Burnaby, BC β In their first game under Head Coach Jacques Chapdelaine, the Simon Fraser University football team fell against the Menlo College Oaks, 31-24.
βThis is our first game of the year, and I think that mistakes will happen. Obviously we want to minimize that and we are dealing with a situation where kids are anxious,β said Chapdelaine. βAnd maybe in wanting to do well, they slipped a bit in terms of football security.β
Quarterback Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ) threw for 260 yards, notching three touchdowns and two sacks.
Leading the rushing effort, Christ Tolbert (Silver Springs, MD) grabbed a net 83 yards. He was followed by Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC), who earned a net 19.
Durant also topped the receiving charts with 151.
Touchdowns were scored by Kyle Kawamoto (North Vancouver, BC), Ante Milanovic-Litre (Vancouver, BC), and Durant.
The Clan started the game out strong, maximizing on Chapdelaineβs new system of offence.
WithΒ 12:33Β remaining in the first quarter, Eric Murphy (North Bend, WA) picked off a Menlo pass.
On the third down of their following offensive drive, quarterback Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ) connected with Kyle Kawamoto for 29 yards, putting SFU on the board 7-0.
Menlo attempted to answer minutes later, but an unsuccessful drive for the end zone forced the Oaks to a field goal. Converting a 14 yard attempt, the visitors landed on the board, bringing the score to 7-3 withΒ 5:11Β to go in the first.
However, the home team slowly saw their lead slip away. Tolbert dropped two consecutive fumbles, resulting in a successful Menlo touchdown drive.
By the half, the Clan narrowly trailed 17-14.
Three minutes into the third quarter, a pick by defensive back Matt Isherwood (Abbotsford, BC) gave SFU the chance to earn back an edge. Following a 43 yd touchdown from Durant, the home team led 21-17.
But, the Oaks continued to fight back, eventually bringing the score to 24-24 withΒ 11:15Β remaining in the game.
AsΒ 1:20Β sat on the clock, Menlo made their way to the end zone, breaking the tie and putting the visitors up 31-24.
Despite one last chance to drive the ball in, the Clan could not convert to earn the victory.
By Jenessa Gladstone, Communications Assistant
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