Stags Regain Peace Pipe With Win Over Hens
CMS defeated Pomona-Pitzer 27-22 before an raucous Homecoming crowd on Saturday and returned the Peace Pipe, symbolic trophy for the game's winner, to the Ducey Gym trophy case. The Stags finished the season with a 3-6 record and finished fifth in SCIAC with a 2-4 mark. The Sagehens finished 2-7 and 1-5 (t6th).
The game was an exciting one throughout with four lead changes in the second half and several near scores. There were seven turnovers inside the 30 yard line in the game including five inside the 12. In addition, there was a missed field goal, two missed two-point conversions and the game was not decided until a turnover in the final minute.
The first half belonged primarily to the Stags. CMS took their opening possession 63 yards in 13 plays and scored on a four-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Larsen (JR, Seymour, IN) to Mike Hirokawa (SO, Aiea, HI). The Stag defense stopped the Sagehens on each of their first four possessions. They forced a three and out, a fumble at the CMS 28, stopped the Hens on a fourth and two at the CMS 27 and Ashton Clarke (JR, Santa Rosa) returned an interception six yards for a touchdown. Clarke's touchdown was set up after a Sagehen defender tried to return an interception out of the endzone and was stopped at the six. Pomona-Pitzer scored their only touchdown of the half on their next possession with a one yard TD run capping a 64 yard drive. CMS drove right back down the field and into the Sagehen red-zone, but an interception at the Hen 12 stopped the drive. Pomona-Pitzer drove all the way back to the Stag six, but the defense recovered a fumble and ran out the clock in the half.
Pomona-Pitzer continued their offensive momentum into the second half and drove into the Stag red-zone on all six of their possessions. The Hens made a 21-yard field goal, missed a 37-yarder and capped a 75 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run while forcing two Stag punts and a Stag fumble to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 16-14 lead. After the touchdown, Dan Picciotto (SO, Tigard, OR) made the first of two big plays in half by blocking the extra point. The Stags scored on their next possession on a one yard touchdown run by Nick Shepherd (JR, San Diego) which was set up by a 68-yard dash by D.J. Lillard (SO, Phoenix, AZ). The Hens drove back down the field, but were stopped at the CMS 20 when Clarke picked off another pass. After CMS was forced to punt, Pomona-Pitzer drove 80 yards for a touchdown and a 22-21 lead. The Stags responded with a eight play, 57 yard drive that was completed with a five yard Hirokawa touchdown run. CMS led 27-22 with 2:52 remaining, but missed on the two-point conversion which meant that a touchdown would win the game for Pomona-Pitzer. The Hens drove 60 yards in just over two minutes to the CMS 14 (including converting a fourth and 10), but Picciotto ended the threat when he intercepted a pass at the CMS two with 42 seconds left. CMS ran out the clock and Peace Pipe was regained.
Lillard led the team with 178 yards rushing on 24 carries. Larsen was 11-21 for 120 yards and Hirokawa caught four passes for 52 yards to go along with 27 rushing and 61 return yards. Patrick Atwater (SO, La Canada) led the defense with 16 tackles and a forced fumble while Clarke had 12 tackles to go along with his two interceptions.
