CLU Kingsmen Football News

CLU Football Coaches Work Overtime for Recruits

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - For most major college football coaches, the hours immediately before National Signing Day are spent working the phones to secure commitments.

For the Cal Lutheran football coaches, it's the hours immediately after the fax machines stop buzzing that are the most critical.

CLU coach Ben McEnroe and his staff spent last Wednesday afternoon and evening frantically calling recruits.

Players who didn't receive the scholarship offer they sought were targets for CLU.

"It was a really productive night for us," McEnroe said. "Our coaching staff was really well received. It was a great response, and we want to build on that and keep on rolling."

Division III athletes don't sign national letters of intent, but there are milestones they reach along the way - applying for financial aid, applying for admission and finally waiting for the financial aid package to come out.

"That is when it gets extremely competitive for us," McEnroe said. "The prospects start comparing schools and the aid packages they get. National decision day is May 1. It's not a hard deadline, but that is when most universities want to find out who is coming."

CLU's biggest recruiting priority on offense is finding tailbacks to fill the void left by Daniel Mosier and Deme'Trek Chambers.

The Kingsmen also want to find another quarterback to compete for playing time with starter Jake Laudenslayer having completed his eligibility.

"The biggest question is the tailback position," McEnroe said. "It's going to be highly competitive and we have some great interest from some highly-talented freshmen kids, as well as transfers. That is going to be fun to watch. In our offensive philosophy, we need two or three tailbacks at least to keep the pace that we play."

On defense, Cal Lutheran wants to beef up the numbers at defensive tackle and middle linebacker.

"That is really the target for us right now," McEnrore said. "We need to get bigger on the interior at both levels. That is something we have seen needs to be done to go from being a top 10 team to a national contender."

The Kingsmen hosted 65 recruits and their families on campus a few weeks ago. They were finally able to tour a brand new stadium, instead of just looking at drawings.

"There is nobody in the region that can compete with the facilities we have now and the crowd support we get here," McEnroe said. "It's a really exciting time to be here and we have a great overall experience to offer these recruits."

Although McEnroe and his staff may not get all the recruits they covet, they don't mind losing a few to bigger programs.

"Our philosophy is to recruit above our level of play," McEnroe said. "A lot of guys may go to different schools around the country, but if it doesn't work out, they can come back here. Recruiting above our level helps us compete for a national championship."

Haulcy-Bateman Named to D3football.com All-America First Team

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:30:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Cal Lutheran senior corner back Justin Haulcy-Bateman became the first player in program history to earn D3football.com All-America First Team honors. He is one of only two corner backs in the nation to earn first team recognition this season.

Release: D3football.com All-America Team

Haulcy-Bateman is the first Kingsman to earn D3football.com First Team honors since the organization began its All-America Teams back in 1999. He is the ninth player and 10th overall selection in Cal Lutheran history to earn post-season All-America honors.

As a senior defensive back he hauled in six of the team's 11 interceptions and was part of a unit that held opponents to just over 160 yards through the air per game. Haulcy-Bateman is part of a starting corner back tandem that boasted two All-American selections following his first team pick.

Teammate Luis Villavicencio was named to the 2010 D3football.com All-America Second Team and 2011 Pre-Season All-America First Team at corner back. He finished his final collegiate season leading the SCIAC with 15 passes defended including two interceptions.

In the eight years prior to the arrival of current Head Coach Ben McEnroe the Kingsmen produced two All-Americans in kicker Ryan Geisler (1999) and defensive end Quinn Longhurst (2004). Since then Cal Lutheran has produced seven All-Americans including a program record four in 2010.

Wisconsin-Whitewater running back Levell Coppage was named the D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year. Mount Union safety Nick Driskill was named the D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year. Wisconsin-Whitewater's Lance Leipold was named D3football.com Coach of the Year.

Lapp to Play for Team Stars and Stripes

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

GRANBURY, Tex. - Cal Lutheran football team member Gio Lapp will play for Team Stars & Stripes at the third annual Tazón de Estrellas in Puebla, Mexico. The senior offensive lineman will join a group of about 50 NCAA Division III players which will take on the CONADEIP All Stars from Mexico.

Head coaches at NCAA D-III colleges nominated more than 200 players. Head Coach Bill Manlove and his staff made their selections for the game, which will be played on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the 5,000-seat El Tempo del Dolor (The Temple of Pain) in Puebla.

The 2011 edition of Team Stars & Stripes arrived in Puebla on Sunday, Dec. 11, and after two-a-day practices on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, will have an opportunity to mix lighter practices with an opportunity to explore the local region.

Last year Team Stars and Stripes triumphed 48-7 in Toluca after having suffered a 24-12 loss to the Tec Monterrey All-Stars in the first Tazón de Estrellas in 2009.

Kingsmen Land Five D3football.com All-Region Selections

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:00:00 PST

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Cal Lutheran football placed five of its team members on the D3football.com All-West Region Team, announced on Monday. Senior Justin Haulcy-Bateman leads this group earning first team honors at the corner back position.

Official Release: 2011 All-West Region Team

Offensive tackle Marc Valdez, defensive tackle Rian Younker, and corner back Luis Villavicencio earned All-West Region Second Team honors. CLU running back Daniel Mosier rounds out the Kingsmen honorees earning third team recognition.

