Football dominates Senior Day over Whittier

ORANGE, Calif. – An emotional Senior Day brought on the most decisive victory of the season for the Chapman University football team. The Panthers (4-5, 4-3 SCIAC) ran up a comfortable lead early and cruised to a 63-15 win over visiting Whittier.

More than Senior Day was on the minds and hearts of the entire Chapman team. The Panthers were playing to send their seniors off in appropriate fashion, but were also playing for former teammate Dan Steele who suddenly passed on Thursday.

Chapman received the emotional boost it was looking for right out of the gates. After going three-and-out on the opening drive, the Panther defense came up with its second pick six of the season. Senior Drew DeMarco stepped in front of Joseph Anderson's first pass and took it back 48 yards for a touchdown.

After forcing a three-and-out on the next drive, junior Ethan Weinstein continued to build momentum in the home team's favor with a 59-yard punt return down to Whittier's nine yard line. Two plays later, junior Andrew Chavez found senior Riley Guilbeault in the back of the end zone for a 14-0 Panther lead.

Chapman went on to score a touchdown in each of its next six drives to go up 56-3. Chavez ran one in from seven yards out to make it 21-0 after the first quarter. Senior Jeremiah McKibbins took over in the second quarter and found the end zone three times, including a 71-yard sprint on the first play of a drive.

McKibbins didn't appear in the second half with the game well in hand but gained 117 yards on 12 rushes. His three touchdowns gave him yet another school record as he finished the season with 19 rushing touchdowns. He surpassed the previous record of 18. He scored in every game he appeared in this year, totaled more than 1000 yards for the second time in his career, rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last five games and found the end zone multiple times in each of the last six games.

Senior Sean Myers' 36 yard TD catch gave him seven for the year and made the score 49-3 at halftime. Seniors Jesse Cauble and Hakeem McGrew each rushed for a score in the second half. McGrew finished with 76 yards, sophomore Ian Craddock tacked on 72 yards on one run and Chavez ended up with 49 yards on the ground.

Chavez also had another efficient day through the air. He finished 8-of-10 for 144 yards and two TDs.

Chapman outgained Whittier 485-333 while also forcing three turnovers. Seniors Jack Cullen and Garrett Frediani each picked off a pass for the Panthers.

Chapman ended the season 4-5 overall but 4-3 in the SCIAC. The Panthers built some momentum into the offseason after a rough start to the season with wins in their last two games and three of the last four.