Sahagun
(Redlands) – By the time all the the smoke had cleared from numerous tailgate parties outside the stadium, La Verne emerged with a wild 49-42 victory over Redlands Saturday on Homecoming weekend.
The food was grilling and the six packs were busted out. There’s no doubt that this is what college tailgating looks like. It was week 7 of the football season and the competition was heating up.
After high school, athletes always come across a tough decision of either continuing to play or to retire their cleats. Saturday was about kids who decided to pursue their passion of the sport that they love.
Redlands, after beating the Leopards last season, 64-28, again looked to send the homecoming crowd home happy.
The Leopards struck first early in the first quarter with a touchdown pass to junior running back Dallas Parent for a 7-0 lead.
The Redlands’ defense had trouble with La Verne senior quarterback Billy Livingston (Covina alum) as he moves them into scoring position. With 30 seconds left in the first Livingston connects with Parent, who gets his second of the night for a 14-0 lead.
Five minutes into the second quarter, it appeared the Bulldogs came up six yards short of a touchdown, but a flag is thrown due to an illegal La Verne hit giving a Redlands a second chance. With the new found life quarterback Kevin Russell fired a touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson to cut La Verne’s lead to 14-7.
The Leopards responded as Livingston connected with his target for another touchdown for a 21-7 advantage.
With five minutes left in the half, Redlands back Devin Appleton broke off a 30-yard run to set up a score. Curtis Tanquary then ran through the La Verne defense for a touchdown to make it 21-14.
With less than four minutes left in the half, Livingston is intercepted by Colin Spencer to stop the drive.
However on the next series Livingston throws a 15 yard pass to Bryan Okereke, leading to a touchdown as La Verne again increases the lead to two scores at 28-14.
The Bulldogs strike back late in the second quarter with a play action pass to Alex Andrighetto, for the touchdown slicing La Verne’s lead to 28-21.
In the third quarter a long Bulldogs drive is halted at the 15 yard line resulting in a field goal making the score 28-24.
With six minutes left in the third, Redlands uses a fake field goal attempt to take the lead. La Verne is called for a face mask penalty on the play giving the Bulldogs an automatic first down at the six-yard line.
Redlands seizes the opportunity as Tanquary dashes in for a six-yard score for a 31-28 lead.
An 63-yard interception return by Spencer with three minutes left in the third sets up the Bulldogs at the La Verne 12-yard line. The Bulldogs settle for a field goal to go up 34-28.
Entering the fourth La Verne Robert Fernandez carries the ball to paydirt as the Leopards regain the lead 35-34.
In the back and forth affair. the Bulldogs fire back quick with a 70 yard kick return by Appleton to get Redlands moving. A few plays later Russell runs it in for a score to put Redlands back in front 40-35. A two point conversion pass to Cole Blackburn makes it 42-35.
La Verne ties it (of course) with less than 6 minutes left at 42.
As the clock runs down, the full house at Redlands and a spirited crowd for La Verne continue to chant for their teams.
With only 57 seconds left in the game, La Verne scores on a three-yad run giving them a lead of 49-42.
With only seven seconds to go. Redlands makes their final attempt as Russell throws a deep pass into the end zone but it falls incomplete and the Bulldogs come up short.
La Verne remains undefeated in the SCIAC Conference at 4-0.
As they shake hands, both the Bulldogs and the Leopards recognize some familiar faces from the San Gabriel Valley.
Players such as Alex Villalobos (San Gabriel), Billy Livingston (Covina), Eric Acosta (South Hills), Julian Cardenas (West Covina), Aaron Alcantar-Lopez (Covina), Adam Goss (South Hills), Michael Sahagun (Rosemead), Alfonso Meraz (West Covina), and others have played each other before.
La Verne will play Chapman next Saturday.
Redlands, now 2-2 in the SCIAC conference, will face Whittier Saturday.
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