Tanner Mendoza
photo by Larry Newman

Tanner Mendoza, Football

Sophomore Tanner Mendoza stepped up on Saturday afternoon to help the Chapman University football team to a perfect undefeated regular season and a SCIAC Championship. The running back scored three of the Panthers’ four touchdowns, going back-to-back-to-back to put 18 points on the board for Chapman.

The Ukiah, Calif. native took a bulk of the carries for the Panther offense, running the ball 35 times for 133 yards and his first career 100-yard game. Two of Mendoza’s touchdowns came on the ground as 3-yard carries in the first and third quarters. The running back’s other TD came as a 35-yard reception to put Chapman up 21-10 heading into halftime.