McKibbins breaks more records as Panthers take down Cal Lu
ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Jeremiah McKibbins added more records to his already impressive resume and the Chapman University football team added a much-needed win to its record. The Panthers (2-4, 2-2 SCIAC) had a breakout kind of night with a big 49-21 win over visiting Cal Lutheran on Saturday.
Chapman scored on its first and never trailed in the breakout win. McKibbins rushed for a school-record 265 yards on 22 carries and found the end zone three times to lead the Panthers. In addition to breaking Chapman's single game rushing record, he also notched the fourth 200-plus yard game of his career and passed Darnell Morgan for the most in Panther history.
Sophomore quarterback Mac Vail also had an outstanding night, completing seven of his 10 passes for 163 yards and a pair of TDs. It took Vail just five plays to put the Panthers on the board as he found junior Devin Kelly wide open for a 35-yard touchdown.
Chapman forced a punt on the Cal Lutheran's first drive but the Kingsmen (4-2, 2-2 SCIAC) pinned the Panthers on their own one yard line. After a couple of quick plays got the Panthers some breathing room, McKibbins broke off a 62-yard run to put Chapman back in the red zone. Senior Hakeem McGrew capped the drive with a one-yard punch in for a 14-0 Chapman lead.
Cal Lutheran cut the lead in half as Adam Friederichsen found Connor Allen for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Friederichsen threw for 290 yards on 21-of-38 passing on the night and hooked up with Allen eight times for 125 of those yards.
Chapman answered right back as McKibbins capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. After forcing another punt, Chapman's next drive needed just one play with senior Sean Myers hauling in a 72-yard pass from Vail to make it 28-7 Panthers.
On the first drive of the second half, Cal Lutheran was heading toward the red zone. Friederichsen was hit as he threw and the pass tipped up in the air of his receiver's hands and into the waiting arms of junior Ethan Weinstein. Weinstein returned the interception 77 yards untouched and into the end zone.
Cal Lutheran answered with Friederichsen's second TD pass late in the third quarter but Chapman again answered with a steady dose of McKibbins that ended in a 12-yard score.
Senior Drew DeMarco set up Chapman's next score as he forced a fumble near midfield then jumped on it. McKibbins capped the ensuing drive with a 25-yard TD that broke the single-game rushing record of 262 yards, set by Mike Christensen in 2008.
The Kingsmen picked up a fourth quarter touchdown but Chapman forced another fumble on the next drive and ran out the clock to seal the win.
Chapman racked up 358 rushing yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, while holding the Kingsmen to just 87 yards on the ground. The Panthers outgained Cal Lutheran 526-393 and did not turn the ball over while forcing three turnovers. Junior Conner Larkin led the defense with seven tackles.
Chapman heads out on the road for the final time next week to head to La Verne for a big SCIAC matchup. The Panthers return home on Nov. 7 to take on Redlands at 7 p.m.
by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
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