Watch Postgame Interview (Tyler Stanek)
CLAREMONT, Calif. – For the third season in a row, the Battle for Sixth Street trophy is staying with the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team, after CMS came back to defeat Pomona-Pitzer 20-17 on Nov. 14 at Zinda Field. CMS finished the SCIAC regular season at 6-1, 7-2 overall. With six wins in conference, CMS ended the season in second place in conference, their highest finish in SCIAC since 2003 when CMS tied for second. Six conference wins is the most ever for a CMS team and CMS also set the program scoring record today, needing just one point to set the record.
In the final minute of the game, Pomona-Pitzer drove to the CMS 32-yard line with a chance to tie or win the game, but on fourth down, CMS sophomore linebacker Brendan MacDonald (CMC) broke up backup quarterback Edward Sias' pass to seal the win for CMS.
The win didn't come easy for CMS as Pomona-Pitzer (2-7, 1-6) led 14-6 at halftime. To open the second half, CMS put together a 12-play, 59-yard touchdown drive. Sophomore running back Andrew Segre (CMC) bulldozed his way in the end zone from 2-yards out to get CMS within two points at 14-12 with 10:54 left in the third quarter. Segre ran for 93 yards on 15 carries in the game. After the touchdown, CMS added on the two-point conversion to even the score when junior quarterback Trey Reynolds (CMC) found senior wideout Ryan Farney (CMC). Farney led CMS with 52 yards receiving while Reynolds threw for 125 yards and ran for another 44 yards.
On the ensuing kickoff, CMS surprised Pomona-Pitzer with an onside kick and junior defensive back Tiger Brown (CMC) recovered to give CMS prime field position, on Pomona-Pitzer's 37-yard line. Brown also had an interception in the game.
Three-straight competitions, two of which went to Farney, and 9-yard run by Reynolds set up the go-ahead score for CMS. Reynolds then found senior wide receiver Tyler Stanek (CMC) wide open in the back left corner of the end zone for what ended up being the game-winning touchdown. After a missed extra point, CMS led 20-14 with 9:13 left in the third quarter.
Pomona-Pitzer put a field goal on the board on its next drive. Kevin Masini's field goal from 32-yards narrowed the CMS lead to 20-17 with 1:07 left in the third quarter.
In the first half, CMS scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run by sophomore running back Shane Pico (CMC) with 7:51 left in the first quarter. Pomona-Pitzer began the game with the ball, but CMS sophomore defensive back Victor Bunce (CMC) forced a fumble which sophomore defensive back Robby Weissenfels (CMC) recovered. The fumble recovery set up CMS' touchdown.
Using the big play, Pomona-Pitzer took the lead back with a pair of long touchdowns. First they scored on a 66-yard run by quarterback Taylor Mensik to take a 7-6 lead at the 6:27 mark of the first quarter. Then just before halftime, Mensik found wide receiver Brett Harper for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Harper had 193 yards receiving for Pomona-Pitzer on 10 catches.
MacDonald had a team-high nine tackles for CMS.
By Chris Watts
Director of Athletics Communication
Claremont McKenna College
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