Big second half boosts football to big win at Whittier
ORANGE, Calif. – After trailing 7-6 at halftime, the Chapman University football team scored 28 points in the second half to take a commanding 34-10 win at Whittier. Two Panther receivers went for over 100 yards and junior Ricky Bautista had 318 yards of total offense in the Panthers' win.
Bautista had his most efficient game as a Panther, completing 16-of-19 passes for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also proved to be a dual threat with 66 rushing yards on 12 carries. Junior Jacob Isabel hauled in seven catches for 110 yards while senior Ethan Weinstein had five catches for 100 yards.
The Bautista to Isabel connection provided the spark the Panthers needed in the second half of a low-scoring game. On just the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Bautista found Isabel for a 61-yard touchdown pass and gave Chapman its first lead of the day. The Chapman offense continued to roll after the big play with TDs in three of its next four possessions.
Whittier took the initial lead with a 10-play, 78-yard drive that was capped by Miguel Redmond's one yard TD run. The Panthers responded with methodical drive of their own but it came to an abrupt end on a Bautista fumble.
The Poets were able to move the ball deep into Panther territory but junior Chris Williams picked off a pass in the end zone to end the long drive. It was his second interception of the season.
Chapman's defense seized momentum and did not let up the rest of the way. The Panthers forced six punts the rest of the way while also getting a big fourth down stop in the second quarter and forcing a fumble in the third.
Senior Eddie Lee Favors led the stout defense with 13 tackles, including one of Chapman's three sacks. Williams had 10 tackles in addition to his interception and senior Miles Ahles came away with seven tackles in the Panthers first SCIAC win.
After their big play to start the second half, the Panthers had another one just four plays into their next drive as Bautista hit Weinstein for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore Brandon Medina punched in a couple of touchdowns from the goal line, including the Panthers first touchdown in the second quarter that made it a one point game.
Medina had 28 yards on six carries while junior Joe Mudie led the rushing attack with 84 yards on just 10 carries.
Chapman had a season-high of 490 yards of total offense while holding Whittier to 421. Michael Campbell threw for 260 yards to lead the Whittier offense and Austin Brasher's 15 tackles led the Poet defense.
The Panthers remain on the road next week as they travel to Redlands for a 7 p.m. game.
by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#Chaptown