Panthers clinch second consecutive winning season
ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University offense snapped out of its recent slump and the defense shutout its opponent during the second half as the Panthers defeated visiting University of La Verne 33-14 at Wilson Field on Saturday night. With the victory, Chapman (5-4) clinched its second straight winning season - a feat that hadn't been accomplished since 1994-96.
Senior RB Kyle Floyd ran for two of his career-high three touchdowns in the third quarter to snap a 14-14 halftime tie. Meanwhile, a quarterback sack by senior LB Dominick Gaitan led to a Chapman safety with 4:58 remaining in the quarter and sophomore K Jimmy Adranly added a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as the Panthers out-scored La Verne 19-0 in the second half.
The game did not get off to a good start for Chapman, which saw Leopards' kick returner Taylor Hart run back the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers' offense sputtered in the first quarter and La Verne led 7-0 after the first 15 minutes.
And then Chapman revved its engines. The Panthers opened the second quarter with a methodical 10-play, 80-yard drive, capped by the first of Floyd's three scores - a 1-yard run to even the score at 7. Chapman then capitalized on a missed field by La Verne and three plays later senior QB Eric Marty connected with sophomore RB Akio Lloyd on an 80-yard touchdown pass, giving the Panthers a 14-7 lead.
La Verne (2-7) rallied for a second touchdown with 1:41 left in the first half to even the score at 14 going into halftime.
In the second half it was all Chapman. Marty closed out his career with the school-record seventh 300-yard passing game of his career. He completed 16-of-26 passes for 338 yards and one touchdown. Junior WR Dan Delahoussaye caught seven of those passes for 139 yards, including a 50-yard reception that set up the Panthers' fourth-quarter field goal. Lloyd also finished with four catches for 104 yards.
The Chapman defense registered four QB sacks, two coming from junior DL Bob Burton. And senior CB Chris Shiramizu intercepted the eighth pass of his career.
The Panthers also finished the season a perfect 27-for-27 in PATs for the second time in three years.