Cal Lutheran Almost Sheds Doormat Tag in 18-17 Loss

SACRAMENTO —  Just when it looked like Cal Lutheran was on the verge of its darkest moment, just when it looked as if its game against Western Football Conference front-runner Cal State Sacramento would be more of a burial than a football game, the Kingsmen had a resurgence, of sorts, anyway.

Like many had expected, Cal Lutheran lost. But the margin of victory for the Hornets, who are now 4-0 in conference, was a single point. Sacramento beat the supposed WFC doormat, 18-17, Saturday night.

“We played our hearts out,” said Cal Lutheran quarterback Tom Bonds, who was in tears after the game. “We should’ve won. Our defense played great. It’s tough to come so close and not make it. It hurts.”

Sacramento scored with 3:24 left in the game when quarterback Phil Hickey lofted a pass to Mark Young, who was standing in the end zone.

Until that play, the game was up for grabs.

Cal Lutheran managed to stay close in the first half even though Bonds waffled passes high, low and wide. The junior completed 7 of 25 passes in the first half for 103 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted twice by Hornet defensive back Rod Owens.

The first interception set up a Sacramento touchdown midway through the first quarter. Bizarre happenings took place after Owens stepped in front of a Bonds’ floater.

Cal Lutheran was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moments after Owens was tackled near midfield. Then, suddenly, normally tranquil Coach Bob Shoup started jumping up and down, screaming at whichever official would listen.

Apparently, someone was listening because Shoup was nailed with another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and quicker than Shoup could say, well, goodness gracious, Sacramento was at the CLU 24.

Hornet running back Don Hair ran right on two consecutive plays, one for five yards and another for 17. The 5-9, 175-pound all-conference tailback then dove over for the score.

Bonds continued to look as if he hadn’t thrown a football in recent history, missing receivers badly. No matter, though, because Hornet quarterback Hickey was making up for Bonds’ problems.

Hickey also threw two first-half interceptions, the first of which set up the Kingsmen’s first score--a 33-yard field goal by Kurt Lohse that closed the margin to 6-3.

On its next possession, Cal Lutheran set up a Sacramento score when Joe Monarrez misfired a snap in punt formation that hit Dennyu Blackburn, who was the blocking back, at the five. Looking as confused as anybody, Blackburn threw an incomplete pass to give Sacramento possession at the seven.

On the next play, Hair ran in for a touchdown. Sacramento’s lead was 12-3 after a two-point conversion attempt failed.

The bumbled punt cost CLU a touchdown, but it also spawned an idea in Shoup’s head that moments later translated into a Kingsmen score.

When the Kingsmen ran out of downs on their own 42, they dropped into punt formation, but Monarrez snapped the ball straight to Blackburn--this time on purpose--and the linebacker rumbled 27 yards to the Sacramento 36.

From there, Bonds threw a screen pass to fullback Shawn Johnson, who wound up in the end zone after catching the ball at the 30. Lohse’s kick made it, 12-10.

On that play, Bonds broke Cal Lutheran’s career passing mark set by Bill Wilson.

That seemingly was the last thing on Bonds’ mind, though, as the Kingsmen were closer to the Hornets than anyone had thought they’d be.