Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Chapman University
returned the favor from a year ago as they spoiled the Whittier
football team's Homecoming game with a 29-17 win at Memorial
Stadium on Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of over 2500.
The Poets (1-4) got down early and never recovered as Chapman
(2-3) scored on its opening possession. The purple and gold trailed
by two scores before a Kimball Tillman 28-yard
scoring run made the count 14-7 with 5:57 left in the half.
The Panthers extended their lead to as many as 19 points with
3:25 left in the game before Josh Ollison pulled a
22-yard scoring strike in the final two minutes of the game.
Chapman's opening drive went 65 yards in 12 plays and was
capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Bret Visciglia to Mike
Lambesis.
The Panthers capitalized on a missed 25-yard field goal from
Eric Cejudo and pushed its lead to 14-0 after an
11-play, 80-yard, drive that took 5:17. Michael Lahey finished the
scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Whittier responded on its ensuing possession and need only four
plays to cut the deficit to 14-7. Tillman's fifth rushing
touchdown of the year was the fourth play of the 62-yard drive.
After Chapman added three points on a 39-yard field the Poets
threatened on its final drive of the half. Whittier broke deep into
Panther territory on a 23-yard screen pass to Marcus
Langkilde but holding negated the big play.
On the next snap, Alesana Sausau pass down the
sideline for Oreese Hoyes was picked off by Peter
Antone.
Cejudo pulled the Poets within one possession on
Whittier's second drive of the third quarter with a 22-yard
field goal but Chapman answered with a scoring drive of its own. Al
White ran it in from 42 yards out to put the Panthers up 24-10. The
scoring run capped a 5-play, 57-yard, drive.
The Poets caught a bad break when a long snap went out of the
back of the endzone to give Chapman a free two points and off the
free kick the Panthers added three more on a 37-yard field
goal.
Whittier took possession and drive 78 yards in 1:22 to pull
within 12 points. Ollison's scoring grab came on a
4th-and-18.
Needing the ball back the Poets recovered the onside kick but
were whistled for a false start. The second attempt wasn't as
successful and went out of bounds to the Panthers.
Chapman outrushed the Poets 217-206 and had an overall advantage
in total yards at 363-316.
Sausau finished 6-of-14 for 110 yards and one touchdown. Tillman
ran for a team-high 86 yards and Ollison was the top receiver with
65 yards on three catches.
Aaron Alonzo totaled a game-high nine tackles
which includes 1.5 for loss while Tyson Schilling
recorded a sack.
The Poets return to action next weekend as they hit the road to
face Claremont-M-S at 1 pm.