ORANGE, Calif. – An undefeated SCIAC season has resulted in 16 All-SCIAC awards for the Chapman University football team, including three major award winners.
Quarterback Tyler Pacheco was named the Offensive Player of the Year and outside linebacker Tate Zimmerman was named the Defensive Player of the Year after both led a dominant 2025 run through the SCIAC. In his first season leading the program, interim head coach Casey Shine was also recognized for leading the Coaching Staff of the Year as the Panthers claimed three of the five major SCIAC awards.
Pacheco led the SCIAC's No. 1 ranked offense in his first full season as the primary quarterback. The dual threat QB ranked fourth in the SCIAC with 61.3 rushing yards per game and second in passing with 156.9 yards per game. Despite missing a game and a half with an injury, he threw for a SCIAC-leading 10 touchdowns and ran for four more. The Panthers averaged just under 400 yards per game and scored over 31 points per game – the highest marks in the SCIAC, by far.
Zimmerman led the SCIAC's No. 1 ranked defense through a dominant run to a conference title. Opposing teams scored just 14.6 points per game against Chapman in the SCIAC season and averaged a meager 213 yards per game. Chapman's defense ranked among the nation's best in first downs allowed with Zimmerman's presence in the backfield consistently putting opponents behind the sticks. His 14.5 tackles for loss in seven SCIAC games ranked second in the conference. With 31 tackles in SCIAC game, 47 percent of his tackles came behind the line of scrimmage.
Pacheco's honor led eight offensive selections for the Panthers, including six on the first team. Running back Fischer Huss earned his first career selection with a First Team honor after ranking second in the SCIAC with 82.9 rushing yards per game and scoring six touchdowns. Wide receiver Kade Zimmerman led the conference in receiving yards with 617 and receiving touchdowns with seven to earn a spot on the First Team with his first career selection. Tight end Jackson Muzzy also earned a spot on the First Team after catching seven passes for 79 yards and three TDs.
Four of the Panthers' five offensive linemen were honored after clearing the way for the conference's best offense. Guards Teddy Buettner and Gavin Scott were honored on the First Team while tackles Lane Forti and Zack Miller earned spots on the Second Team.
Four more Panthers joined Zimmerman on the defensive All-SCIAC teams. Preseason All-American Jacob Gaudi was a First Team selection for the second year in a row after averaging five tackles per game and grabbing a pair of interceptions – one of which he returned for a touchdown against La Verne. Linebacker Andrew Buck – the Panthers' leading tackler in 2025 – also earned a First Team nod in his first season at Chapman.
Lineback Kyle Sieben and defensive lineman Tyler Boynton earned Second Team honors. Boynton's eight tackles for loss ranked fifth in the SCIAC and his three sacks also ranked in the top-10. Sieben had 22 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in SCIAC games, playing opposite Zimmerman, to lock own the other side of the field.
Kicker/punter Carson Nichols and returner Brendon Manzano also earned Second Team nods to represent the Panthers' special teams. Nichols made eight of his nine field goals in SCIAC games and averaged 39.2 yards per punt. Manzano led the SCIAC at 17.8 yards per punt return and ranked second with 26.7 yards per kick return.
Chapman's three SCIAC major award winners mark the second time that Panthers have claimed Offensive, Defensive and Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Chapman also swept those awards in 2017. Pacheco is just the third Panther to earn Offensive Athlete of the Year honors, joining two-time winner, and now quarterbacks coach, Michael Lahey and 2017 winner Ricky Bautista. Zimmerman's honor marks the fifth time in six seasons that a Chapman linebacker was been tapped as the SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, following back-to-back honors – for now linebackers coach – Dillon Keefe, Kade Jordan and Alexander Terriquez.
The Panthers head to Spokane, Wash. on Saturday to take on Whitworth at noon in the NCAA First Round.