Three of the five Cal Lutheran selections are repeat honorees including Haulcy-Bateman who earned third team honors in 2009. As a senior defensive back he hauled in six of the team's 11 interceptions and was part of a unit that held opponents to just over 160 yards through the air per game.

He is one of two corner backs to earn regional honors in 2011 as Villavicencio was named for the second straight year. He earned first team honors as a junior and in his final collegiate season led the conference with 15 passes defended including two interceptions.

Younker rounds out the defensive selections and earned second team honors for the second consecutive season. In his junior season he led the conference in sacks and tackles for loss.

Marc Valdez played primarily right tackle for an offensive unit that rushed for 2,541 yards and 37 touchdowns in 10 games this season. As a unit the offensive line allowed only 20 sacks with an average loss of under four yards per sack.

Mosier earned All-West Region Third Team honors after becoming only the fifth player in Cal Lutheran history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He finished with 1,139 yards and a program record tying 17 rushing touchdowns.

Cal Lutheran matches last year's five All-Region selections and earlier broke the program record with 17 different players earning All-SCIAC Team honors.

Levell Coppage of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Michael Zweifel of Dubuque were named the Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Coppage earns the honor for the third straight season. Tony Danna of St. Thomas was named the West Region Defensive Player of the Year.

Richardson Named Finalist for D-III Coordinator of the Year

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Cal Lutheran football coaching staff member Clay Richardson is a finalist for FootballScoop Division III Coordinator of the Year. The team's offensive coordinator orchestrated a unit that ranked third in the country averaging over 45 points per game.

Release: Coordinator of the Year Finalists

Richardson has been a familiar face on the sidelines for Cal Lutheran, spending the past 10 seasons calling the offensive plays. This season the Kingsmen have averaged seven yards per play and scored 62 touchdowns.

Quarterback Jacob Laudenslayer ranks in the nation's top 10 in passing efficiency. He finished the season with 2,292 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air. Laudenslayer also rushed for 502 yards and six scores to cap off his senior season.

Richardson is the lone offensive coordinator among the trio of finalists. He is joined by a pair of defensive coordinators including Brian Borland from Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wallie Kuchinski of St. Thomas (MN).

A panel of coaches, including previous recipients, will determine the 2011 winner. Votes tallied in the fan poll on the right column of the main page are considered, however the FootballScoop.com panel will make the final decision. Voting for this award ends on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Kingsmen Finish Season with Record Ranking

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Since Head Coach Ben McEnroe took over the Cal Lutheran football program in 2007, the Kingsmen have continued their climb up the national polls. The 2011 season culminated with a D-III era program record No. 8 national ranking in the D3football.com polls.

Polls: D3football.com (Week 11)

For the third straight year Cal Lutheran went undefeated in conference play and earned an outright conference championship. The results turned into national attention and respect with a record ranking in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) polls.

The CLU football program had been on the cusp of SCIAC greatness for sometime finishing runner-up from 2003-05 and third in 2006. Cal Lutheran had earned only one co-conference championship (1997) since joining the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1992.

That all changed once McEnroe, a former Cal Lutheran player and assistant coach, returned to Thousand Oaks to take over the football program. In his first season the Kingsmen earned a share of the SCIAC crown for only the second time in program history.

Cal Lutheran finished the 2008 and 2009 campaigns just outside the top-25 polls before finishing at No. 21 in 2010.

Cal Lutheran has won 20 straight SCIAC contests and posted a 28-2 records since McEnroe took over in 2007. The Kingsmen have won four conference titles in five seasons under their current head coach.

Kingsmen Football Sweeps SCIAC Player of the Year Awards

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:00:00 PST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Cal Lutheran football placed a new program record 17 of its team members on the All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Team. Cal Lutheran swept the SCIAC Player of the Year honors taking the offensive, defense, and newcomer awards.

Official Release: All-SCIAC Team

Senior quarterback Jake Laudenslayer was named the SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Senior corner back Justin Haulcy-Bateman was voted the SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman wide out and return specialist Nick Bueno was honored as the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year.

Eleven of the team's 17 honorees are repeat recipients of an All-SCIAC selection. Wide receiver Eric Rogers returns for the third time in as many seasons and makes it back-to-back first team picks following his junior season.

Including Laudenslayer and Bueno, nine different Kingsmen were named to the All-SCIAC First Team offensive unit.

Senior offensive linemen Marc Valdez, John Schachtner, and Gio Lapp, wide receivers Eric Rogers and Deme'Trek Chambers, tight end J.J. Gallagher, and running back Daniel Mosier round out this group.

Junior wide receiver Frankie Jones and punter Zach Shultis were named to the All-SCIAC Second Team Offense.

Three of the four Kingsmen All-SCIAC First Team Defense selections have received the honor once before. Senior corner back Luis Villavicencio and junior linebacker Jacob Norlock make it back-to-back picks, while Haulcy-Bateman returns after receiving the distinction in 2009.

Haulcy-Bateman was named SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year as a corner back and First Team All-Defense as a return specialist.

Younker earned 2009 All-SCIAC Second Team honors as part of the CLU defensive line. He earned first team honors for his performance in 2011.

Junior defensive lineman Chris Carr and sophomore linebacker Chris Cabrera were named to the All-SCIAC Second Team Defense.

