The Pioneer football team fell 41-17 (box score) to the
Claremont Stags Saturday in Claremont. .
The Pioneers took the opening drive down to the Claremont 32
when quarterback AJ Brown (senior, Vancouver, Wash.) was sacked and
forced to fumble to ball, turning possession over to the Stags who
found the end zone to go up 7-0.
Joevonte Mayes (sophomore, Milawukie, Ore.) returned the ensuing
kickoff 37-yards, putting the Pioneers at midfield. After a 41-yard
completion from Brown to James Connelly (senior, El Cajon, Calif.),
the Pioneers were in the red zone with a first-and-goal at the
seven. AJ Brown took the ball into the end zone himself on third
down to even the score at 7-7.
Claremont answered just over two minutes later when a 41-yard
completion in the end zone once again gave them a seven-point lead.
The Pioneers punted on their next possession, a punt that was
returned 75-yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 CMS advantage.
Claremont added seven more in the second quarter to take a 28-7
lead. After intercepting another Brown pass, Claremont found end
zone 34-yards and 10 plays later to take a 35-7 lead.
After the Pioneers fumbled the kickoff, they got the ball back
when Angus Blair (sophomore, St Helens, Ore.) forced a fumble that
was receovered by the Pioneers' Ryan Jameson (freshman, Walnut
Creek, Calif.). A 42-yard completion from Brown to Ryan Kostecka
(sophomore, Napa, Calif.) set up a two-yard pass to Kai Watts
(sophomore, Manzanita, Ore.) to make it a 35-14 game.
The two teams went into the locker room at the half with that
same score. Claremont scored on the first drive of the second half
to make it 41-14. The Pioneers used their first possession to set
up a 36-yard field goal by Andrew Foote (junior, Denver, Colo.) to
make it 41-17. Neither team scored the remainder of the game.
For the Pioneers, Ryan Kostecka had eight catches for 146 yards,
including his 42-yard catch. AJ Brown was 22-41 with two
interceptions. He rushed for a touchdown and one passing TD. He was
sacked four times in the game. Max Yago (freshman, Walnut Creek,
Calif.) made his Pioneer quarterbacking debut, going 2-5 for 19
yards. He was also sacked once.
For the Pioneer defense, Disan Suarez (sophomore, Calipatria,
Calif.) led the Pioneers with 11 tackles. Matt Meacham (senior,
Roseville, Calif.) had an interception.
The Pioneers will play their home opener next weekend, hosting
the Pomona Sagehens, Saturday, September 20 at 1pm at Fred Wilson
Field.
