Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College football team dropped their second decision of 2012 losing a tight 49-35 contest to the Panthers of Chapman University in Saturday's SCIAC Opener.
In the fourth quarter Chapman was down 35-34 with 8:33 remaining when they rallied back to add two touchdowns within a seven minute span that propelled them to the fourteen point victory.
The Poets who came into the contest posting the nations second best offense was held to 56 yards under their average. Whittier was led by Kimble Tillman who had seven receptions for 129 yards, while rushing once for 19, including two touchdowns. Matt Asaro had a breakout performance hauling in 14 receptions for 102 yards, a career high.
Chris Lopez played under center and finished with 369 yards passing going 32-50 to go with two scores, while Anthony Walker led the rushing attack with 59 yards on 13 carries and one score.
Jeremiah McKibbins who is the leading offensive player for Chapman finished with record breaking night with 251 yards rushing on 31 attempts to go with five touchdowns.
On the first drive of the game, Chapman went 80 yards in nine plays capped off with a McKibbins four yard touchdown run that put the Panthers in front 7-0 early. Whittier responded on their ensuing possession though going 75 yards in 12 plays covering 4:33 to even the score up when Walker scampered into the end zone from five yards out.
After a field goal pushed the Chapman lead to 10-7 after the first quarter, Whittier was forced into a three and out situation but were able to get the ball back when Alex Mitchell intercepted an Andrew Chavez pass with 1:38 to go in the first. This helped propel Whittier into a 73 yard drive led by freshman standout Steven Rivera who connected with senior transfer Blake Tillis from 16 yards out that put Whittier in front for the first time 14-10.
But the Panthers rushing attack up the middle continued to plague the Poets as Chapman took the ball on their next possession and marched down the field going 84 yards in 11 plays with McKibbins rushing it in from two yards out. After two three and outs for the Poets Chapman was able to tack on another three after a Mauricio Alfonso field goal that helped extend their lead 20-14 going into the half.
Coming out in the third junior quarterback Lopez connected quickly on the first play from scrimmage with Tillman for a 39 yard gain before Tillman hauled in a 37 yard pass two plays later from Lopez that gave the Poets a one point lead 21-20. On Chapman's next possession Whittier forced another turnover as John O'Malley picked off Chavez but due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty his 30 yard return was void and Whittier was forced to start their next drive from the 50.
But Whittier was unable to capitalize off of the turnover and was forced to give the ball back to Chapman. But Whittier again received another opportunity as Tyquion Ballard intercepted Chavez on his next series, which led to a Tillman rushing touchdown from 19 yards out and thanks to a two point conversion by LaFelton Traxler the Poets extended their lead to 29-20.
Chapman then turned to their rushing attack once again in fear of a fourth interception and it was a good decision as McKibbins rushed to a 16 yard touchdown capping off a drive that included seven straight rushes. This pulled the Panthers within two at 29-27 after three quarters of play.
In one of the biggest decisions for Head Coach Todd Stratton this season he elected to go for a fourth down conversion at the start of the fourth quarter after Whittier drove down the length of the field going 61 yards in 13 plays. The Purple & Gold faced a 1st and Goal from then Chapman six and got to the four yard line and instead of kicking a field goal to take the points Stratton elected to go for it on fourth down with the hope of extending the lead but on the ensuing play Rufus Osby dropped a pass from Lopez turning the ball over on downs giving the ball back to Chapman.
With 96 yards of turf in front of them with 14:54 to go in the game, Chapman drove the length of the field behind an 85 yard scamper from McKibbins. With the Panthers having a 1st and Goal situation, the Poets stopped their first two runs of minimal gains forcing a third down and four and after an incomplete pass that would have forced a field goal, the Poets' Mitchell was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct giving the Panthers a new set of downs which they used to punch in the go ahead touchdown from two yards out.
With Chapman regaining the lead at the 12:55 mark the Poets marched down the field on their next series going 75 yards in 11 plays covering 4:14 to regain the lead once again at 35-34 thanks to Lopez finding Dameron Fooks for an 11 yard score in the back of the end zone. Then in an attempt to add a two point conversion to take out a field goal chance to win it, the Poets came up short keeping the one point differential.
With Chapman facing a big 3rd and 5 on their next drive, Chavez found Harris down the sideline for a 38 yard gain that put the Panthers on the one yard line, which McKibbins punched in to put Chapman out in front 42-35.
Trailing 42-35 with 6:47 remaining, Whittier drove deep into Chapman territory, but had it stopped when the Panthers Josh Irvin intercepted a Lopez pass at the Chapman's 29-yard line which gave the ball back to a Chapman running attack, which went back down the field to add their final score of the contest from McKibbins who raced in from four yards out that put Chapman in front 49-35 giving them a lead they would not relinquish.
On defense for Whittier, senior Charles Scicli had a team high 10 tackles, which included a tackle for a two yard loss, while Nathan Poole forced a fumble. Whittier's defensive backs played strongly, forcing three interceptions coming from Mitchell, O'Malley, and Ballard.
The Poets return to Memorial Stadium as they host the Leopards of the University of La Verne, next Saturday, October 6 with kickoff set for 7:00pm.