Cal Lutheran finished the season 8-2, 6-0 SCIAC earning its third straight unbeaten conference record and outright league title. The Kingsmen were ranked as high as No. 8 in the D3football.com polls.

Cal Lutheran Suffers Dramatic First Round Loss to Linfield

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

MCMINNVILLE, ORE. - A 38-yard game-tying field-goal attempt by CLU sophomore kicker Peter Keks was blocked with 33 seconds remaining as No. 8 CLU's comeback attempt fell short in a 30-27 road loss to No. 5 Linfield on Saturday afternoon.

Box Score: LIN 30, CLU 27 - F

The Cal Lutheran Kingsmen never stopped believing - even though history was against them, even though they trailed big, even though Linfield fans were already discussing future opponents before the kickoff.

But it still ended up being just more of the same for CLU, only this time in more dramatic fashion.

For the third consecutive year, CLU lost to Linfield in the first round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs.

The Kingsmen (8-2) rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit for a chance to send the game into overtime, but Linfield's Tyler Steele extended CLU's Maxwell Field misery by extending his hand to block the kick by Keks.

"Everybody on this team always feels like we have a shot. It doesn't matter how many points are on the other scoreboard. We always know we are going to keep playing our game," CLU senior running back Daniel Mosier said. "We never felt out of it and never hung our heads and we are not going to hang our heads now."

The loss was CLU's fourth straight at Linfield in the last three seasons, including a season-opening setback in September.

CLU's major emphasis in the rematch was avoiding turnovers, but senior quarterback Jake Laudenslayer threw back-to-back interceptions on CLU's first two offensive possessions of the game.

However, CLU's defense limited the damage by holding Linfield (10-0) to only two field goals.

Linfield quarterback Mickey Inns increased Linfield's advantage to 20-3 with touchdown passes to Buddy Saxon and Deidre Wiersma in the second quarter.

But CLU carried some momentum into halftime when Laudenslayer connected with 6-foot-4 junior wide receiver Eric Rogers on a 38-yard Hail Mary pass in the end zone with no time remaining on the clock to cut CLU's deficit to 20-10.

Cal Lutheran senior safety Dennis Clay makes a tackle in the first half of CLU's playoff game against Linfield.

"In my opinion, college football is based a lot of times on momentum and we had the momentum in the second half," said Mosier, who rushed for 112 yards on 18 carries and caught six passes for 44 yards. "That was a big momentum play and that is what kept us involved for the rest of the game."

The Kingsmen pulled to within 23-20 on a 5-yard touchdown run by Laudenslayer two plays after he connected with Frankie Jones on a 47-yard pass.

But Linfield answered when Josh Hill caught a screen pass for a 14-yard touchdown to restore Linfield's lead to 30-20.

CLU senior defensive back Justin Haulcy-Bateman returned an interception 14 yards to draw CLU to within 30-27 in the fourth quarter and set the stage for the final kicking drama.

Keks watched his 49-yard field goal attempt to tie fall short with 6:22 remaining in the game, and his chance at redemption from 38 yards was knocked down in the waning seconds to set off a wild celebration among the Linfield fans.

"From where I was standing it looked like the trajectory was a little bit low and they got a little bit of push on the interior," CLU head coach Ben McEnroe said. "But it was nothing we shouldn't have been able to handle."

Laudenslayer finished 23 of 40 for 249 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 15 times for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Rogers caught eight passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, but was severely hobbled in the second half with injuries to his ankle and knee.

Just like he did in the season opener, Linfield's Josh Hill tormented the CLU defense. The junior running back had 146 yards rushing and made a key catch on fourth-and-1 that led to a Linfield touchdown in the first half.

"We put ourselves in a position a couple of times to play for the tie or play for the win, but I think a lot of credit goes to Linfield's defense, especially in the first half," McEnroe said. "They did a nice job forcing turnovers and they defended well. We weren't able to get any momentum until the second half on both sides of the ball."

The loss left CLU still searching for the program's first NCAA playoff victory.

Although the margin was closer than in the previous meetings at Maxwell Field, it didn't make the Kingsmen feel any better or worse.

"It doesn't matter if we lose by 100 or lose by one, it still stings," McEnroe said. "There is not a good way to lose, so we will sit on this in the offseason and go back to recruiting on Monday. We have already started, and our goal is to play these guys in the playoffs again."

Cal Lutheran-Linfield Playoff Game Information

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:00 PST

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - For the third straight year the Cal Lutheran football team will head to the state of Oregon and face Linfield College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Noon.

Broadcast: CLU-Linfield

This is the only first round contest that features two D3football.com top-10 nationally ranked squads in No. 8 Cal Lutheran and No. 5 Linfield. These two teams will meet for the second time this season at Maxwell Field. The Kingsmen fell 24-14 in their season opener to the Wildcats back on Sept. 10.

Possibly a key factor in Saturday's result will be taming the Wildcat running attack. Josh Hill rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the previous matchup. He led a ground game that racked up 256 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.

The Cal Lutheran pass defense hauled in two interceptions and held Linfield starting quarterback Mickey Inns to complete only 9-of-24 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown. The Kingsmen will look to create third-and-long situations forcing Linfield to become one dimensional in attempting to move the chains.

The Cal Lutheran offense has averaged 47.2 points per game while scoring a program record 425 points this season. The run game has been effective throughout most of this season and will be the key for both offensive units on Saturday.

