Christensen runs for school record, panthers improve to 3-1
WHITTIER, Calif. - Chapman University senior RB Mike Christensen ran for a Chapman-record 262 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers defeated host Whittier College 35-21 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Christensen's single-game rushing mark broke a record that stood for 13 years and his four rushing touchdowns tied another school record.
The Panthers improved to 3-1 this season for the first time since 2004 and have won three consecutive road games dating back to last season.
In a game that featured Whittier's Anthony Pomponio, who ranks 11th in Division III in rushing, it was Christensen who stole the show on the ground. The senior carried the ball 38 times (also a school record) and had all but 1 yard of Chapman's total rushing offense. He also added two catches for 14 yards, as well.
Chapman (3-1) got off to a strong start, striking early on a 13-play, 66-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior QB Eric Marty at 9:04 in the first quarter. The Panthers then made it 14-0, capitalizing on senior FS Garrett Earls' first interception of the year on Whittier's third play from scrimmage and turning it into Christensen's first TD run two plays later. Christensen found the end zone again before the quarter was over and Chapman led 21-6 going into the second.
The Panthers' second interception of the night - this time by sophomore DB Peter Antone - led to their fourth touchdown of the first half with just 1:50 remaining on the clock. Christensen accounted for 45 more all-purpose yards, including a 9-yard touchdown run as Chapman took a 28-6 lead into halftime.
Whittier (1-3) rallied in the third quarter, shutting out the Chapman offense while staging an 87-yard touchdown drive late in the quarter to cut the deficit to 14. Poets' QB Taylor Fallon hit WR Josh Ollison with a 30-yard scoring pass with 2:07 to go in the third. Ollison's second touchdown of the game made the score 28-14 in favor of the Panthers.
However, Chapman came right back - and again with Christensen. The senior ran for three consecutive first downs and capped a 65-yard drive with his fourth touchdown of the night on a 3-yard run to seal the Panthers' victory with 11:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Christensen's four TDs ties a school record last accomplished by Phillip Cruz in 1999. The previous single-game rushing mark of 258 yards was held by Darnell Morgan, who did so in a game against Whittier in 1995.
The Poets threatened once more with a quick touchdown and then drove to the Chapman 7 yard line following a Chapman fumble with just over 6 minutes left. But a strong defensive stand by Chapman and two incomplete passes on third and fourth downs ended the Whittier rally.