VALLEY-AREA COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Three Firsts Add Up to Dramatic Victory for Cal Lutheran

It was a day of firsts for Cal Lutheran.

The Kingsmen on Saturday gained their first win of the season, first-year Coach Joe Harper claimed his first victory at CLU, and quarterback Cassidy O’Sullivan tossed his first collegiate touchdown, the winning score in a 14-7 nonconference victory over host Claremont-Mudd.

O’Sullivan, who began the season as a wide receiver, lofted a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Tom Leogrande with 1 minute 12 seconds left to break a 7-7 deadlock.

“I don’t like throwing the ball much yet, but it worked out OK in the end today,” O’Sullivan said. “I would rather run the ball right now, but Tom Leogrande said he could beat his man on an out-and-up and I just threw the ball and he was there.”

CLU (1-5) took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter when running back Brian Kane capped an 18-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard dive up the middle.

Claremont (1-4) took advantage of a CLU penalty for a first down to keep a Stag drive alive and on the next play quarterback Brian O’Brien hit streaking wide receiver Tim Bray on a game-tying 75-yard touchdown play.

Cal Lutheran linebacker Kevin Evans ensured the victory, intercepting an O’Brien pass at the Claremont 40-yard line with 55 seconds remaining.

CLU freshman Jay Weber gained 126 yards in 32 carries and O’Sullivan added 76 yards in 21 carries and completed seven of 19 passes for 88 yards.