In their games against Linfield, a 10-point loss, and Redlands, a four-point win, the Kingsmen rushed for under 125 yards as a team. In the other seven wins Cal Lutheran has averaged 300 yards on the ground and scored a total of 33 rushing touchdowns.

Cal Lutheran won its third straight outright conference title to earn an automatic berth into this year's NCAA Tournament. Linfield is unbeaten this season and won the Northwest Conference championship to secure its spot in the post-season tournament.

Cal Lutheran Offensive Line Receives National Honor

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The starting five on the Cal Lutheran football team's offensive line received D3football.com National Team of the Week honors for its performance during Saturday's road win over Occidental.

Release: National Team of the Week

Cal Lutheran rushed for 346 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-20 victory over the Tigers. The Kingsmen tied the program's single-game scoring record en route to clinching a third straight SCIAC title and perfect conference record.

The "no-names" are now at the front and center of everyone's attention. The starting unit includes Jordan Austin, Ty Olson, John Schactner, Gio Lapp and Marc Valdez.

"Those guys really deserve it," said CLU Head Coach Ben McEnroe. "They have put together outstanding performances throughout the season and it is great to receive this national attention."

As a team the Kingsmen have rushed for 36 touchdowns (averaging four per game) and totaled 340-plus yards on the ground in three different contests this season. Sixteen different players carried the ball against Occidental led by Daniel Mosier's 154 yards and two touchdown effort.

Cal Lutheran was effective through the air completing 7-of-9 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line did not allow quarterback Jake Laudenslayer to get sacked and the signal caller also rushed four times for 28 yards and a score against Occidental.

Several times this season the Cal Lutheran coaching staff has rotated players in at the line position during lopsided contests. Despite the opposition's awareness of CLU's intent on offense to become a run-heavy second half team, the Kingsmen have still been able to outscore its opponents 145-7 in the third quarter alone and 189-80 in the second half this season.

No. 8 Cal Lutheran will play No. 5 Linfield in McMinville, Ore. on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Noon in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. It marks the third straight season the Kingsmen will faced the Wildcats at Maxwell Field in the first round.

Cal Lutheran Draws Familiar Foe in NCAA Tournament First Round Matchup

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - It's déjà vu times two for the Cal Lutheran football team. For the third consecutive year, the Kingsmen will be on the road playing Linfield in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Bracket: 2011 NCAA D-III Playoffs

Eighth-ranked CLU (8-1) will face No. 5 Linfield (9-0) on Saturday at noon at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Ore. The winner will play either Hobart (N.Y.) or Wesley (Del.).

"I knew that we would eventually go through McMinnville, Oregon at some point," CLU head coach Ben McEnroe said. "It's become like our home away from home. They are a great program and we are very familiar with each other. I think this is the best team we've had with the best chance to compete up there."

The meeting between CLU and Linfield will be the fifth in the last three seasons.

Linfield, the three-time Northwest Conference champion, has beaten CLU, the three-time Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion, in the first round of the playoffs in 2009 and 2010.

CLU's only loss this season came to Linfield in the season opener in Oregon. The Wildcats defeated the Kingsmen 24-14.

CLU was hoping for a chance to host a first-round playoff game in its new stadium.

Some speculated if Redlands received an at-large berth out of the SCIAC, CLU could have hosted the Bulldogs at William Rolland Stadium.

But even though Redlands earned a playoff spot, the NCAA sent the Bulldogs to play Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas.

"I was a little surprised when I saw that," McEnroe said. "But once I saw we weren't paired with each other, I knew we were on our way to Linfield."

The Kingsmen gathered in Richter Hall on campus to watch the pairings released on the big screen.

When Redlands was matched with Mary Hardin-Baylor, 'Ooohhhhs' filled the room.

As soon as the Kingsmen saw Linfield pop on the screen, they prepared to see their name occupy the bottom line.

Once it actually happened, there was sporadic clapping and even a few chuckles.

"We have an opportunity to avenge our only loss of the season, so we are excited about that," said CLU junior wide receiver Eric Rogers, who had a single-game program record 216 receiving yards in last season's playoff loss to Linfield. "I feel like we could have won that game. We had a lot of mistakes in the first game. But it's familiar surroundings and we know where the locker rooms are and what the routine is going to be, so it should be fun."

Although McEnroe knows his players wanted a chance to play at home, he quickly turned the playoff outcome into a positive.

"What I like about this is we know what we are getting into," McEnroe told them. "We have a chance to make up our only blemish and should embrace that. We can beat anyone in the country, anywhere in any conditions right now. We have an opportunity to run this thing."

Cal Lutheran Completes SCIAC Three-peat

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:00:00 PST

EAGLE ROCK, Calif. - CLU exploded for a program-record tying 70 points as the No. 8 Kingsmen cruised to a 70-20 victory over Occidental on Saturday afternoon at Jack Kemp Stadium. The win secured a third straight undefeated SCIAC season (8-1, 6-0 SCIAC) and outright SCIAC title.

Box Score: CLU 70, OXY 20 - F

The Kingsmen, whom have won 20 straight SCIAC games, are hoping they have done enough to warrant hosting a first-round game in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The playoff pairings will be released on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m.

