ORANGE, Calif. – A missed PAT. A late field goal. A goalline stand as time expired. The Chapman University football team held on for a 24-20 Homecoming win over Cal Lutheran on Saturday.
The Kingsmen were able to drive the length of the field in the final 1:45 of the game but the final two passes fell incomplete as the Chapman defense held on for the win.
The Panthers held a 21-7 lead at halftime but did not score in the second half until Jax Hudson nailed a 26-yard field goal in the final two minutes of the game. The field goal proved to be crucial as it forced Cal Lutheran to seek the end zone on its final drive.
Joey Yellen made his first start for the Panthers, completing 18-of-28 passes for 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cal Lutheran's Jaden Casey completed 15-of-28 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown. Both threw a pair of interceptions.
The Panthers built their initial lead after ending back-to-back drives with interceptions of Casey by Seth Holbrook and Jacob Gaudi. The second pick resulted in a one-play drive of Yellen hitting Amir Adams in the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown toss. Yellen later hit Quentin Biebel in the back of the end zone for a 21-7 lead, capping a nine-play, 65-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock.
Gio Ursino ran the ball 22 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Pacheco ran it seven times 59 yards. As a team the Panthers ran for 161 yards while Cal Lutheran ran for 163 yards, led by CJ Zackery and Gabe Landless.
While the Panthers dominated the first half, the Kingsmen took over in the second half. They scored on their first drive and followed it up with their second interception of Yellen on the next drive, forcing the turnover in the end zone to keep Chapman off the board. A nine-play, 62-yard drive appeared to have tied the game in the fourth quarter but the extra point kick bounced off the upright to keep Chapman in front.
Chapman responded with a 14-play, 66-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes before Hudson knocked the 26-yard field goal through the uprights to put Chapman up by four.
Tate Zimmerman led the defense with seven tackles, including two for a loss.
Chapman moved to 2-0 in the SCIAC and 3-1 overall and ended a three-year Homecoming losing skid with the win over Cal Lutheran. They head to CMS next week for a crucial Surf Division afternoon matchup.
