Justin Edwards is the new CMS record holder for TDs in a season (photo by Joyce Andersen)
Justin Edwards is the new CMS record holder for TDs in a season (photo by Joyce Andersen)

Edwards Breaks CMS Record for Rushing Touchdowns in 42-34 Win at Chapman

ORANGE, Calif. - First-year running back Justin Edwards carried for 201 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new CMS record for touchdowns in a season with 16, as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team stayed in the SCIAC title hunt with a big 42-34 road win over Chapman.

CMS improves to 7-2 on the year and 4-1 in the SCIAC, moving ahead of Chapman (3-2), which came into the game tied with CMS for second. It was also a season-sweep for the Stags over Chapman, after defeating the Panthers 29-21 in a non-league game back on Sept. 25. 

Edwards touchdown runs were from 30 yards, one yard, and 39 yards as he reached 16 on the season, breaking the old record held by Chris Dabrow since 1986. Edwards also went over 1,000 yards for the season (1080), only the ninth player to reach that milestone. 

The Stags also gave him plenty of offensive support, as Zach Fogel was 12-16 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns, with both scoring tosses going to Nick Parise. Fogel also ran for another score, on a day he carried seven times for 42 yards. 

Defensively, the Stags had to make one final stop as Chapman had the ball down by eight with a chance to tie, the exact same scenario that happened in the first meeting between the teams. That time, the Panthers got into the CMS red zone before turning it over on downs, but this time, Joey Asta forced a fumble that was recovered by Dylan Porter as the Stags were able to secure the win with less late drama. 

CMS took a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, with Edwards scoring his second touchdown from one yard out with 18 seonds left. Chapman was able to pull within 21-20 at the half, but the Stags were able to hold on to the lead after stopping Chapman on the four-yard line and forcing a field goal. 

CMS came out of the locker room and took back the momentum, as Fogel completed a 44-yard pass to Mason Cotton down to the 10-yard line. On a fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line, Fogel found Parise for a huge touchdown to put the Stags ahead 28-20 on its first possession of the second half. 

The Stag defense then held Chapman to three-and-out, and CMS went another long drive, going 12 plays in 81 yards, culminating in a Fogel 13-yard touchdown run on 3rd-and-4, to make it a 35-20 CMS lead. Fogel had a big 20-yard pass to Kaden Gallant on 3rd-and-11 during the drive, and also had a six-yard carry on 3rd-and-5. 

Chapman came back with a short three-play, 49-yard drive to pull back within 35-27 with 2:05 left in the third, and Chapman earned a stop with a chance to tie, but Michael Colangelo came up with an interception. Edwards then broke free for a 39-yard touchdown to put the Stags up 42-27 with 10:54 to play, and CMS was able to hold on for the big road win after Asta forced the key fumble and Porter recovered on the final Chapmand rive. 

Ben Cooney led the CMS defense with eight tackles (seven solo). CMS had 488 yards of total offense on the day, and converted on eight of its 14 third downs, while dominating time of possession at 38:18. 

CMS will entertain Pomona-Pitzer next weekend hoping to do the same thing it did to Chapman and complete a season sweep. The Stags defeated the Sagehens 25-3 in a non-league game to start the season back on Sept. 4.