CLU's only loss this season came in the opening game against Linfield, which has beaten CLU in the first round of the NCAA playoffs the last two seasons.

But if the Kingsmen can avoid drawing Linfield for a third straight time, they believe they have a good chance of hosting a first-round playoff game at their new stadium.

It would help CLU's cause if Redlands receives an at-large berth into the playoffs, which could result in a rematch of the thrilling SCIAC-opening meeting between the teams at William Rolland Stadium.

"We have done everything we could except beat Linfield and that is behind us and we have won out," CLU head coach Ben McEnroe said. "I think we are a strong candidate to host, but we are not going to complain about it if we don't. Obviously, I would love for our seniors to have another home game. But it's out of our hands now and up to the NCAA."

Against Occidental (5-4, 3-3 SCIAC), CLU's nearly unstoppable offense continued to be nearly unstoppable. The Kingsmen scored touchdowns on their first seven drives of the game and returned an interception for a touchdown for another score. The only drive CLU didn't score a touchdown in the first half was its final drive.

The Kingsmen led 35-0 after one quarter and 56-0 with 8:04 left in the second quarter. CLU's starters were already on the sideline before the first half concluded.

Karsten Lundring - aka CLU's "Candyman" - had to begin rationing his candy stock in the first quarter, fearing he would run out of treats by the end of the second.

The 70 points tied the program-record 70 points CLU scored against Whittier in 2003. It also marked the sixth straight game CLU has scored more than 50 points.

"Everybody kept looking around saying they have never scored this many points in a game before," CLU senior running back Daniel Mosier said. "I have never seen 70 points put up in a game I've been a part of. It was something special."

Mosier, a Royal High graduate, rushed 14 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns in a little more than one quarter of play. Following his performance against OXY he tied the program's single-season rushing touchdowns mark with 17. Mosier also became the fifth 1,000-yard rusher in program history and ranks third all-time with 1,027 thus far.

CLU senior quarterback Jake Laudenslayer completed 7 of 9 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown. Laudenslayer also rushed for one touchdown. He surpassed 2,000 yards for the season and currently ranks 10th all-time in CLU single-season history with 2,043 yards through the air.

Junior wide receiver Eric Rogers caught three passes for 81 yards and Deme'Trek Chambers rushed for two touchdowns.

"We challenged our kids to come out and start fast after what happened last week and they answered the bell," McEnroe said. "They did everything we asked them to do from the All-American candidates all the way down to the fourth-string guys. I am proud of them."

The Kingsmen plan to gather on Sunday to watch the NCAA pairings be released and find out the where they will begin their postseason journey.

They are hoping it's a familiar location that finally allows them to sleep in their own beds on a postseason game day.

"I do think we have made some changes and improved all year," Mosier said. "Obviously it depends on whatever the NCAA chooses. But it would be great to have a home playoff game."

Haulcy-Bateman Returns to National Team of the Week

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Senior Justin Haulcy-Bateman was named to the D3football.com National Team of the Week for his performance in Saturday's 61-31 road win over Chapman.

Official Release: National Team of the Week

Haulcy-Bateman earned a spot on this week's team as a return specialist. Chapman took a short lived 3-0 lead on its opening possession when he returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. He also had four punt returns totaling 42 yards including a long of 16 yards.

From his defensive back position he later snatched his fifth interception of the season. He returned the third quarter pick 20 yards and following a personal foul penalty Cal Lutheran started its drive at the Chapman 13-yard line.

Earlier this season Haulcy-Bateman received National Team of the Week honors as a corner back with two interceptions during a 52-17 win over La Verne.

Cal Lutheran (7-1, 5-0 SCIAC) will travel to Occidental (5-3, 3-2 SCIAC) on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. The Kingsmen have already clinched at least a share of the conference title and an automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs.

No. 9 Cal Lutheran Earns Another Lopsided Win

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:30:00 PST

ORANGE, Calif. - Cal Lutheran scored on offense, defense and special teams during a 61-31 road win over Chapman on Saturday night at Ernie Chapman Stadium. A string of 45 unanswered points turned a 17-10 deficit into a blowout victory.

Box Score: CLU 61, CU 31 - F

On a night that featured several big plays it was Cal Lutheran who trailed at the end of one quarter. Cal Lutheran pulled ahead 27-17 by halftime and ended any hopes of a Chapman upset after scoring touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to begin the second half.

Cal Lutheran took its initial lead of the game without the offense stepping foot on the field. After the Kingsmen defense yielded three points on the Panthers opening drive, CLU senior Justin Haulcy-Bateman took the team's opening kickoff return 95 yards for a score.

The senior defensive back and return specialist had a big night that also included a 20-yard interception return and four punt returns totaling 42 yards.

Reminiscent of its game with Redlands, the Cal Lutheran defense allowed Chapman to run wild in the opening quarter. The Panthers first play was a 47-yard run that led to a field goal. Later in the frame Michael Lahey scored on a 61-yard scamper to take a 10-7 lead.

Lahey finished with 126 yards rushing and two touchdowns on only three carries. All five of his pass attempts were caught; four by Chapman receivers and one snatched away by Haulcy-Bateman for his fifth interception of the season.

Chapman capped off its third scoring drive of the opening quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bret Visciglia to Kali'I Kunitomo to surge ahead 17-10. Visciglia finished Saturday completing 13-of-28 passes for 164 yards including the score to Kunitomo.

