Chapman comes up (4 yards) short against No. 22 Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif. - In a tug-o-war between two of the hottest defenses in the West Region, the University of Redlands held off a possible game-tying drive by Chapman University late in the fourth quarter and defeated the Panthers 21-7 at Ted Runner Stadium in Redlands on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 22 in Division III by the AFCA, won for the fourth straight time.

Chapman (4-4) trailed 14-7 and had first-and-goal from the 4 yard line in the closing minutes of the game when the Redlands' defense - ranked among the top-10 in Division III in nearly every defensive category - came up with its biggest stop of the day. A quarterback sack by Nick Burruel and Ian Sluss, followed by a fourth-down pass breakup by Mike Nicolini helped to stop the Panthers short of tying the game and all but cinched the win for Redlands (7-1).

An inspired Redlands offense then marched 91 yards on eight plays to score an insurance touchdown making the score 21-7 with just 49 seconds remaining in the game. Bulldogs' RB Zack Schafer ran for 51 of his game-high 114 yards on the drive, including a 5-yard touchdown run, his second of the game, to cap it.

The Bulldogs built a 14-0 halftime lead with a touchdown in each the first and second quarters. Redlands' QB Steve Smith hit Evan Reuter with a 9-yard touchdown pass to take an early lead. It was the first offensive touchdown the Panthers' defense had allowed in over nine quarters.

Chapman was the first team to break through in an all-defensive third quarter that featured just three first downs for either team. The Panthers capitalized on great field position with under 4 minutes left in the quarter and handed the ball to senior RB Kyle Floyd who scampered 36 yards for a Chapman touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers put together a drive that started at their own 15 yard line and drove 76 yards, including a 44-yard completion from senior QB Eric Marty to junior WR Dan Delahoussaye, but couldn't get into the end zone. Delahoussaye finished with six catches for 75 yards receiving.

Chapman's offensive line also held its own against a Redlands team that entered the game No. 1 in the nation in tackles for loss, keeping the Bulldogs well below their average of nearly 11.5 per game and two QB sacks. For all the defense, there were no turnovers for either team.