CLAREMONT, Calif. – Kenyon Harris (Senior/Ogden, UT) found Ty Hargis (Senior/Lebanon, OR) in the back of the end zone with just seconds remaining to give Pacific the win over Pomona-Pitzer in a thrilling 38-35 contest in Southern California.
 
The Boxers (1-1) showed some offensive firepower from start to finish, but the Sagehens (1-2) always seemed to have answer. Both offenses started off hot with five total touchdowns between the two teams in the first quarter alone. The defenses would harden in the second half but the hosts would manage to regain the lead with just over two minutes left in the game. Pacific showed excellent resilience in their final drive and two senior leaders would get their team over the line.
 
Pacific posted 465 yards of total offense, out-gaining their opponents by over 100 yards on the night. The Boxers picked up 23 first downs while the Sagehens recorded only 16. The visitors bested the hosts in nearly every offensive category including third-down efficiency (44%-33%), total plays (74-55), and time of possession (36:19 – 24:19).
 
Kenyon Harris was absolutely brilliant as the Boxers' signal caller, going 26-34 for 305 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback connected with eight different receivers on the night.
 
Josh Harris (Senior/Sonora, CA) was dominant yet again, rushing for 150 yards on 24 carries. The senior found the end zone twice and highlighted his night with a 64-yard run on the Boxers' opening drive.
 
Kyle Kern (Junior/Roseville, CA) caught two touchdown passes using his big frame near the goal line, adding to his seven-catch, 57-yard performance. Hargis put in another electric display as he tallied 129 yards on a team-high 10 catches, including the game winning touchdown. Isiah Pitre (Redshirt Sophomore/Oakland, CA) had a nice night as well, with two catches for 69 yards.
 
How It Happened
 
Josh Harris got the Pacific offense started early when he exploded for 64 yards on the team's third play from scrimmage. Just three plays later, the Boxers' running back punched it in from three yards out to give his team the early lead.
 
The Sagehens immediately answered with a five-play, 75-yard drive, using two long passes to quickly even the score at 7-7.
 
The Boxers punted on their next drive but their defense would come up big when Sancho Eskridge (Sophomore/Carmichael, CA) forced a fumble that was recovered by Michael Timmerman (Senior/Torrance, CA) to give their offense great field position. It took just three plays for the Boxers to regain the lead as Kenyon Harris connected with Kern for an 18-yard strike, making it 14-7.
 
Pomona-Pitzer responded on the ensuing kickoff when Cole Berry sprinted for a 98-yard return for a touchdown.
 
On the Boxers' next drive, Kenyon Harris completed a 60-yard bomb to Pitre to set up another quick score for the visitors. Josh Harris capped off the drive with another three-yard plunge to make it 21-14.
 
A fumble on Pacific's next drive would prove to be costly as the Sagehens ran a trick play to send a wide open receiver down field for a 52-yard touchdown catch, using just one play to tie the score once again.
 
Kenyon Harris and company would march down the field yet again on the following drive, as Hargis got in on the action with a 42-yard reception. However, a holding call near the end zone would force the Boxers to settle for a field goal. 
 
Kenyon Harris would end the first half with an incredible line, going 13-14 with 203 yards and a touchdown.
 
Just before the end of the first half shootout, Pomona-Pitzer would manage one more scoring drive, as quarterback Evan Flitz hit Will Radice in the end zone to take a 28-24 lead going into halftime.
 
The offenses would go quiet in the third quarter as both teams would see their opening drives stall. After a high-scoring first half, both teams would go scoreless in the third period.
 
 The Sagehens looked to extend their lead towards the end of the third quarter but the Boxers managed to block the 42-yard field goal attempt.
 
With just under 10 minutes left in the game, Pacific got the ball with great field position. Josh Harris carried the ball four times including a 17-yard scamper to set his team up to score. The Boxers were faced with a 4^th and 2 near the goal line, but the senior running back came up clutch with a rush just past the sticks to get the first down.
 
Pacific took the lead two plays later when Kenyon Harris floated one up to the towering Kern and the receiver kept his feet in bounds to score his second touchdown of the night. The Boxers would take a 31-28 lead with 5:10 to play.
 
The lead would be short-lived as the Sagehens, like they had all night, responded with a touchdown of their own when Flitz hooked up with Win Hunter for a 21-yard touchdown.
 
This set up a classic two-minute drill situation for the Pacific offense. Kenyon Harris went to work, completing six passes before drilling Hargis right between his numbers in the back of the end zone put the game on ice, giving his team the 38-35 lead with four seconds left.
 
 
By The Numbers
 

• Chase Hofmann (Junior/Half Moon Bay, CA) led the Boxers defense with 10 tackles.
• Timmerman recorded nine tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss in the contest.
• Noah Steverson (Sophomore/Rohnert Park, CA), Richard Ramirez (Sophomore/Fresno, CA), Ikaika Viela (Sophomore/Lahaina, HI), and Timmerman each recorded a sack.

 
 
Up Next
 
Pacific has a bye next week before traveling to Salem, Ore. on Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. to begin their Northwest Conference campaign against Willamette.
 
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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