Defensive battle goes the way of No. 20 Cal Lutheran

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Chapman University football team had upset on its mind on Saturday afternoon, but it could not keep No. 20-ranked Cal Lutheran University from winning its sixth in a row in a 27-6 victory over the visiting Panthers at Mt. Clef Stadium.

Despite the Chapman defense holding the Kingsmen to season-lows in rushing, passing and total offense, the Panthers themselves could not get into the endzone seeing their own three-game winning streak come to an end. Chapman (4-4) was also held to its lowest total offensive yardage output since its Week 1 loss to Menlo and held without a touchdown for the first time in 13 games.

It was the game's only turnover that sealed the Panthers' losing fate. Cal Lutheran (7-1) led 20-6 midway through the fourth quarter with Chapman driving into the red zone. Junior QB Bret Visciglia guided the Panthers on an 11-play, 66-yard drive that moved Chapman to the Cal Lutheran 13 yard line before having a pass picked off at the 4 yard line and returned 46 yards to midfield. The Kingsmen would score a touchdown four plays later to take a commanding 27-6 lead with 4:10 to play.

Statistically, the underdog Panthers went toe-to-toe with the nationally-ranked Kingsmen, although neither team produced much offense. Chapman won the time of possession battle, amassed 219 offensive yards, but was held to just two field goals. Cal Lutheran was held to a season-low 236 yards of offense, but made the most of it, scoring three touchdowns and converting on a pair of field goal attempts. The Kingsmen took a 10-3 lead into halftime thanks to an Eric Rogers 5-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter which snapped a 3-3 tie.

After the intermission, Cal Lutheran was held to just a field goal in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Chapman sophomore Mauricio Alfonso's 30-yard field goal with 4:37 left in the period put the Panthers within a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter, 13-6. Alfonso had also opened up the scoring with a 22-yarder late in the first quarter.

Leading by seven, Cal Lutheran distanced itself from the Panthers with a touchdown just 46 seconds into the fourth quarter. Junior QB Jake Laudenslayer connected with Rogers once again for a 6-yard scoring pass to put the Kingsmen up 20-6. Cal Lu out-scored Chapman 14-0 in the final frame to win going away.

A number of red-hot Panthers were cooled by the Cal Lutheran defense. Visciglia was held to just 110 yards passing while senior WR Chris Langstaff (three catches) and junior WR Mike Lambesis (two catches) were held to five-game lows.

Senior DL Bob Burton had arguably the best game of his career, recording a team-high eight solo tackles, including four for loss, a pair of quarterback sacks and a forced fumble.

The Panthers wrap the 2010 season by traveling to Redlands on Saturday with hopes of finishing the season above .500 for the third time in four years.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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