Season ends for CMS with 29-23 Homecoming win over Pomona-Pitzer

(Watch Coach Sweeney Postgame Interview here)

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Down in the second quarter by two points, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team ran off 22-straight points to take the lead and go on to a 29-23 win over Pomona-Pitzer on Homecoming at Zinda Field on Saturday afternoon. CMS has now won four of its last five games in the rivalry vs. Pomona-Pitzer. With the win, CMS closed out its 2013 season with a 3-6 record while Pomona-Pitzer dropped to 2-7.

The crucial stretch of the game for CMS came between the 10:25 mark of the second quarter and the 7:31 mark of the third quarter. During that time CMS went from down 9-7 to leading 29-9.

Down 9-7, freshman QB Trey Reynolds gave CMS the lead for good as they would jump ahead 13-9 on his 1-yard touchdown run with 2:11 left in the second quarter. The drive started for CMS after its defense forced a Pomona-Pitzer fumble which sophomore LB A.J. Herrera forced and recovered at its 49. CMS then drove 51-yards over 11 plays for the go-ahead score.

On the last play of the first half, CMS added to its lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by junior RB Caleb Cunha on fourth down to head in to the break ahead 19-9.

A 9-play, 70-yard drive for CMS on its first possession of the second half extended the lead to 26-9 CMS. Reynolds threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time a 2-yard pass to sophomore WR Tyler Stanek at the 10:56 mark of the third quarter. Reynolds threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to go along with 107 yards rushing on 27 carries. His first touchdown pass came in the first quarter, a 13-yard strike to senior WR Kris Otterholt. The senior wide receiver had 48 yards on six catches for CMS. The drive began after junior LB Max Winsberg intercepted a pass.

After a Pomona-Pitzer three and out, ahead 26-9, CMS tacked on a 27-yard field goal by freshman K Matthew Aven with 7:31 left in the third quarter.

Pomona-Pitzer did not go away however with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Alex Bresler hit wide receiver Duncan Hussey for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 14:55 to go in the game. Things got really interesting late in the fourth quarter as Bresler ran in from 1-yard out to narrow the CMS lead to 29-23 with 1:04 remaining. CMS recovered the onside kick on the ensuing kickoff to seal the win. Hussey had two touchdowns and 62 yards receiving for Pomona-Pitzer while Bresler threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 90 yards and another touchdown, but he did throw a pick.

Herrera had a big day on defense for CMS with 10 tackles and two pass breakups to go along with his forced fumble. Junior Alex Chang had a strong game on the defensive front for CMS with 3.5 tackles for loss including a sack.

CMS outgained Pomona-Pitzer 347-321 in the game.

At halftime, CMS honored its four seniors – Otterholt, Joey Liekweg, Greg Wilson and Ugo Nwasike – for their contribution to the program over the last four seasons.

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