NEWBERG, Ore. -- For the first time in 2026, the George Fox football team is hitting the road. 

After opening up the season with a pair of wins at Stoffer Family Stadium (27-0 over Redlands and 28-20 over Lewis & Clark), the Bruins travel south to face the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags. 

It's been tough sledding for the Bruins against the Stags, as Fox is 0-3 in the all-time series. Two of those losses have been heartbreakers: a 47-yard field goal with one second left handed Fox a loss in 2023, while a late fumble and 96-yard TD with 51 seconds remaining gave GFU a 28-21 loss in 2025.

No matter the record, the Bruins will look to change their fortunes in 2026 — and earn the program's second-ever 3-0 start to the season.

JJ Leman had a go-ahead 40-yard touchdown pass to Karsen Denault with 1:43 remaining in Fox's last matchup against the Stags, and the two sophomores hope to connect the same way in California. Leman has been efficient to start his sophomore campaign, throwing for 404 yards, four touchdowns, and most importantly, no interceptions.

Denault, meanwhile, leads the team with 17 receptions, a mark that is ninth in the nation. The sophomore has turned those receptions into 193 yards and a touchdown. The receiver will start alongside Kaelan Frey, who has 90 receptions on the season, and freshman Bupe Chisanga Jr., who pulled in two touchdown catches in Fox's Oregon Cup Championship win over Lewis & Clark. Raiden Gonzales is slated to start at tight end, with Sheyden Iokia also seeing the field.

On the line, it will be the same five Bruins that head coach Spencer Crace has started in the first two games: Toby Esqueda, Rylan McGraw, Kyle Martin, Miky Amare, and Sean Brewster. The fivesome have been stellar in the opening games, only allowing one sack over the two games. The line was especially apparent on the game-clinching drive against Lewis & Clark, where Fox ran out the clock on an 11-play drive that featured only running plays.

On the defensive end, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps already knows about Jacob Erickson. The fifth-year senior defensive end has a career game against the Stags in the last matchup, recording a staggering 5.0 sacks in a game — a program record. Erickson, who is already second in the nation with 4.5 sacks, is slated to start with Kaden Raever, Makana Paikuli, and Kuyper Assink on the defensive line.

The GFU defensive backs have recorded three interceptions thus far this year, with two coming from safety Ty Borde. Borde and Eli Miller are listed as starters at safety, while Austin Harrison (who had two TFLs in the Bruins' last game) and Ben Nuss are the starting corners. Zak Holsey, listed as a linebacker, will play a nickel-like position.

At the linebackers are Mika Petaia and Duke Alderete-Labuguen, who each had career games in their last outing. Petaia led the team in tackles, finishing with nine, while Duke Alderete-Labuguen had five and a team-high two QB hurries.

For special teams, Ben Rembisz fields the field goal and PAT attempts, while Jacob Hundven attempts kickoffs. Rembisz is perfect for PATs this year and 2-3 on field goals, while Hundven had three touchbacks.

One year removed from a 5-5 season, the Stags have played one game in 2026 and have a 1-0 record thus far in the season. CMS defeated Northwestern (Minnesota), whose offensive coordinator is former George Fox OC Ken Ingram, 19-14. 

In the game, quarterback Robert Litscher finished 11-19 for 148 yards, one touchdown, and one pick. The senior quarterback threw for three TDs in the Stags' 2025 victory over the Bruins, and is listed as the starting quarterback on Claremont's two-deep. Backup Luke Gildred, who didn't play against Northwestern but was 6-7 with a score in his team's last meeting in Newberg, is listed as the backup.

When it comes to receivers, the Bruins will surely have their eye on Jaden Rattay, the Stag track star who scored the game-winning touchdown in Oregon. Rattay is listed as a starter along with Ben Kim and James Ryan, all of whom had a catch week one.

Cooper Nixon looks to be the workhorse back for the Stags. The running back had -2 yards rushing on one attempt against the Bruins in September, but quickly became Kyle Sweeney's bellcow, rushing for 738 yards in the final five games of the season. In the week one opener, the senior ran 24 times for 117 yards and one touchdown. 

The CMS team relied heavily on its defense to close the season in 2025. The Stags allowed over 25 points just once in the year, and held their opponents below 21 points seven times. In fact, their final game of the season was a 5-0 win over La Verne in a rock fight.

Senior defensive end Evan Gerber has been giving Jacob Erickson a run for his money to start the season. Gerber recorded a career-high three sacks in the team's win over the Eagles, one of which was a strip sack. For his efforts, Gerber was named the SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Other key players on the defensive side of the ball are Andrew Carrasquillo, an All-SCIAC defensive back, defensive tackle Grady Johnson, another All-SCIAC selection, who had seven tackles in his last game, and safety Xzavier Sablan, who had one strip sack alongside four tackles. All three are listed as starters for the game.

Sophomore Sean Lee will handle the kicking duties for the Stags and hopes to shake some of the nerves from his collegiate debut. Lee was 1-3 on field goal attempts, making a 20-yarder but missing kicks from 44 and 37 yards out. On the punting, Dylan Sherman was a weapon for the Stags, downing one punt inside the 20 and recording a 54-yarder as well.

For the Bruins, the road setting will be a welcome one as Fox looks to amend the hurt from their 2025 loss.

Starting 3-0 wouldn't hurt, either.

Kickoff for the game is scheduled for noon. Admission to The Stags' brand-new football stadium, Rogan Stadium, is free for all. Live stats and live stream links are available via the GFU Athletics website.