Turnovers Costly In Home-Opening Loss
ORANGE, Calif. – Five turnovers proved too much to overcome as the Chapman University football team fell 37-7 to Whitworth in its home-opener. Junior Ethan Weinstein set a school record with 215 kick return yards, including a touchdown return.
Weinstein returned the ball five times for a total of 215 yards, capped by an 87-yard return for Chapman's (0-2) only touchdown of the night. He broke Kean Stancil's record of 171 yards set against Whittier in 2013. Weinstein had impressive returns of 38 yards, 47 yards and 38 yards again in addition to his 87-yard TD return.
Weinstein's return came when the Whitworth (3-0) had already built a 37-0 lead, taking advantage of three interceptions and two Chapman fumbles. Dalin McDonnell had two of the interceptions and returned one 43 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
From the second through the third quarters, Chapman ended four of five drives with a turnover, which turned a 16-0 deficit into a 30-0 hole. McConnell picked off junior Andrew Chavez late in the second quarter to set up a key Whitworth score.
Duke DeGaetano carried the ball 25 times for 159 yards for the Pirates, 122 of which came in the first half. Senior Hakeem McGrew broke off several impressive runs and finished the night with 20 carries for 147 yards but fumbled twice. Senior Sean Myers had seven catches for 76 yards to lead the Panthers in the air.
Chapman and Whitworth engaged in a defensive struggle in the first quarter with both teams trading punts to start the game. Chapman looked to have set up the first score of the game but sophomore Lucas Alfonso's 42-yard field goal attempt bounced off the right upright. Whitworth drove down to Chapman's five and hit a field goal to go up 3-0.
On its next drive, Whitworth set up another field goal try but junior Devin Kelly flew around the corner to come up with a big block. Early in the second, Chapman set up another field goal but if flew just left of the upright to keep the score 3-0.
Whitworth responded with touchdowns on its next three drives to take the 23-0 lead into the locker room. A pick six and DeGaetano's third score made it 37-0 in the third quarter before Weinstein's big return.
Weinstein also led the Panthers defensively with nine tackles and a pass break up. Junior Lorenzo Marks matched Weinstein's totals on the defensive end.
Chapman jumps into SCIAC play next week when it takes on Claremont in the annual homecoming game.