Efficient Panthers earn road win, showdown with No. 8 Cal Lu

CLAREMONT, Calif. – An efficient and turnover-free offensive attack executed by the Chapman University football team on Saturday has the Panthers one win away from a share of the conference championship and possibly the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in school history. The Panthers defeated host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges 34-14 at Zinda Field setting the stage for a regular season finale with first-place and No. 8-ranked Cal Lutheran next Saturday in Thousand Oaks.

Chapman's six wins equals its highest total in the Bob Owens era, last accomplished in Owens' second season as head coach in 2007. The Panthers have already clinched their first winning season since 2008.

As it has done seven times in eight games this year, Chapman (6-2 overall, 5-1 SCIAC) scored first – a trend that has boded well for the Panthers all year. Junior WR Robin Harris caught his first of two touchdown passes in the first half from 28 yards out with 9:33 to go in the first quarter, putting Chapman up 7-0 early.

With the score tied at 7 in the first quarter, Chapman took the lead for good on a 5-yard touchdown run by senior RB Al White with 2:39 left in the frame, capping a 10-play, 77-yard offensive drive.

That was only the start of a big first half for the Panthers as they put up 31 points before the intermission, including three passing touchdowns from junior QB Kevin Hunter in his first career start for Chapman. Hunter is the third different playcaller the Panthers have started this season due to injuries and he was up to the task, completing 11 of 14 passes for 215 yards and three scores. He targeted Harris five times for a career-high 159 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown pass at the 13:09 mark in the second quarter which gave the Panthers a 21-7 lead.

Chapman added a 30-yard field goal by senior K Mauricio Alfonso and another scoring pass from Hunter, this time to sophomore TE Anthony Ezeakunne for 22 yards to give Chapman a 31-7 lead going into halftime.

The Panthers were limited to just three points in the second half on a 35-yard Alfonso field goal in the fourth quarter, but their defense made the lead stick. Chapman collected four more takeaways on defense: a pair of interceptions from freshmen Ethan Weinstein and Drew DeMarco and two fumble recoveries, while holding its opponent to under 300 yards of total offense for the third time this season.

Meanwhile, the Chapman running game – which leads the SCIAC in yards per game – was in control as the Panthers gained over 300 yards (322) on the ground for the third time this year, led by White (117 yards) and sophomore RB Jeremiah McKibbins (97 yards) and dominating time of possession by nearly 10 minutes.

The Panthers will travel to Thousand Oaks next Saturday at 1 p.m. and will need a major upset over the No. 8 Kingsmen to likely claim their first-ever SCIAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Chapman has never reached the NCAA playoffs since joining Division III in 1994 – previously needing an at-large bid while competing as an independent. The Kingsmen are 6-1 overall and 5-0 in SCIAC play heading into their Saturday matinee with La Verne.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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