Football runs over Whittier for SCIAC-opening win

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University football team opened its SCIAC schedule with a dominant 36-6 win over visiting Whittier on Homecoming night at Chapman. Freshman Marcos Reyes ran for three touchdowns and the defense held the Poets scoreless in the second half.

The Panthers ran for 284 yards with four players carrying the ball at least eight times for more than 40 yards. In all, 10 different players carried the ball at least once as Chapman (3-0, 1-0 SCIAC) has gone over 200 yards on the ground in all three games this season.

Four of Chapman's five touchdowns came on the ground with Reyes punching in the first three for Chapman. After sophomore Cody Masterson blocked Whittier's first punt attempt to set up Chapman inside Whittier's 10 yard line, Reyes punched in the touchdown from one yard out on his first carry.

He scored again with 1:09 left in the first quarter on a 12-yard run – his longest of the night. The Panthers were held scoreless in the second but took a 15-6 lead into halftime. His third TD was a two-yard burst with 6:00 left in the third quarter.

Reyes ran the ball 12 times for 54 yards and caught a pass for 11 yards. Freshman Isaiah Woods led the rushing attack with 76 yards on 10 carries and capped a six-play, 51-yard drive in the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown. Junior quarterback Jonston MacIntyre ran eight times for 42 yards while also completing 9-of-12 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Reed Vettel completed 8-of-12 for 99 yards. Sophomore Tanner Mendoza ran eight times for 75 yards, including the longest play of the day – a 42-yard run in the first quarter.

The Panther defense held Whittier to just 274 yards of offense in the game and just 88 rushing yards. The Poets only score came on a 1-play, 1-yard scoring drive after the Poets recovered a muffed punt on the one-yard line. The Panthers lost three fumbles on the night but the defense allowed just one of those to turn into points.

Whittier QB Miguel Avina was sacked four times and threw his first two interceptions of the season. Junior Dillon Keefe grabbed his first pick of the year when a tipped pass fell into his waiting arms. He also led the team with seven tackles and a sack. Senior Nathan Parkin also grabbed his first INT of the year when he hauled in a tipped pass with a diving catch.

The Poets entered the Panthers red zone just once in the second half and were stopped on downs for the third time in the game on the Chapman nine yard line. Two of the Poets' four second half drives went backwards as the Panthers dominated time of possession.

MacIntyre put the finishing touches on the dominant win with a 15-yard TD toss to junior Caleb Henshaw in the fourth quarter.

The undefeated Panthers host undefeated Redlands next Saturday at 7 p.m. in another SCIAC showdown.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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