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Offense struggles again as CLU falls
STORY TOOLS 
More from CollegeJunior quarterback Grant Leslie and senior running back C.J. Washington each scored a rushing touchdown and the Willamette defense allowed just 115 total yards in beating Cal Lutheran 14-7 on Saturday in Salem, Ore.
The Kingsmen fell to 0-2. Willamette is 1-2.
After a scoreless first quarter, Willamette drove 80 yards on 14 plays to set up Leslie's 1-yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the second quarter.
CLU had possession to start the second half and drove from its own 40-yard line to the Willamette 7. Jose Rojas was stopped for a gain of a yard and a loss of 2 yards on the next two plays. Quarterback Jericho Toilolo ran for 2 yards on third down to set up a field-goal attempt.
Connor Pearce's 23-yard attempt was blocked by Ryan Bettencourt. The ball went into the end zone, providing Willamette with a touchback.
The Kingsmen marched 67 yards on 11 plays, with Rojas scoring a touchdown on a 3-yard run with 3:16 remaining in the game. Pearce hit the PAT to pull CLU within seven points.
Willamette recovered CLU's onside-kick attempt at the Kingsmen 46. The Bearcats ran out the clock using eight plays, including two third-down conversions.
R.J. Benedict started the game at quarterback for CLU and completed four of eight passes for 24 yards. Toilolo finished the game 7 for 13 for 58 yards.
The Kingsmen managed just 33 rushing yards on 29 carries. Toilolo was the leading rusher for CLU with six carries for 20 yards. Rojas rushed for 16 yards on 15 attempts.
Willamette gained 339 yards to nearly triple CLU's 115 yards. The Bearcats also ran 83 offensive plays, compared to 50 plays for the Kingsmen.
Austin Jones and Garrett Redd each registered 10 tackles for Cal Lutheran. Nick Davy added eight tackles.
CLU returns to the field on Saturday, Sept. 29, at La Verne in its SCIAC opener.
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