Football defeats La Verne to close out season
LA VERNE, Calif. – The Chapman University football team beat the La Verne Leopards 35-32 in their final regular season game of 2021-22. A fourth quarter scoring effort led the Panthers to overcome a ten-point deficit.
The Panthers kicked off their first drive with a 41-yard return from Nico Ragas who broke into Leopard territory. Three pass completions from Reed Vettel set up the 8-yard toss to Vill in the end zone. The successful Ken Baierl PAT set the score at 7-0 only two minutes into the game.
Back to back interceptions occupied the first quarter. The Panthers suffered an interception from JaVontay Hill at the Leopards 27 followed by a Tyrone Williams Jr. pass intercepted by Jalen Dural at the Panther 15.
The missed field goal attempt from Baierl early in the second quarter sent La Verne into their first scoring drive. A fourth and one timeout called by La Verne at the Chapman 36 led to a successful conversion followed by a 19-yard completion to Nathaniel Sugastume. A Panther pass interference set up the one-yard rushing touchdown from Williams Jr. A successful PAT from Kapena Kamakawiwool tied the score.
The Panthers answered in the following drive with a 20-yard dime from Vettel that found Ragas in the end zone. Baierl set the score 14-7 sending Chapman into the half on top.
La Verne kicked off the second half with a 10-play five-minute drive. At first and ten at the Chapman 30 Abel Cueva went for the 13–yard rushing touchdown which was called no good after holding called on La Verne's Devin Patterson. The Leopards persisted and ended the drive with a Williams Jr. rushing touchdown. Kamakawiwool tied the score 14-14.
The Leopards took the lead with eight left in the third with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Makena Ramos Kamaka and tacked on a Kamakawiwool field goal at the beginning of the fourth setting the score 24-14. Chapman answered when Vettel found Will Mudie in the end zone with a 9-yard toss. Baierl made it a three-point game.
A Simon Hall sack for a loss of 14 on fourth and seven set the Panthers up for another scoring drive. Tanner Mendoza dove in for the 1-yard grab. A Ryan Haith interception a minute later sent Chapman into their third consecutive scoring drive in the fourth. A 2-yard completion to Tanner Mendoza followed by a Baierl PAT ended the Panther scoring effort on the night.
La Verne answered once more before falling by three when Williams Jr. found Jacob Barriga with a 24-yard toss. The 2-point conversion was successful setting the final score at 35-32.
The Leopards led in possession time and passing yards, Williams Jr. tallied 339 compared to Vettel's 205. Mendoza led Chapman with 99 rushing yards trailed by Ursino with 37. Ragas secured 73 receiving yards on the night while Hardin tallied 53.
The Panthers end their season 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the SCIAC. Chapman graduates 33 seniors and looks forward to advancing developing talent into the 2022-23 season.