Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Despite holding a 7-6 lead at halftime, the Whittier College Football team was unable to stop the big play in the second half as they fell 34-10 at Memorial Stadium against Chapman University.
The Purple & Gold found their offense Saturday night underneath the lights finishing with 421 yards (270 Passing/161 Rushing), the most this season.
Whittier looked strong in their opening series marching down the field in 10 plays for 78 yards. Freshman Michael Campbell (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) found Brandon Wolford (Lakewood, Calif.) for a big 23 yard hook-up and Joey Willm (Arcadia, Calif.) took over rushing five times for 39 yards before Miguel Redmond (San Jose, Calif.) capped it off with a 15-yard scamper and an one-yard touchdown run.
The Poets threatened on their next series looking to extend their lead putting together another 10-play drive and this one covering 55 yards, which included a huge reception for 29 yards from Wolford. But on 1st and 10 on the Chapman 27, Campbell would be picked off in the endzone, which ended the threat.
Whittier held onto a 7-0 lead after the first 15:00 minutes but saw it erased with 7:33 remaining in the second quarter as Ryan Bautista would lead the Panthers down the field in six plays with Medina running it in from four yards out.
On the very next drive, Whittier again would sustain another lengthy push this one for 9-plays for 66 yards. Campbell completed three big receptions to Steven Short (Seattle, WA), up the seam for 11 yards, had Benton Bray (Kingsburg, Calif.) over the middle for 18 and found Brian Phelan (Chino Hills, Calif.) for 10.
But it would end on the Chapman nine as Whittier elected to go for it on 4th and 1, being stopped short of the first down turning the ball over on downs.
Out of the half, Chapman struck quickly on their second play from scrimmage as Bautista found Isabel down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown reception. This would put the Panthers in front 13-7 and they wouldn't look back as they would add another touchdown in the frame and another at the start of the fourth quarter that opened the game up.
The only other points for Whittier came off the foot of Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.) who connected on a 33-yard field goal.
Campbell played the entire game finishing 27-38 for 260 yards. Drew Lewis (Turlock, Calif.) led the rushing core with eight attempts for 62 yards, while Bryson Sanders (Manteca, Calif.) hauled in seven catches for 92 yards averaging 13.1 yards per catch.
Defensively, Austin Brasher (El Segundo, Calif.) totaled a season high 15 tackles, helped in a sack and a tackle for a loss and forced a fumble. Rico Duenas was big up front registering eight tackles and a tackle for a loss and Richard Watkins finished with seven tackles.
Whittier returns to action this Saturday, October 15 as they travel to Pomona-Pitzer to take on the Sagehens beginning at 7:00pm.
