Big Strikes Lead to Win Over Redlands

AZUSA, CALIF. -- Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 19 in the NAIA, scored on the first play from scrimmage and then kept a pesky Redlands at an arm's length the rest of the game to post a 35-22 victory Saturday in Azusa.

Cougar QB J.D. Fox hit Darryl Nolan on a wide receiver screen that went for 80 yards and a quick 7-0 Azusa Pacific lead just 10 seconds into the game.

Redlands, which used a 50-pass attempt scheme to riddle a Cougar defense all night, answered late in the first quarter when Bulldog QB Rino Marconi found Mike Benson for a one-yard TD strike to even the score at 7-7.

The Cougars responded with a pair of Eliah Rapheal TD runs, the first going for 25 yards and the second covering 52 yards (Raphael's third 50-plus yard TD run in as many games) to take a 21-7 lead with 2:06 left in the game.

Again the Bulldogs answered, capping a 10-play, 80-yard drive when Marconi hit Donnie Bladlow for a 14-yard TD strike to pull within 21-14 at halftime.

Redlands botched its first punt in the second half when Tye Gloria was unable to kick the ball and was tackled at the Bulldog 28-yard line. Six plays later, Cougar FB James Hartford blasted over from a yard out to give the Cougars a 28-14 cushion.

Again, Redlands answered, going 80 yards on just five plays, the big one being Marconi's 51-yard strike to Benson. Marcos Vann then push the ball over from 7 yards out and, when Benson took that snap on the extra point and scampered around left end, the Bulldogs were within six points at 28-22 with 7:57 left in the third quarter.

The Cougars are iced the victory when Fox hit Dexter Davis on a 35-yard floater in the end zone to put Azusa Pacific up 35-22.

Raphael collected his third straight 100-yard game, rushing for a career high 191 yards on 25 carries.

With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 5-1 on the season, while Redlands' record is evened at 3-3.

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