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Occidental College

Football

By the Skin of their Teeth, Tigers Win SCIAC Opener, Extend Win-Streak to 29

CLAREMONT, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2007) – Two weeks worth of practices and preparation came down to a 45-yard field goal attempt off the foot of the opposition with 13 seconds on the clock. Although on target, the pigskin sailed just 43 yards, putting the ball back in the hands of the Tigers who held on for a 28-27 victory being tipped by senior James Sabo, in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener tonight at Fritz B. Burns Stadium on the campus of CMS.

The teams battled throughout the game as the scoreboard showed two ties and an ultimate final score that separated the teams by a mere point. No one could have written a script for the way the final six minutes panned out, but the Tigers managed to extend their regular season winning streak to 29 games while improving to 3-0 overall, 1-0 in SCIAC play.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps struck first, leaving the Tigers trailing for the first time all season. With 7:44 remaining in the first half Oxy knotted the game at 7-7 as freshman Ryan Nastor ran four yards into the end zone and sophomore Neil Martin finished off the play.

Fifty-four seconds from the half way mark junior quarterback Justin Goltz found an open Rocky Ciasulli in the end zone for the Tigers' second score of the game. Again Martin's PAT kick was good.

The 14-7 lead quickly turned into a tie the Stags drove 55 yards down the field in four plays to add a second score before the teams headed to the locker rooms.

Senior running back Jason Haller ran 14 yards for his first touchdown of the 2007 season. accounted for the only scoring in the third quarter.

Goltz and Caisulli connected again for an 18-yard pass completion in the fourth quarter to cap off a nine-play, 63 yard drive.

What unfolded after that brought Tigers and Stags fans to the edge of their seats.

With 11 minutes remaining in regulation the Stags blocked a Tigers punt attempt, recovering the ball at the Oxy 16 yard line.

During the next ten plays CMS drove down the field into the end zone, cutting their deficit to 28-21. An Oxy fumble put the ball back in the hands of the Stags, who took advantage. CMS quarterback Ryan Larsen threw the ball long and it found the hands of junior wide receiver Andrew Doyle for a 33-yard touchdown.

Occidental senior Daniel Tromello flung himself in font of the PAT attempt, blocking the kick, preserving the one point Oxy edge with under five minutes to play.

Haller spent the next 2:53 carrying the ball  six times for19 yards. The Tigers however failed to convert a fourth and three, turning the ball back over to the Stags with 1:44 to play in regulation.

Two first downs, and two Oxy timeouts later, the game ended when Zach Mallove's 45-yard field goal attempt came up short.

The running duo of Haller and Nastor racked up 85 and 61 yards respectively. Through the air Ciasulli caught five passes for a total of 67 yards. Goltz finished 14-29 with his longest completion a 29-yard pass to Chris Washington. He added two touchdowns and was picked off once.

Defensively Anthony Ostland led all players with seven tackles. Right behind him was Tim Creamer who contributed 6.5 total tackles. Both players had six solo tackles and a sack for a loss of eight and seven yards respectively. Ostland finished with 2.0 tackles for a loss of ten yards while Creamer had 3.5 for 14. JD Ciasulli intercepted Larsen and returned the ball 24 yards and Jarred Salha picked off the CMS quarterback, running back 21 yards. Ciasulli also broke up three plays for the Tigers.

According to Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette the Tigers are currently ranked # 16 in Division III.

Occidental will play their first home game of 2007 on Saturday, Oct. 6 when they host SCIAC foe Redlands (3-0; 0-0 SCIAC) at D.W. Patterson Field. Redlands is currently # 35 in the Top-40 poll. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Anthony  Ostland

#45 Anthony Ostland

LB
6' 0"
Senior
James Sabo

#50 James Sabo

DL
6' 0"
Senior
Jarred Salha

#38 Jarred Salha

DB
5' 6"
Sophomore
Justin Goltz

#8 Justin Goltz

QB
6' 5"
Junior
Neil Martin

#39 Neil Martin

K
5' 9"
Sophomore
Rocky  Ciasulli

#82 Rocky Ciasulli

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Ryan Nastor

#27 Ryan Nastor

RB
5' 7"
First Year
Tim Creamer

#57 Tim Creamer

LB
5' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Anthony  Ostland

#45 Anthony Ostland

6' 0"
Senior
LB
James Sabo

#50 James Sabo

6' 0"
Senior
DL
Jarred Salha

#38 Jarred Salha

5' 6"
Sophomore
DB
Justin Goltz

#8 Justin Goltz

6' 5"
Junior
QB
Neil Martin

#39 Neil Martin

5' 9"
Sophomore
K
Rocky  Ciasulli

#82 Rocky Ciasulli

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Ryan Nastor

#27 Ryan Nastor

5' 7"
First Year
RB
Tim Creamer

#57 Tim Creamer

5' 0"
Sophomore
LB