Panthers drop double OT thriller
ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Sean Myers had a career day but it wasn't quite enough for the Chapman University football team as it fell to 0-3 with a 33-30 double overtime loss to visiting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The two teams went back and forth all night long until the Stags (2-1, 1-0 SCIAC) scored the game-winning touchdown to conclude the second overtime.
Claremont took the ball first in overtime and quickly scored on Shane Pico's 13-yard run. The drive was aided by a Chapman penalty on the first play of overtime that covered half the distance for the Stage. Penalties hurt the Panthers all night long as they were penalized 13 times for 117 yards.
Chapman was able to respond when it took the ball with a six-play drive that found the end zone. Junior Andrew Chavez found Myers right at the goal line for the game-tying score. Myers was able to wrestle the ball away from his defender and come down in the end zone for his second touchdown of the night.
In the second OT period, Chapman took the ball first but lost three yards on the drive before sophomore Lucas Alfonso kicked a 45-yard field goal – his third of the night. Claremont took its turn and converted a big third-and-nine when Trey Reynolds found Tyler Stanek for a 17-yard pick up. Three plays later, Reynolds pitched to Andrew Segre on an option play and Segre found pay dirt to lift the Stags to the victory.
The game fittingly went into overtime with the lead changing hands three times in the game. Both teams matched the other in each quarter as each scored a touchdown in the first two quarters and hit field goals in each quarter of the second half.
Trey Smith was the first to find the end zone for Claremont with a 10-yard TD reception from Reynolds. Chavez found Myers on the ensuing drive for a 21-yard TD pass. Myers had a career-best night with 11 receptions for 144 yards and the pair of TD receptions. Chavez finished the game with 252 yards on 23-of-36 passing with two touchdowns.
Chapman totaled 146 yards on the ground with senior Jeremiah McKibbins leading the way. He 24 carries for 65 yards while senior Hakeem McGrew had 47 yards on 10 carries.
Defensively, junior Conner Larkin led the way with nine tackles while junior Devin Ray came away with seven tackles, including one of Chapman's two sacks.
The Panthers are back on the road next week as they travel to Pomona-Pitzer for a 1 p.m. game.