Football falls in SCIAC opener

ORANGE, Calif — Football dropped its first SCIAC matchup of the season on homecoming night, 31-17, to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.

Mistakes and missed opportunities plagued the Panthers throughout the contest, and a dropped would-be touchdown pass on the second play from scrimmage set the tone for the remainder of the game. 

Two plays later, a bad snap on a punt left the Sagehens with great field position at the Chapman 26 allowing for a quick two-play touchdown drive only 1:44 into the game. 

The Panthers would scrape across a field goal after a 9 minute and 30 second drive on the following possession, but two straight Pomona-Pitzer touchdowns put the Panthers in a tough 21-3 hole.

The Sagehens blocked two punts on the night, both resulting in field position at the Chapman 16, but the first came in the second quarter aiding on the Sagehens third touchdown.

Chapman would try to claw back with a touchdown to finish out the second half. The one-yard Tanner Mendoza touchdown-rush was set up by a spectacular 53-yard diving catch from John Krall. The receiver laid out parallel to the ground and hauled in the rocket from Nathaniel Espinoza.

After allowing another touchdown in the second half, set up by a Chapman fumble, Wyatt Hardin reached up for an impressive touchdown grab in the back of the end zone.

Hardin and Krall led the team in receiving with 12 total catches, Krall eight for 103, and Hardin four for 60 yards.

A couple of bright spots defensively came from Alphonso Barmore Jr. and Luke Porteneuve, who collected the only two sacks of the game. Alexander Terriquez finished with 15 tackles. 

The Panthers will return to the field next weekend when they take on Claremont-M-S on the road in Claremont at 1:00 pm. 

By Joe Perrino

Assistant SID / Recreation Sports Manager

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