In total the Panthers racked up 122 rushing yards, seven first downs and did not turn the ball over in the first quarter. Over the final three quarters Chapman moved the chains only nine more times, gained 97 yards rushing and committed four turnovers. The Cal Lutheran defense aided the team's streak of 50-plus points for the fifth consecutive game.

The Kingsmen scored its opening points of the game on special teams, the next 48 courtesy of its offense, and the final touchdown courtesy of Noah Lyche recovering a fumble in the Chapman end zone. The CLU offense took advantage of Chapman's misfortunate putting 17 points on the board off four Panther turnovers.

Quarterback Jake Laudenslayer achieved the first 100-yard rushing performance of his CLU career doing so on 13 carries. He completed 16-of-21 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns including a pair to his favorite target Eric Rogers.

Rogers hauled in four receptions for 121 yards including a 63-yard touchdown. Deme'Trek Chambers scored two third quarter touchdowns with a 51-yard reception and a 13-yard run.

Daniel Mosier added another 86 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 carries against the Panthers. His season total of 873 yards on the ground ranks ninth best in program history, and 15 rushing TD's are the third most by any CLU running back.

Tanner Hix led the Cal Lutheran defense with nine total tackles (eight solo) and forced one of three Chapman fumbles. Chris Carr made the most of his lone solo tackle recording a sack fumble and pouncing on the loose ball ending a potential scoring drive for the Panthers when CLU led 24-17.

Cal Lutheran (7-1, 5-0 SCIAC) needs to score only four points in its regular season finale at Occidental (5-3, 3-2 SCIAC) to break the program's single-season scoring record of 358 set in 1975. This year's squad would accomplish the feat in two fewer games than the 1975 team.

The Kingsmen have already clinched a spot into the NCAA playoffs regardless of their result with the Tigers.

SCIAC Champs for Third Straight Year

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Cal Lutheran football had reason to celebrate following its 54-6 victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps during Homecoming Weekend. The win clinches the program's third straight SCIAC title and berth into the NCAA playoffs.

Box Score: CLU 54, CMS 6 - F

Cal Lutheran scored 50-plus points for the fourth straight game including 26 in third quarter alone. The Kingsmen offense rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns with Daniel Mosier and Deme'Trek Chambers contributing two scores apiece. Offensive lineman turned fullback Gio Lapp scored the other capping off a stretch of 21 unanswered points to start Saturday's game.

Meanwhile the CLU defense aced its test against another high-powered running attack for the second straight week. Averaging over 207 yards per game heading into Saturday, the Stags managed only 80 yards on 36 carries against the Kingsmen.

The Cal Lutheran defense used seven tackles for loss in its run stuffing efforts including a game-high 1.5 from senior Chris Carr. Loren Powers led the team with six tackles and forced one of three CMS fumbles on the day.

Midway through the second quarter and trailing 21-0 the visiting side put together a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive for its only points of the contest. The Stags used a fake punt, two fourth down conversions, and a 40-yard gadget play to score.

An interception by CMS' Matt Laredo late in the first half took probable points off the board for Cal Lutheran and preserved a manageable 21-6 halftime deficit. After outscoring the opposition 118-3 in the first half of the past three contests, it was considered a "flat" first half by members of the Kingsmen squad.

The second half turned into an offensive showcase following a locker room pep talk at halftime. The Kingsmen scored on its first five second half possessions and left little doubt about Saturday's outcome.

Over the past three contests Cal Lutheran had attempted only three second half passes. On the opening second half offensive play in today's game CLU quarterback Jake Laudenslayer connected with Max Eller for 45 yards. It set up the first of three consecutive touchdown drives and 33 straight points.

Laudenslayer attempted six second half passes including a 16-yard touchdown completion to Frankie Jones. The Kingsmen quarterback finished Saturday completing 15-of-23 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

His counterpart Peter Kimmey connected on just 7-of-19 passes for 117 yards including the 40-yard strike to Kris Otterholt. Corey Bickler led the Stags rushers with 28 yards on seven carries.

No. 10 Cal Lutheran (6-1, 5-0 SCIAC) clinched at minimum a share of the conference title with one conference game remaining on the schedule. The Kingsmen will face a non-conference opponent on the road Saturday, Nov. 5, when they battle Chapman.

Lapp Finds Comfort Zone at CLU

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:00:00 PST

Football programs often tout the fact their team is like a family. Gio Lapp put that theory to test right away at Cal Lutheran.

One month before the offensive lineman was scheduled to report to camp during his freshman season, Lapp's father died of colon cancer.

Lapp wondered how he would make it through those first few weeks on campus. His coaches and teammates provided the comforting answer.

"Everybody took me under their wing from the get go," Lapp said. "I really just emotionally connected with the university and everybody on the team because I was in a very vulnerable spot."

Lapp's bond with the program has only strengthened over the years.

The Carlsbad native is one of the CLU seniors being honored today when the No. 10 Kingsmen (5-1, 4-0) host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-3, 2-1) in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at William Rolland Stadium.

"It's amazing how fast it has flown by, but it's been everything I imagined and more," Lapp said. "Coach (Ben) McEnroe is the coach I have been looking to play for my entire life and the kids I have become friends with in and out of the program are people I will stay in touch with the rest of my life."

