Football downs Pomona-Pitzer for 27-14 road win
ORANGE, Calif. – In a game marred by nine total turnovers, the Chapman University football team came away with a 27-14 road win at Pomona-Pitzer. The Panthers (6-2, 3-1 SCIAC) held the Sagehens to negative rushing yards and the defense did not allow any points in the second half.
Pomona-Pitzer opened the scoring with a touchdown just 65 seconds into the game; however, that would be the last time the offense would put points on the board. The Sagehens threw the ball 56 times but completed only 25 passes for 252 yards. Their longest play was the 27-yard TD early in the game.
The defense picked off Sagehen quarterback Even Flitz three times and intercepted Clark Baker on an attempted trick play. Carter Treadway, Zach Cox, Blake Siemsen and Ryan Haith each grabbed an interception for the Panthers to stop a Sagehen drive.
The Sagehens grabbed three interceptions of their own and forced a pair of fumbles, which they jumped on to force five Chapman turnovers. Garrett Pittman had two of the three Sagehen picks and returned one 34 yards for a game-tying touchdown early in the third quarter.
Chapman tied up the game just before the end of the first quarter when senior Reed Vettel found senior Wyatt Hardin for a seven-yard score to cap a 12-play drive. With 6:58 left in the first half, senior Jonston MacIntyre took in a one-yard TD run for a 14-7 halftime lead.
After Pittman's pick six, Chapman responded with a 12-play and nearly seven minute drive that ended when MacIntyre found senior Trevor Vill in the end zone for a four-yard TD. Junior Ken Baierl added a pair of field goals late in the third and in the fourth to pad the Panther lead.
Chapman outgained Pomona-Pitzer 413-249, holding the Sagehens to negative three rushing yards on seven carries. Chapman ran the ball 53 times with seven different players to gain 169 yards on the ground. Vettel and MacIntyre combined to go 23-of-34 for 244 yards.
The Panthers dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 40:56. Senior Tanner Mendoza's 62 yards on 13 carries led the time-chewing effort on the ground. Vill led the receivers with seven catches for 71 yards. Ten different Panthers caught at least one pass.
Senior Isaac Edwards and Vinny Caffaro each recorded a sack of Flitz while Chapman's offensive line did not give up a sack in the game.
The Panthers return to Chapman Stadium for their final home game and Homecoming on Nov. 6 to take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7 p.m.
By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
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