CLAREMONT, Calif. - Cooper Nixon ran for 178 yards, and George Kruger capped off a spectacular junior season with a late safety, as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team earned a 5-0 win over La Verne on Saturday in the pouring rain at Zinda Field. 

With the win, CMS finishes off the year at 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the conference, while La Verne ends at 1-8 overall and 1-7 in conference. Nine of the 10 Stags games this season were decided by a single possession (eight points or less), with the only exception coming with last week's 28-14 win over Redlands. 

Nixon ran for 178 yards on 41 carries for his fourth straight game over 100 yards. He carried for a total of 738 yards in his last five games, an average of 147.6 yards a game, as the Stags' offensive line of tackles Teddy Lewis and Enzo Benzan, guards Zeke Vallez and Aseli Fangupo and center Griffin King gelled over the second of the season to help pave the way. The Stags also used Roman Ramirez, Dominic Vallier and Wilson Schwartz in blocking roles at tight end, as CMS greatly improved its ground game as the season went on. 

The game began in the pouring rain, and the field got increasingly muddy as the game went on. In the second half, the Stags went exclusively to the Wildcat formation in the treacherous conditions, with Nixon and Jake Son taking direct snaps. The two teams combined for just two passing yards on the day, as the Leopards were 0-6 passing, and the Stags were 2-5 for two yards. 

Defensively, Kruger capped off his season with 11 tackles, three for losses, with the final one coming with 1:51 to go in the end zone to give CMS five points and just about seal the game. He finished the year with 112 tackles, the first Stag to reach 100 in a season since the NCAA began keeping tackles as an official stat in Division III (2008). 

After the Kruger safety, the Stags did need one last big run to seal the win, as the Stags had a fourth-and-six at the La Verne 25-yard line, and went for it rather than risk a kick. Nixon was able to forge ahead for a 13-yard gain to get the first down that enabled the Stags to finish off the win.

Sameul Brewer had a big part in the win on special teams, converting a 21-yard field goal in the terrible conditions with 5:31 left in the third quarter. His punt was also downed at the three-yard line to set up the Kruger safety. 

Ramirez also had a big play in the closing moments of the third quarter, as La Verne's defense was able to recover a fumble at their 19-yard line and set up a return. It looked momentarily like Jomar Brown had a chance to return it all the way for a touchdown, but Ramirez was able to track him down and make the tackle at the CMS 49-yard line. 

Michael Houk had nine tackles for the Stags as well in support of Kruger, while Carson Navarro had a blocked punt. CMS held La Verne to just 27 yards of total offense on the day and just three first downs.