The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Lapp has started every game he has been healthy during his four-year career at CLU.

"He is just one of those guys you want in your foxhole with you," McEnroe said. "By offensive line standards, he is undersized. But he makes up for it in toughness and technique and attitude. He plays like a 300-pound All-American."

Lapp has endured two serious knee injuries at CLU that sidelined him for prolonged stretches.

He tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and had to have a titanium screw inserted into his femur to reattach it as a freshman.

As a sophomore, he partially tore the MCL and patellar tendon in his right knee.

"It was tough, but I try to remain positive throughout situations like that because there are always ways you can grow from it," Lapp said. "I truly learned not to take anything for granted because it's really true when people say every snap could be your last. It really makes you cherish every play and even every practice."

McEnroe credits Lapp's demeanor for his ability to bounce back from adversity.

"He is one of those guys who refuses to let things get him down," McEnroe said. "When the time comes to be emotional, he can be emotional. When it's time to have fun, he can be a comedian, and when it's time to get serious, he gives you a smile, wink and nod and you know it's go time."

Although Lapp is on schedule to graduate with a degree in communications, it may not be the last Lapp at CLU.

His brother, Langden, is a junior wide receiver and defensive back in high school.

"I was talking to him the other day about what schools he was looking at," Lapp said. "He said he might want to try and play football at Cal Lu. We will see. It might keep the tradition going."

Cal Lutheran Runs Through Pomona-Pitzer

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:00:00 PST

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Cal Lutheran rushed for 372 yards and seven touchdowns while defeating Pomona-Pitzer 62-7 on the road Saturday night. Daniel Mosier highlighted the running game equaling a program record with four rushing touchdowns.

Box Score: CLU 62, PP 7 - F

Mosier reached the end zone on three separate occasions in the first quarter with scoring runs of 16, 49, and three yards respectively. He tied the school record with his fourth of the game midway through the second quarter putting Cal Lutheran up 28-0. Mosier racked up his 118 yards and four scores on only 14 carries.

"Our offensive line did a great job tonight," said Head Coach Ben McEnroe. "Andrew Pankow had a great game, especially on some trap plays...Our normal starting lineman Gio Lapp played at fullback due to some injuries, and at one point we had four freshmen and a sophomore on our (offensive) line and were still able to run the ball effectively."

The Kingsmen ran at will scoring seven of their nine total touchdowns on the ground. Three different Cal Lutheran quarterbacks rushed one in for a score including Jake Laudenslayer, Kevin Ramay and Zach Shultis.

Laudenslayer completed 8-of-14 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. Shane Paulson took a wide receiver screen from 13 yards out for the score that put CLU up 41-0.

Cal Lutheran did not attempt a pass in the second half of Saturday's game and has thrown just three total second half passes over the last three games. The Kingsmen have outscored the opposition 118-3 in the first half of the past three games and let the running game go to work during the second half.

It had been Pomona-Pitzer running back Luke Sweeney receiving the national attention as the leading rusher in Division III. He averaged over 203 yards per game heading into tonight's game but was held to just 56 yards by the Cal Lutheran defense. Overall the CLU defensive unit held Whittier to only 108 total offensive yards and just 45 on the ground.

"Our number one goal was to stop Sweeney," said McEnroe. "We committed a lot of players to stopping him putting our secondary, especially our corner backs in isolated situations. (Defensive Coordinator) Beattie had a great gameplan and we are fortunate to have a talented unit."

Defense and special teams set up the CLU offense with a short field on several occasions. Only two of the Kingsmen touchdowns came on scoring drives that started on their side of the field. After the offense scored its final first half touchdown to go up 41-0, the defense got a score of its own.

On the final play of the half Luis Villavicencio took an interception back 49 yards for the score. Both starting corner backs snatched an interception with Justin Haulcy-Bateman halting a Sagehens drive that had reached CLU territory.

Pomona-Pitzer's two highlight plays feature a 14-yard touchdown pass from Luke Ferguson to Ryan Randle late in the game to avoid the shutout. Ferguson finished the game completing just 7-of-26 passes for 63 yards.

The other big play was a blocked extra point attempt late in the first half. The non-converted point after try cost kicker Peter Keks sole possession in the CLU record books of most PAT's in a single game. He has tied the record twice this season following an 8-for-8 game against Whittier on Oct. 8.

Coach McEnroe remains undefeated in conference road games extending his streak to 14 following the win over Pomona-Pitzer. The victory also stretched the program's active SCIAC win streak to 18 games.

No. 12 Cal Lutheran (5-1, 4-0 SCIAC) will host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m. during Homecoming Weekend.

Jones Takes Winding Route to CLU

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Frankie Jones couldn't have asked for a more impressive touchdown-to-catch ratio. The Cal Lutheran junior wide receiver was a perfect 2-for-2 in CLU's victory over La Verne last week.

But it was another teammate's touchdown that elicited the most outward excitement from Jones.

As Daniel Mosier sprinted 76 yards to the end zone, Jones carried out a crucial block that opened the way for Mosier to navigate the final few yards.

"Everyone likes to score touchdowns, but without blocking you can't help your team win," Jones said. "My defender wasn't turning around so I just kept running him off. I figured I would abuse him as much as I could and it worked."

That unselfish team mentality is one the major reasons Jones transferred to CLU this season.

