CLAREMONT, Calif. – Freshman quarterback Dominick Catalano accounted for both touchdowns, throwing for one score and rushing for another, as Pomona-Pitzer extended its winning streak to 4 games with a 14-0 victory over Azusa Pacific on Saturday night at Merritt Field.
Catalano, whose older brother Anthony quarterbacked the Cougars from 2018-19, completed 15-of-30 passes for 147 yards and immediately demonstrated poise beyond his years. On the opening drive, he connected on 5 of his first 6 passes for 67 yards, capping a 9-play, 78-yard march with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Dragomer. The early score gave the Sagehens a 7-0 advantage less than 4 minutes into the contest.
Despite the difficult start, the Cougar defense responded with one of its strongest stretches of the season. After allowing Pomona-Pitzer to move effortlessly on its opening possession, APU tightened up considerably, surrendering just 40 yards over the Sagehens' next 28 offensive snaps and 7 possessions.
The defensive effort gave the Cougars an opportunity to even the score late in the second quarter. Azusa Pacific pieced together a 10-play, 48-yard drive and moved into field goal range, but the drive stalled before halftime. A 47-yard field goal attempt as time expired sailed wide left, allowing Pomona-Pitzer to take its 7-0 lead into the locker room.
The Sagehens, owners of the SCIAC's top-ranked defense, controlled the game throughout the second half. Pomona-Pitzer did not allow the Cougars to advance beyond the Sagehen 46-yard line after halftime and yielded only 2 first downs over the final 2 quarters.
Catalano effectively sealed the outcome late in the third quarter, breaking free on a 17-yard QB draw with 54 seconds remaining in the period to extend the lead to 14-0.
Pomona-Pitzer finished with 261 yards of total offense while limiting Azusa Pacific to just 91 yards.
Saturday's match-up marked only the third meeting between the 2 programs in the last 43 years, and all 3 contests have resulted in shutouts. The Cougars defeated the Sagehens 14-0 during their NAIA national championship season in 1998 and posted a 31-0 victory in Claremont in 1983.
With the win, Pomona-Pitzer improves to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in SCIAC play. Azusa Pacific falls to 1-5 overall and 1-4 in conference action. The Cougars return home next Saturday, Oct. 31, when they host La Verne at 6 p.m. in Cougar Stadium.
