Second half scoring outburst gives Chapman first win

ORANGE, Calif. – Down 10-7 at halftime, the Chapman University football team scored 34 second-half points en route to a 41-17 victory over Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday night at Wilson Field, securing their first win of 2010.

The first seven minutes of the second half proved to be the turning point of the game as Chapman (1-2) scored three touchdowns in that time to take a commanding 28-10 lead. Senior RB Akio Lloyd scored the Panthers' first touchdown of the second half on a 45-yard screen pass from junior QB DeShawn Wilkins at 11:26 in the third quarter. Lloyd also played a huge role in the Panthers' ground attack as he ran for 100 yards and one touchdown while averaging 9.1 yards per carry. This was Lloyd's first 100-yard game of the year and second of his career.  Lloyd is just three yards away from becoming the fifth Chapman running back to break 1,000 career rushing yards.  

After Wilkins' touchdown pass, Pomona (0-3) then turned the ball over on their 2-yard line after a bad snap. Chapman capitalized on the turnover with another touchdown, this time on a run by junior RB Al White, pushing the lead to 21-10. White had two touchdowns on the night and they were the first of his Chapman career. He also had 39 rushing yards on eight carries. Against Pomona's rush defense which ranks 235^th out of 236 teams in Division III, Chapman was able to find its way on the ground. The Panthers had 244 yards rushing on the night, 173 coming in the second half.

Chapman built its lead to 28-10 at the eight minute mark of the third quarter on a 21-yard scramble by Wilkins, his first career touchdown. Pomona then answered with its lone second half score as sophomore QB Luke Ferguson connected with senior Jacob Caron for a 6-yard touchdown pass.  

The Panthers added two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. One on a 15-yard run by Lloyd and the other coming from sophomore RB Chad Milburn. For Milburn it was his first-career score also.

In the first half, the Panthers found themselves in an early hole trailing Pomona 10-0 halfway through the second quarter on a 15-yard touchdown reception by Sagehens' standout senior WR Robert Maki.  Maki had his way against the Panthers' defense in the half reeling in 10 receptions for 101 yards. Maki, the Division III leader in receptions finished his night with 14 catches for 144 yards. However Chapman's defense stepped up in the second half limiting Maki while holding the Sagehens' offense to 188 second half yards.

Senior DB Jake Fey had the highlight of Chapman's first half as he came up with his first career interception. Fey continued his impressive senior season with six tackles. Senior DB Jake Meyer also had an interception for Chapman, his coming in the fourth quarter.

Caron, Pomona's senior starting QB was 30-of-51 passing for 354 yards and a touchdown. Chapman looks to improve its record to .500 as they go on the road next week to face off against an undefeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps squad.

For postgame interviews of Fey and head coach Bob Owens, visit the Chapman Athletics Facebook page by clicking here.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/fball/2010-11/files/pp-cu.htm