ORANGE, Calif. - Wayne Chapman rushed for two touchdowns and Justin Reeves had a career-high four catches for 75 yards and a score but the Cal Lutheran defense had no answer for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) leading offense in Chapman, falling 37-27 to the Panthers Saturday. Chapman earned its first win over CLU since 2007 after racking up 295 yards rushing and scoring 35 points or more for eighth time in nine games this season. With the loss, Cal Lutheran's streak of four consecutive SCIAC Championships was snapped and the Kingsmen finished with a losing record for the first time since 2002.
The Kingsmen shook off an interception on the first possession and actually struck first when W. Chapman scored on a six-yard touchdown run with a little over four minutes left in the first quarter. The touchdown drive was set up by Christian Bradley, who forced a fumble after tackling Kean Stancil and recovered the ball at the Chapman 47.
The Panthers would respond by scoring on their next two possessions and took the lead at 14-7. Chapman increased its lead midway through the second quarter after Terrell Dolberry scored on a five-yard touchdown run and put the Panthers up 20-7.
It looked as though Chapman would go up by 20 when Michael Lahey connected with Cody Chapple for a 75-yard completion but Chris Cabrera chased him down and ripped the ball out. Ed Davis recovered the fumbled at the Cal Lutheran one-yard line and gave the Kingsmen a chance to score just before halftime.
Cal Lutheran would march down the field for a 99-yard drive that was capped by David Rico finding fullback Vance Cramer out of the backfield for a one-yard touchdown pass. Cramer's touchdown was set up by a 24-yard completion from Rico to Sean Belotti and a roughing-the-passer penalty tacked on the end of the play, moving the ball to the Chapman four-yard line. After the score, the teams headed into the locker room with Chapman leading 20-14.
The Panthers would waste little time increasing their lead, scoring on the first drive of the second half after completing a 59-yard touchdown pass to Sean Myers.
CLU would respond on its next drive, going 58 yards on 10 plays and pulling to within 27-21 after Chapman's second touchdown run of the game. Earlier the drive, Chapman burst through the line for 25-yard gain on a third and nine play to keep the Kingsmen drive alive.
Unfortunately for Cal Lutheran, Chapman would score a touchdown just three plays later after Stancil ran for a 40-yard gain and Robin Harris caught a six-yard touchdown to all but seal the victory.
Chapman would add a field goal in the fourth quarter before Cal Lutheran got to within 10 at 37-27 after Reeves hauled in first touchdown of the season.
Needing a stop, Chapman got an 18-yard gain on first down and then ran out the clock for the victory.
Lahey was the star of the game, going 11-of-14 for 260 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 118 more.
Chapple and Myers both went over 100 yards receiving and caught a touchdown in the game.
Ryan Zirbel was Cal Lutheran's leading rusher with 81 yards on the ground. Rico was bottled up for 36 yards after rushing for over 100 yards the past two games. Chapman was the second leading rusher with 53 yards rushing.
Through the air, Rico was 19-of-29 for two touchdowns but also threw his first two interceptions of the year. In addition to Reeves, Thomas Asaije had 55 yards receiving and Jacob Scott had a 40-yard reception.
In his final game as a Kingsmen, Cabrera led CLU with eight total tackles. Jhaylyn Hall had his first interception of the year to round out Cal Lutheran defensively.
Redlands clinched its first SCIAC title since 2007 while Chapman finishes second with an 8-1 record.
Box Score: CU 37 CLU 27
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