Football picked to repeat in 2018
Pacific at Chapman
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Ernie Chapman Stadium
7 p.m.
Live Stats | Video | Tickets
ORANGE, Calif. – Four years and two championships. The Panthers' last senior class started and finished their careers with SCIAC titles. The class of 2018 will be trying to do something that hasn't been done in the SCIAC since 2012 – repeat as champions.
The Panthers were picked to finish first in a poll of the conference coaches with five of the eight first place votes. Redlands was picked as a close second and garnered three of the first place votes. The two will meet in Redlands on October 6. Cal Lutheran was the last SCIAC team to earn back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.
Chapman lost a number of playmakers from the 2017 championship squad but return four of the five offensive lineman that paved the way for last year's high-powered offense. All-SCIAC selections Ryan Moles at right tackle and Alec Kohn at center anchor the offensive front with four-year starter Pablo Urtiz at left tackle and another senior Jimmy Vreeland at left guard.
Senior wide receiver Dominic Vaccher brings the most experience at Chapman to the wide receiver position with a talented depth chart behind him and on the other end of the line. Vaccher ranked second on the team with 30 catches for 420 yards last year and scored a pair of touchdowns. Senior Trevor Vill will line up opposite of Vaccher after hauling 11 catches for 173 yards and a pair of TDs, including the Panthers' lone playoff score in 2017.
Senior transfer Ian Fieber earned the starting job through spring practice and fall camp and will week the opening week start under center. He comes to Chapman after leading the University of Sioux Falls to the NCAA Division II playoffs last year, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. He'll be joined in the backfield by junior Derek Bauerle at running back.
On the defensive end, All-SCIAC selection Andrew Dieken returns at defensive end to captain the defense. He led the defense last year with six sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Returners Chandler Wong and Ricky Medeiros saw plenty of action last year but earned the starting nods up front.
The linebackers comprise the most experienced position group for the Panthers this senior, led by last year's leading tackler Curt Calomeni and fellow senior Matt Layton. Last year's SCIAC Newcomer of the Year Dillon Keefe returns to outside linebacker after a freshman campaign that saw him rank second on the team with 49 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss.
Overall the defense returns four of the six leading tacklers from last season as well as four of the top-5 sack leaders. In the defensive secondary, Cesar Delgado will roam at safety. Sophomore Chris Tsirtis, who led the team with six pass breakups, will again man one of the corners.
Junior punter Elias Deeb will look to have another All-American caliber season after earning the honor as a freshman in 2016.
The season kicks off tomorrow when the Panthers host Pacific at 7 p.m. in Ernie Chapman Stadium.
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