Cal Lutheran Plays One for the Book and Wins, 44-9

THOUSAND OAKS — Everybody’s scrapbook got a new page Saturday at Cal Lutheran.

On a day filled with individual highlights, the Kingsmen trounced Claremont-Mudd, 44-9, in their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference finale to finish with a winning record for the first time since 1985.

“I’m happy for us seniors,” said Cal Lutheran quarterback Adam Hacker, who will graduate with one year of eligibility remaining. “Then again, I’m happy for the young guys. They’re learning how to win.”

Eight players rushed the ball and nine caught it for the Kingsmen. Senior Don Schyler and freshmen Michael Asker, Kevin Reuter and 5-foot-5 Bryce Montoya had the first receptions of their careers.

Their chance to play before the crowd of 2,125 was paved by some career performances by Hacker, running back Steve Roussell and wide receiver Pete Marine.

Hacker hit 22 of 25 passes (career-best 88% completion rate) for 330 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Marine caught eight passes for a career-high 167 yards, coming within 23 of the school record for receiving yardage. Roussell rushed for a career-high 142 yards, 138 in the first half, 89 in the first quarter.

It seemed Roussell would break the school rushing record of 183, but Cal Lutheran took a 31-9 lead into halftime and Roussell got only one more carry.

Roussell’s 23-yard touchdown run and a 10-yarder by Jason Higbee (five carries, 50 yards) gave the Kingsmen (5-4, 3-3 in SCIAC play) a 14-0 lead with 8:43 remaining in the first quarter.

The Stags (1-6-1, 1-5) came back with a 41-yard field goal by Alejandro Hernandez, but after an interception by David Harris, Roussell scored on a two-yard run for a 21-3 lead with 13:08 left in the first half.

One play after Claremont’s fake field-goal attempt failed, Hacker hit Marine on a 65-yard touchdown pass play and it was 28-3 with 8:20 to go in the half.