CMS Picked Second in SCIAC Preseason Football Poll

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team was picked to finish second in the SCIAC in 2022 in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, the conference office announced today.

CMS received two first-place votes and finished just four points behind defending champion Redlands, which earned the other five first-place votes and had 46 points in the poll. Chapman, which the Stags defeated twice in 2021, was in third place with 38 points, followed by Cal Lutheran, Pomona-Pitzer, La Verne and Whittier in the 3-7 spots. 

The race for the 2021 title was also between Redlands and CMS, with the Bulldogs able to earn the title after picking up a narrow 22-19 win over the Stags on Oct. 2. CMS rallied from a 14-6 deficit to take a 19-14 fourth-quarter lead, but Redands earned the winning score by driving 72 yards in the final 1:55 of regulation for a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining. 

CMS returns many of the key players from last year's team, including sophomore running back Justin Edwards, who earned the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year Award after rushing for 1146 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns. Four of the starting linemen who blocked for him are back as well, including All-SCIAC guards Kamarion Porter and William Zhang, right tackle Anthony Carrano, and center Andre Nesbit. 

Leading passer Zach Fogel (877 yards, 6 touchdowns) and leading receivers Anderson Cynkar (461 yards, four touchdowns) and Mason Cotton (262 yards) are also back to the CMS offense, as is kicker Alessandro Maiuolo (7-9 FG). Edwards also isn't the only key running back returning, as Jacob Fenton and Joshua Martinez also started at times last season, and Brandon Bova saw action as a fullback. Bryce DesJardins and Kaden Gallant also earned starting assignments at wide receiver. 

Defensively, returning captain Stiles Satterlee is back at his linebacker position following a year in which he tallied 61 tackles, second on the team. The linebacking unit also sees Joey Asta (39 tackles, five sacks), Emmett Thomas King III (33 tackles, two sacks), Ryan Enney (30 tackles) and Christopher Wicke (17 tackles) returning after having large roles a year ago. 

Defensive backs Ben Cooney (36 tackles) and Michael Colangelo (44 tackles) are back after earning All-SCIAC accolades last fall, and are joined by Kirby Baynes (45 tackles), Jacob O'Connell (five interceptions), Connor Cryan and Jack Holden to form an experienced unit. Along the defensive line, Tyson-Jay Saena returns after an All-SCIAC season, and Josh Allen (22 tackles) is back at a defensive end position. 

CMS opens its season with a non-league home game against Whittier on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m., before traveling for a tough non-conference test against Whitworth on Sept. 17. The Stags will play a non-league game at Redlands on Sept. 25, before opening league play at La Verne on Oct. 1.