Occidental Takes Conference Title With 7-0 Victory

Funny how Whittier College--a team that is third in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference--seems to bring out the worst in Occidental.

Just two weeks after the Tigers’ dismal performance in a loss at Whittier, Occidental accounted for only 172 yards and seven points. The Tigers didn’t even score a touchdown, posting their points on two safeties and a field goal.

Yet that proved sufficient as Occidental defeated Whittier, 7-0, Saturday night in a conference finale at Occidental.

With the victory, the Tigers clinched the SCIAC championship outright. Occidental (6 1/2-1 1/2 overall, 4-0-1 in conference play) has won or shared the title for three consecutive years and six of the past seven.

A bright point was the play of the Tigers’ defensive front, which sacked quarterback Mike Haney eight times.

The Tigers trapped Whittier (2 1/2-5 1/2, 2 1/2-2 1/2) deep in its own territory midway through the fourth quarter. Punter Stuart Lewin was in the Poets’ end zone to receive the snap but the ball sailed over his head. Lewin attempted to get the kick off but stepped out of the end zone for a safety--Whittier’s second--giving Occidental a 7-0 lead.

Jeremy Dickinson returned the ensuing kick 75 yards for an apparent Occidental score, but the run was nullified by a clipping penalty.

In all, Occidental was penalized 14 times for 105 yards. Whittier was flagged seven times for 100.

The Tigers took a 2-0 edge with 3:56 to play in the first quarter after Jeremy Dickinson blocked Stuart Lewin’s punt out of the end zone for a safety.

Mark Collinsworth made a 30-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to give the Tigers a 5-0 advantage. The 10-play scoring drive began at the Whittier 45 and was kept alive by an unsportsmanlike conduct call.

Whittier, which has gained the fewest yards in conference play (280.1 yards a game), showed why in the first half, netting just nine yards.

Occidental did not fare much better. The Tigers’ top back, Gary Little, gained 37 yards in 15 carries. Little’s first run--of 37 yards--was called back due to an illegal-procedure penalty.

Little fumbled his second carry and the ball was recovered by Whittier’s Chad Ledbetter at the Occidental 22.

Six plays later, Michael Westmoreland attempted a 22-yard field goal but the kick was blocked by Brady Dargan. It was the last time the Poets threatened in the half.

Tony Werbelow provided some offense between the 20-yard lines for the Tigers, completing seven of eight passes for 67 yards.

Mike Haney, who was sacked five times in the first half, completed two of nine passes for 19 yards.