ORANGE, Calif. –The Chapman University football team defeated Occidental College 61-37 Saturday afternoon, scoring 40 points in the first half to solidify a final win on senior day. Senior Ethan Weinstein posted a career-best 306 all-purpose yards in this offensive battle helping set one of two Chapman records on the day. 

The Panthers were led by seniors Weinstein and Eddie Lee Favors. Weinstein had four touchdowns and led the team in all-purpose yards. Favors led the team with eight tackles, and seniors Ben Wadors and Dominic Luca were right behind him with six and five tackles respectively.

The scoring started 45 seconds into the game, when quarterback Ricky Bautista found the hands of junior Jacob Isabel on a 67-yard pass. Occidental came back to tie the game at seven less than four minutes later. Weinstein answered right back, scoring his first touchdown off a 74-yard pass from Bautista, and opening up the Panther offense.

The Tigers put up 10 points in the second quarter off a field goal by Garrett Bronken and a touchdown from Dan Gittelman-Egan, but it wasn't enough to stop the Panther attack. Weinstein went on to score two more touchdowns in the first half, the first being a 13-yard reception, and the second being a 39-yard reception. The Panthers led the Tigers 40-23 going into halftime.

Chapman only allowed one Occidental touchdown in the third quarter and added to of their own lead, with junior Diano Pachote and senior Darrin Nishi. Pachote scored with five left on the clock in the fourth quarter hauling in a five-yard reception and Nishi capped of the Panthers final drive of the quarter with a 13 yard run.

The Oxy offense did not give up and notched two more scores in the fourth quarter. Weinstein scored the final touchdown for Chapman, snagging a beautifully thrown ball from junior quarterback Lukas O'Connor by the fingertips, ending the best game of his career.

The Panthers had their best offensive game of the year compiling a net offense of 483 yards. Bautista (22-for-31) had a career best game of 432 yards and six TD's setting a single-game school record for CU. Weinstein also set a single-game record with 4 receptions for TD's, surpassing the school record of three set in 1999. 

The Panthers finished their season 5-4 overall and 4-3 in SCIAC play. The Chapman program recognized 13 seniors prior to the game.

By Katie Bell & Raquel Rinauro

Sports Information Intern & Sports Information Assistant

Chapman University Athletics

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