"I found out this program is not all about yourself," he said. "It's always competitive, but people still want to help you so you can get a starting job if you earned it. We have a lot of weapons on offense, but I felt in my mind I could work hard for a spot and still be friends with everyone. I like that a lot."

On Saturday, 12th-ranked CLU's more balanced offensive approach will be in stark contrast to Pomona-Pitzer's one-man, ground-heavy assault. Pomona-Pitzer running back Luke Sweeney leads the nation in rushing averaging over 203 yards per game.

After graduating from Fremont High, Jones never thought he would be playing against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition.

He figured he would be enduring long bus rides across the country as he pursued his major league baseball dreams.

The Seattle Mariners selected the center fielder in the 50th round of 2007 draft.

"Baseball was my main sport and I still love baseball to this day, but I just decided if I didn't get drafted really high out of high school I wanted to go to college," Jones said. "I wanted to get a good education, and eventually I started focusing more on football once I got to college."

Jones spent two seasons at L.A. Harbor College before transferring to Missouri Southern. But a tornado scare prompted Jones to leave Missouri after redshirting in the fall.

"We were on tornado watch for half the spring semester, so that really bothered me. I didn't have any time to relax. It was more always being cautious the whole time," said Jones, who has fully recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his knee. "I felt better coming back home where I was used to normal weather. It was a fun experience, but I would rather be here."

Jones, 22, began researching Division III institutions and came across CLU. He was intrigued by its quality football program and good criminal justice program.

Jones wants to work as a SWAT officer once his football career ends.

But his main priority for the next two years is protecting and serving his teammates in any way they need whether it's a touchdown catch or a block.

"I just truly want to be a team player and try to improve every game," Jones said. "We have a great coach, a great quarterback and a great team on both sides of the ball. If we all play together we can go very far."

Haulcy-Bateman Earns National Recognition

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:00:00 PST

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Justin Haulcy-Bateman was named to the D3Football.com National Team of the Week for his performance during Saturday's 52-17 road win over La Verne.

Official Release: D3Football Team of the Week

Haulcy-Bateman grabbed two second quarter interceptions including a 20-yard pick-six during Cal Lutheran's 17th consecutive SCIAC win. His second of the game halted a late first half Leopards drive that had reached scoring territory.

He also had a 47-yard kick return in the final minute of the opening half. Haulcy-Bateman's return started the CLU offense in ULV territory and the Kingsmen finished off the first half with a quick touchdown drive to take a 35-3 lead into intermission.

It is the second two-interception game of his CLU career after snatching a pair during the team's 30-21 home win over Redlands back on Nov. 14, 2009. In that victory he also returned a pick for a touchdown as Cal Lutheran secured its first undefeated conference season in program history.

Haulcy-Bateman is the third Kingsmen to earn this distinction after both wide receiver Eric Rogers and defensive lineman Rian Younker were named to the team for their performances following a 56-0 win over Whittier on Oct. 8.

Kingsmen Dominant in Win Over Leopards

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:00:00 PST

LA VERNE, Calif. - No. 13 Cal Lutheran maintained its unbeaten mark in conference play with a resounding 52-17 road win over La Verne on Saturday. Daniel Mosier rushed for 168 yards and a score while quarterback Jake Laudenslayer threw four touchdown passes in the win.

Box Score: CLU 52, ULV 17 - F

Laudenslayer capped off three touchdown drives with scoring throws to three different targets over the first four CLU drives of the game. Eric Rogers caught a 6-yard score to finish off a 15-play, 76-yard on the team's first offensive possession.

Frankie Jones hauled in a 29-yard catch on the following drive after La Verne botched a punt attempt inside its own red zone. Nick Bueno was on the receiving end of a 5-yard pass-and-catch two drives later putting the Kingsmen up 21-0.

The defense got in on the scoring as Justin Haulcy-Bateman took an interception to the house from 20 yards out. It was the first of his two second quarter interceptions as he halted a potential Leopards scoring drive in the final minute of the first half.

After completing 9-of-10 passes for 112 yards and three scores in the first half Laudenslayer threw only one time in the second half. The play covered 35 yards and was the second of Jones' receiving touchdowns on the day putting Cal Lutheran up 49-3.

Cal Lutheran used a similar offensive blueprint against La Verne as it did the week prior during its 56-0 victory over Whittier. The Kingsmen became a run-heavy offense in the second half with 21 carries for 153 yards.

Mosier carried the ball only four times for 109 yards and a touchdown in the second half alone. He finished with 168 yards on 16 carries averaging over 10 yards per rush. Over the past two games Mosier has rushed the ball nine times for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.

La Verne managed to outgain Cal Lutheran 395-391 in total offensive yards. However the Leopards offensive unit used three different quarterbacks whom combined to complete 17-of-34 passes including one touchdown and two picks.

Garry Hedlund was the top performer of the ULV trio completing 9-of-16 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown pass to Andres Fernandez. The Leopards final scoring drive which featured a fourth down conversion was capped off by a Hedlund 3-yard touchdown run.

CLU's Jacob Norlock and La Verne's Manuel Macias led their respective teams with 11 tackles each.

Cal Lutheran (4-1, 3-0 SCIAC) will be on the road Saturday, Oct. 22, when it faces Pomona-Pitzer at 7 p.m.