CLU football's fourth quarter comeback falls short to Redlands in Smudge Pot rivalry game

Cal Lutheran University football threatened to seize the Smudge Pot Trophy Saturday with a frantic fourth quarter comeback at Rolland Stadium.

But a potential game-tying conversion pass fell incomplete with 21 seconds to play as the visiting University of Redlands held on for a 17-15 rivalry win.

“That was a tough one,” CLU head coach Anthony Lugo said.

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CLU quarterback Jaden Casey completed 28 of 50 passes for 250 yards and an interception. Receiver Cade Cadam caught 11 passes for 135 yards.

“Redlands is always a physical team,” Lugo said. “We had to match that physicalness. We hunkered down in the second half and started getting things rolling.

Trailing 17-6 with after three quarters, the Kingsmen fought back in the fourth quarter with a pair of long drives.

Daniel Burgos’ third field goal of the game pulled CLU within 17-9 with 5:23 to play, when a 14-play, 70-yard drive stalled at the Redlands 5-yard line.

After forcing a punt with 2:23 to play, CLU drove 80 yards in 12 plays, pulling within 17-15 on a 1-yard TD run by running back Gabe Landless with 21 seconds left.

“We had our chances in the red zone,” Lugo said. “We just had to put together and convert.

I’m proud of the guys for battling to the end.”

CLU (1-5), now 1-3 in SCIAC play, hosts Chapman University Saturday night at Rolland Stadium.

Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: CLU football's fourth quarter comeback falls short to Redlands in Smudge Pot rivalry game