CMS Wins On The Road Against Kenyon

The CMS football team opened their season with a victory over Kenyon College for the second straight year.  The Stags traveled to Gambier, OH and came away with a 21-18 win.  CMS is now 1-0 while Kenyon is 0-1.  CMS will play their home opener this Saturday, September 15 at 7:00 against the University of Puget Sound.

The Stags took the opening kick and drove 70 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead, one they would never relinquish.  The big play on the drive was a 47-yard run by D.J. Lillard (SO, Phoenix, AZ) and Mike Hirokawa (SO, Aiea, HI) capped it with a five yard touchdown run.  Kenyon was able to counter on their second possession.  After a 48-yard punt return, the Lords scored on a seven-yard run, but Rory Baird (FR, Escondido) blocked the extra point and the Stags stayed ahead 7-6.

CMS scored on their first drive of the second quarter as Lance Rutledge (SO, Spring Valley) finished a 56-yard drive with an 11-yard run for a 14-6 Stag lead.  The big gainer on the drive was Ryan Larsen (JR, Seymour, IN) hitting Nick Marineau (SO, Portland, OR) for a 34-yard completion. 

Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the half, but Kenyon capitalized on the Stags' lone turnover of the day early in the second half.  After an interception at the CMS 28, the Lords were able to score in four plays.  They went for the two-point conversion, but the pass failed.  CMS responded on their next possession.  After a personal foul penalty pushed the Kenyon kickoff back, Hirokawa returned the kick 39 yards and the Stags drove 25 yards in five plays as Larsen connected with Andrew Doyle (JR, Ojai) for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Kenyon put together one final scoring drive on their final possession and scored with 2:17 remaining in the game.  Their two-point conversion was again unsuccessful and the Stags were able to run out the clock and secure the victory.

Lillard led the team with 56 yards rushing.  Larsen was eight for 15 for 112 yards.  Marineau had five receptions for 73 yards.  A strong defensive effort was turned in by Ashton Clarke (JR, Santa Rosa) and Brock Olson (SO, Lake Oswego, OR).  Clarke has 12 solo tackles and eight assists along with an interception.  Olson had eight solo and three assisted tackles and also blocked a punt.