ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University football team seized control of first place in the Surf Division with a 17-10 win at Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday. The defense held Pomona-Pitzer to negative rushing yardage while Fischer Huss ran for a career-high and scored both touchdowns.
Huss ran the ball 22 times for 154 yards, averaging seven yards per carry. He punched in a four-yard touchdown in the first to give Chapman a 10-7 lead and padded the lead with a 54-yard score late in the third quarter – the longest run of his career.
Huss's two touchdowns added to Carson Nichols' first quarter field goal for the Panthers' final total. That would be more than enough as the defense was once again stifling. As Pomona-Pitzer quarterbacks took four sacks and did not attempt any rush plays with a running back, the Sagehens had -19 rushing yards.
The Sagehens had 255 yards in the passing game with 85 of those coming on their first offensive play. Luke Levitt found Brennan Dragomer in the flat and he took it 85 yards for the touchdown. After their first play, the Sagehens managed just 170 yards from scrimmage with Chapman's defense holding them to only a field goal in the third quarter.
Tate Zimmerman led the defensive effort with 10 total tackles, including four for a loss. He got to the quarterback for a two of Chapman's four sacks and tipped a pass that was eventually grabbed by Andrew Buck for a fourth quarter interception.
Buck grabbed the tipped and juggled pass for his first career interception and the second tipped INT in as many weeks for the Chapman defense. He also ended Pomona-Pitzer's next drive when he punched out a fumble that was jumped on by Zimmerman.
Tyler Pacheco threw for 136 yards on 13-of-19 passing – finding Kade Zimmerman seven times for 66 yards. Pacheco also ran the ball 15 times for 40 yards.
With the win, Chapman improves to 3-0 in the SCIAC and 3-2 overall. The win also sets up a matchup of the last two undefeated teams in SCIAC as the Panthers travel to play undefeated Cal Lutheran next Saturday.
