Football dominates in senior day victory

ORANGE, Calif — Football dominated Cal Lutheran to the tune of a 65-26 victory on Saturday, Nov. 5. 

The Panthers were in control from start to finish scoring on the first drive of the game through the air, connecting on four consecutive first down passes ending up at the 16. Nathaniel Espinoza connected on his first of five touchdown passes, this one to Spencer Corona, who now sits one touchdown behind David Vaccaro, 18, for the most receiving touchdowns in a Panthers' career.

Espinoza — who finished 23-27 with 383 passing yards in only two quarters — kept scattering the ball around the field, throwing his fifth and final touchdown pass with 9:14 remaining in the second quarter. He connected with John Krall on two long ones, 72 and 43 yards, and Wyatt Hardin and Joey Omar inside the redzone. 

Chapman's offensive attack didn't stop in the air, they pounded the rock on the ground as well. Most notably a one-play touchdown drive in a 79-yard Gio Ursino touchdown, juking a pair of defenders at the Cal Lutheran 30 yard line. Ursino cut from the near side of the field across the middle streaking into the end zone for the second time this season.

All of these scores happened with only 21 total minutes elapsing from the clock. Ken Baierl finished off the Panthers first-half reign of terror with the first of his three field goals — Baierl's right foot connected on 11 occasions — extending the Panthers modest lead to 46. Chapman led 52-6 at the break.

Coming out in the second half, the Panthers elected to get the ball to some of the seniors, appropriately on Chapman's senior night. Jack Cartwright, cart wheeled and flipped into the endzone, via a five-yard rush for his first-career rushing touchdown. He rushed four times on that drive for 19 yards, also the most of his career.

Defensively, the Panthers tallied six tackles for loss including four sacks. They also forced a turnover in the form of a 12-yard interception by Isaac Holbrook, and blocked a punt. Evan Greve got in on the block.

With the victory, the Panthers improved to 6-3 and 3-2 in SCIAC play on the season. Cal Lutheran fell to 3-7 and 1-5.

Chapman is back on the field next weekend as they finish off the season in the Big Cat Battle against the La Verne Leopards in La Verne at 1 p.m.

By Joe Perrino

Assistant SID / Recreation Sports Manager

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