Posted: Sep 28, 2018
Football opens SCIAC slate at Whittier
Chapman at Whittier
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Newman Field at Memorial Stadium
7 p.m.
Live Stats | Video | Notes
THE MATCHUP
Chapman and Whittier meet on Saturday in the SCIAC-opener for both teams. Chapman went 1-1 in its non-conference matchups while Whittier went 0-2. Both teams have put up big numbers on the offensive end as they head into the seven-game SCIAC slate.
THE HISTORY
The Panthers and Poets meet for the 23rd time since the Panthers revived the football program in 1994. Chapman has played Whittier more than any other program since 1994 as the two have met 22 times. Chapman has dominated the series with a 19-3 record against the Poets, including a current eight-game win streak. The 19 wins over Whittier are the most for the Panthers' program over any opponent.
NO BETTER DUO
No team at any division of NCAA football has a pair of receivers averaging over 120 yards per game each, except for Chapman University. Senior Dominic Vaccher and junior Trevor Vill are the only two teammates with at least 120 yards receiving per game. Vill ranks third in all of Division III with 165.5 yards per game. Vaccher ranks 13th with 125 yards per game. Vill has caught four touchdowns while Vaccher has three. Two games into the season, Vill has far surpassed his receiving totals from last season while Vaccher is nine receptions and 170 yards shy of his career-highs.
…AND THROWING THEM THE BALL
Senior transfer Ian Fieber has already left his mark on the program in just two games. His 43 completions and 64 attempts are, by far, the highest single game totals in school history. He is averaging over 400 passing yards per game after never averaging over 200 in his first three years at Riverside CC and the University of Sioux Falls. He has eight touchdowns in two games this season after throwing 11 TDs in 12 games a year ago. At 405.5 passing yards per game, Fieber leads all of the NCAA in passing yards per game. He ranks second in Division III in completions per game and 10th in completion percentage, as well as leading the SCIAC in passing efficiency and passing TDs.
WREAKING HAVOC
The Panthers front seven has been a constant presence in the backfield of its two NWC opponents. The Panthers average of 11.5 tackles for loss ranks sixth in Division III while their six sacks per game lead the nation.
LIKE A WRECKING BALL
Senior Matt Layton was all over the field against Whitworth with eight tackles, including a sack, as well as an interception. He now has three sacks on the year and ranks sixth in Division III with an average of 1.5 per game.
BREAKING THROUGH THE LINE
Sophomore Dillon Keefe hasn't slowed down after being selected as the 2017 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year. He has 12 tackles this year, including a pair of sacks and five tackles for loss. His 2.5 TFLs per game ranks ninth in Division III.
TITLE DEFENSE
The Panthers pursuit of back-to-back SCIAC titles begins with Saturday's game at Whittier. Recent history is not on the Panthers side as no team has repeated as a SCIAC champion since Chapman joined the conference in 2012. Cal Lutheran was the last team to win back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. No SCIAC team advanced through the non-conference slate unblemished in 2018.
ALL-AMERICAN FORM
Junior punter Elias Deeb is once again proving to be one of the best punters in Division III. He is averaging 44.6 yards per punt, which ranks third in Division III and is three-and-a-half yards over his career average. Chapman ranks third in net punting in Division III with the field possession changing 41 yards per punt. Deeb has landed six of his 10 punts inside the 20-yard line and forced four fair catches while not yet putting the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
ABOUT WHITTIER
The Poets are still in the midst of a program rebuild and looking to snap their current 32-game losing streak. Whittier's offense has put up some big numbers behind dual threat quarterback Miguel Avina, who averages 238 passing yards and 65.5 rushing yards per game. The Poets put up 42 points against Arizona Christian but fell 67-42 in the season-opener. The Poets then fell 46-27 at home to Lewis & Clark. Whittier has eclipsed 400 yards of offense in both games and have only turned the ball over a total of three times this year. However, opponents are averaging over 600 yards of offense against them while completing 75 percent of passes and gaining an average of six yards per run.
WE'RE WITH YOU, 77
Just before his junior season on the Chapman football team, Hunter Spriggs was diagnosed with Leukemia. After receiving treatment, he received a second diagnosis last spring and is currently battling that second diagnosis. In a display of solitude with their brother, a Chapman football player will wear Spriggs' number 77 jersey in each of Chapman's games this year.
Game 1: Alec Kohn
Game 2: Ryan Moles