A STRONG FINISH CAN SOOTHE CLU.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

It is one of the hardest things for the Cal Lutheran football team to talk about.

However, a win in today's season finale at home against Redlands could do wonders in helping the Kingsmen deal with their sub-.500 record. A victory would give CLU a share of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, provide payback for the Bulldogs' 53-13 win in last year's matchup and make the Kingsmen the only SCIAC team to beat Redlands this season.

``It doesn't feel like we're 3-5,'' CLU quarterback Chris Czernek said. ``Some of the guys, they're almost ashamed to say our record, that we're 3-5. Nobody can believe it. The way we've played, we should have a much better record. Like coach told us, we're about three plays away from being 6-2.''

CLU's losses the past two weeks came in overtime - one in double overtime - and the season-opening defeat to Pacific Lutheran went down to the final seconds, with a penalty playing a key role in halting the Kingsmen's comeback.

``Our whole team, we've been so inconsistent,'' Czernek said. ``We'll get down, but then we come back so strong in the fourth quarter - last week we had 21 consecutive points. We never give up, but if we could play like that the whole game, we'd be unbeatable.''

Scoring early and often is critical against the Bulldogs (6-2, 4-0), who have outscored their opponents by a combined 136-13 the past two weeks and rank first in the SCIAC and second in the country in total offense with an average of 495.3 yards a game. Most of those yards come through a nationally ranked passing game that averages more yards (406.3) than CLU's combined offense (372.4).

The Kingsmen (3-5, 3-1) should be kept even busier trying to slow Redlands' senior quarterback Danny Ragsdale than they were two weeks ago struggling to contain La Verne's Dan Blahy, who threw for three touchdowns and nearly 400 yards. Ragsdale is the conference's leading passer (386.6 yards a game) and is second in the nation in total offense (408.4 yards). He was 22 of 31 passing for 376 yards and five touchdowns in three quarters of work during last week's 73-3 victory against Whittier. Ragsdale's 29 touchdowns this season set a school record, and primary receiver Chad Hustead, who has a school-record 64 catches this year, is 7 yards away from being the Bulldogs' second 1,000-yard receiver ever.

Czernek turned in a record-setting performance of his own last week at Menlo, attempting a CLU-record 71 passes, but expect the emphasis to shift back to the running game today. Senior running back George Keiaho, who missed last week with a pulled hamstring, practiced all week and could be back in the lineup to complement SCIAC rushing leader Dorian Stitt as the Kingsmen face one of the conference's stingiest defenses.

REDLANDS AT CAL LUTHERAN

Kickoff: 1 p.m., at Mt. Clef Stadium

Records: CLU 3-5, 3-1 in SCIAC; Redlands 6-2, 4-0

Outlook: The Kingsmen have been waiting for revenge since ending last season with a 53-13 loss to the Bulldogs, so expect intensity to be high from the start. Stopping Redlands won't be any easier than last year, though. The Bulldogs, who set several school records in last week's 73-3 win against Whittier, have already secured at least a piece of the SCIAC title as the only undefeated team in conference. The Kingsmen could also earn a share of the championship with a victory that would force a three-way tie including La Verne. CLU's last title in 1997 was also a three-way tie. The Kingsmen proved they can score against tough defenses the past two weeks, and had a record-setting performance by quarterback Chris Czernek (43 of 71 for 367 yards and four TDs) last week, but came away with overtime losses each time.

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Photo, box

PHOTO SCIAC rushing leader Dorian Stitt will lead Cal Lutheran against conference leader Redlands today.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box: Redlands at Cal Lutheran (see text)