ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University football team (1-0(4-21)) defeated the Whittier Poets (0-2(0-5)) 57-14 on Wilson Field in their first SCIAC match of the 2021 season.

Chapman was on the board less than five minutes into the first. Nico Ragas rushed the ball 20 yards to the Whittier 24 followed by a complete 24-yard pass from Jonston Maclntyre that found Will Mudie in the end zone. The Ken Baierl PAT was good putting the Panthers up 7-0.

The Poets kicked off the second unable to convert a first down twice resulting in two Chapman scoring drives. A Tanner Mendoza 69-yard rushing touchdown and Baierl extra point set the score at 14-0. Maclntyre then found Marcos Reyes on first down, Reyes dodged the Poets and ran the ball 53 yards into the end zone. Baierl set the score at 21-0 with the PAT.

Chapman struck next after an interception from Kade Jordan at the Whittier 45. On first down Reed Vettel connected a 45-yard pass with Ragas for the fourth scoring drive of the half. A Whittier forced punt allowed Maclntyre to find Spencer Corona in the endzone with a 39-yard pass setting the score at 35-0. Baierl was good for both extra points.

The Panthers held the Poets scoreless in the first half after ending the quarter with a Gio Ursino 61-yard sprint to the end zone on first down. The Panthers went into the half leading 43-0.

The score was set at 57-0 in the third quarter after a 24-yard passing touchdown from Vettel to Will Mudie and a 55-yard rushing touchdown from Prescott Wong. Another successful PAT from Baierl finalized the Panthers scoring effort on the night.

 The Poets ended their scoreless run with less than five minutes left in the quarter. A nine-play drive led the poets to the Chapman one-yard line setting up a Jaun Estrada leap into the endzone. The score was set at its final 57-14 with another one-yard Estrada rushing touchdown. The Noah Handel extra points were good on both drives.

Mendoza led the Panthers with 75 rushing yards on the game while Reyes topped the board with 60 receiving yards. The Panthers tallied 297 passing yards compared to the Poets 93 and 303 receiving yards compared to the Poets 93.

The Panthers return to Wilson Field for more SCIAC play next Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against Cal Lutheran.

By Chloe de Vries
Assistant Sports Information Director

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