Eleven Panthers named to All-SCIAC football team
ORANGE, Calif. – In the aftermath of Chapman University's first football season as a member of the SCIAC and a third-place finish in the conference standings, the Panthers have earned 11 All-Conference selections as voted on by the head coaches in the SCIAC. Five of those players were named to the All-SCIAC first team after a season in which Chapman went 6-3; its best overall record since 2007.
Headlining the Chapman All-SCIAC selections is first team selection sophomore RB Jeremiah McKibbins who, for much of the year, was arguably the best tailback in Division III. A first-year starter, he ran for at least 135 yards in each of his first five starts and scored a total of nine touchdowns. He finished the year with 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns, ranking in the top-10 in Division III in rushing yards per game (148.8).
One of the reasons for McKibbins' success and the successes of the Chapman offense was the team's outstanding offensive line play led by senior LT D.J. Brandel, who was also named to the first team. The four-year starter did not allow a quarterback sack all year and was the anchor on a line that helped the Panthers rank in the top-10 in the nation in rushing offense (281.9) and total offense (498.6) per game.
Seniors DT Kevin Anderson and LB Michael Mehlhaff, along with CB Cameron Cutter were each named to the first team defensive unit. Anderson, a team captain and another four-year starter, anchored a defensive line that ranked second in the conference against the run. He finished with nine tackles including one for a loss. Meanwhile, Mehlhaff tied for the team-lead with 71 tackles and ranking in the top-10 in the conference in that category. The two-time Academic All-District selection also had four pass breakups, an interception and two fumbles recovered.
Leading the team and ranking second in the SCIAC in interceptions (5) and passes defended (10) was Cutter. The senior also ranked fourth n the team with 35 tackles, including 30 solo tackles.
Another six-pack of Panthers earned second team honors: senior LB Kellen Matsuno, senior K Mauricio Alfonso, junior RT Justin LaLonde, junior WR Robin Harris, sophomore P Markus Trujillo and freshman DL Ben Wadors.
Matsuno tied with Mehlhaff for the Chapman lead in tackles (71), including a team-high seven for loss this season while the rookie lineman Wadors led the team and the conference in quarterback sacks with five and finished with 16 tackles overall. He was the only freshman to earn All-SCIAC honors.
On offense, Harris joined a class of outstanding wideouts in the conference, representing the Panthers as their top receiver in catches (45), yards (726), yards per catch (16.1) and touchdowns (nine). LaLonde was another standout on Chapman's offensive line that ranked in the top-30 in the nation in sacks allowed per game (1.0).
Chapman also boasted the best kicking team in the conference as both its punter and kicker earned All-SCIAC honors. Alfonso ranks No. 14 in Division III in field goals per game (1.1), going 8-for-12 this season and setting new school records for career field goals and PATs. Trujillio posted the top punting average in the SCIAC with 39.6 yards per punt including three punts of 50 yards or more.
The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was established in 1915. The league is currently comprised of nine private colleges and universities in Southern California: California Institute of Technology, California Lutheran University, Chapman University, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, University of La Verne, Occidental College, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, University of Redlands, and Whittier College. The conference recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly and annual basis.
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
All-SCIAC Football Team: http://www.thesciac.org/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/All-SCIAC
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