Stag Comeback Falls Short Against Tigers

CMS fought back from a 28-14 fourth quarter comeback on Saturday night before falling to Occidental at home 28-27.  CMS is now 1-2 overall and 0-1 in SCIAC while Occidental is 3-0 and 1-0.

CMS scored first after driving 70 yards on their second possession capped by a four-yard touchdown catch by Mike Hirokawa (SO, Aiea, HI).  These were the first points allowed by the Tigers this season.  They had entered the game outscoring their opponents 80-0.  Occidental scored twice in the second quarter and took a 14-7 lead with less than a minute remaining in the half.  CMS responded by driving 55 yards in only 39 seconds and scoring to send the teams into the locker room tied at 14.

Occidental drove the length of the field on their first possession of the second half and went up 21-14.

After Occidental went ahead by 14 early in the fourth quarter, the Stags comeback began with a blocked punt by David Kalin (JR, Menlo Park) which gave the team the ball at the Oxy 16.  CMS punched it in to cut the lead to seven.  The defense sustained the momentum as they recovered an Occidental fumble on the second play of the drive.  CMS took just over a minute to score again, but the potential tying extra point was blocked.  The defense held again as Occidental was stopped on fourth down on their next possession and CMS took over at their own 23 with 1:44 remaining.  CMS drove to the Occidental 28, but the potential 45-yard winning field goal fell two yards short with 13 seconds remaining.

Quarterback Ryan Larsen (JR, Seymour, IN [pictured]) led the Stags with 303 yards passing.  He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.  Nick Marineau led the receivers with eight catches for 122 yards.  Andrew Doyle caught five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.  D.J. Lillard (SO, Phoenix, AZ) led the team in rushing with 47 yards on 12 carries.  Brock Olson (SO, Lake Oswego, OR) led the defensive effort with six tackles and an interception.

CMS travels to Orange this Saturday, October 6 where they will take on Chapman University at 7:00.