Playing in its first road contest of the season, the University of La Verne faced a potent Menlo College rushing attack which propelled the Oaks to a 59-13 win Saturday afternoon in Atherton.
Menlo's ground game proved formidable in producing 491 rushing yards on 49 attempts for the game, leading to 635 yards of total offense.
The Leopards took an early 7-0 advantage before the Oaks, ranked No. 25 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, reeled off 31 consecutive points en route to a 31-7 halftime cushion. Menlo would outscore the Leopards 28-6 after intermission to provide the final scoring margin.
La Verne scored on its first possession with an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 50-yard touchdown from quarterback Travis Carter to receiver David Kain at the 10:33 mark of the first quarter.
The Oaks (4-1) immediately responded when Vince Snyder took the ensuing kickoff and raced 93 yards for a 93-yard touchdown to knot the contest at 7-7.
Late in the quarter, Menlo's Devon Johnson picked off a Leopard pass at the La Verne 11 and reached the 7-yard line, setting up a 5-yard touchdown run from Michael Alexander for a 14-7 lead.
The Oaks scored twice more before the break, as Jake Fohn broke free for an 82-yard touchdown run, and Alexander passed to quarterback Matthias Pelasasa for a 14-yard score to cap a nine-play, 99-yard drive.
La Verne earned its second score of the game in the fourth quarter when it marched 89 yards on six plays, culminating on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Carter to Christian Winniwisser with 7:26 left to play to cut the deficit to 52-13.
The Oaks would add another touchdown when Christian Hill-Smith raced for a 71-yard score for the final points of the game.
Statistically, La Verne collected 332 yards of total offense. Carter finished his day completing 12 of his 25 passes for 173 yards and a pair of scores. Matthew Biggers rushed 16 times for a team-high 88 yards while Carter finished with 57 yards on the ground on 12 attempts.
Menlo's rushing attack was sparked by Brandon Bell (184 yards) and Fohn (131) who both went over 100 yards for the contest. Pelasasa went 6-for-10 through the air for the Oaks to finish wiht 100 passing yards.
La Verne (0-2) continues action on the road next week as it battles Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in its SCIAC opener at 7:00 pm.