THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran football (5-1, 3-1 SCIAC) fell to Chapman (4-2 , 4-0 SCIAC) on Saturday evening, resulting in the Kingsmen's first loss of the 2025 season. The wide receiver duo of Tyler Woodworth and TeNorris Merkel had standout performances, while linebackers Logan Bowers and Drew Nees played well defensively.

The Panthers started with the football in a battle between the only two teams without a loss in SCIAC play entering the contest. Chapman put together a strong opening drive that culminated in a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead just six minutes into the game.

Cal Lutheran failed to respond on offense with a three-and-out, and the Panthers made a huge play on special teams by blocking the punt and starting its next drive at the CLU 13-yard line. The Panthers would strike again quickly with a touchdown to take a 15-0 lead.

With all the momentum on Chapman's side, Merkel made a timely play on the ensuing kickoff when he outraced every Panther tackler for a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to breathe life into William Rolland Stadium and cut the Kingsmen's deficit to 15-7.

Still, Chapman's offense remained hot and countered with another impressive drive, capped off with an improbable touchdown throw to the corner of the end zone, giving the Panthers a 22-7 lead with one minute remaining in the first quarter.

On the next drive, Cal Lutheran converted two fourth downs, first on a short plunge by Gabe Landless and next on a dart from Joe Farley to Tyler Woodworth near the sticks. The Kingsmen were able to turn those conversions into points when Matthew Montegna knocked a 39-yard field goal through the uprights. Cal Lutheran trailed 22-10.

The Kingsmen defense was able to make a stop on Chapman's next series, and a bad punt gave Cal Lutheran the ball back with some momentum. Highlighted by a beautiful deep ball by Farley to Woodworth for 40 yards, the Kingsmen offense put together its first touchdown drive of the evening. Landless finished it off with a one-yard dive across the goal line, and suddenly Cal Lutheran was only down by five with just under three minutes left in the first half.

Both offenses traded quick punts, and the Chapman offense found itself on its own 43-yard line with under 30 ticks left on the clock. The Panthers quarterback dropped back and fired to his left, but Nees was able to get his fingers on the ball, deflecting it up in the air. AJ Townsend tracked the football and intercepted it before a 15-yard return gave the Kingsmen another chance to put points up before the break.

Montegna came out for a 51-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but it was barely short as it plunked off the crossbar despite being perfectly on-line. Cal Lutheran headed into the locker room down 22-17.

The Kingsmen began the third quarter with a three-and-out on offense, and Chapman countered with a field goal to take an eight-point lead.

Cal Lutheran's ensuing drive began with an 18-yard chunk gain from Farley to Davian Gonzalez, and another 4th-down conversion from Farley to Woodworth, this time for 20 yards, set the Kingsmen up inside the 5-yard line. JD Sumlin muscled in his SCIAC-leading ninth rushing touchdown of the season to bring the score to 25-23.

A flurry of penalties resulted in three subsequent two-point attempts from Cal Lutheran, with the final try seeing Farley escape pressure to find Merkel free in the end zone to tie the game at 25 apiece with 2:22 left in the third quarter.

A Nees sack and a Charles Cravings pass break up quickly put the ball back into the hands of the Kingsmen offense, but Chapman's defense also stepped up to force a punt.

The Panthers were able to string together another touchdown drive for the first time since the opening quarter, taking a 32-25 lead.

With under nine minutes remaining, the Chapman defense recorded a huge sack on third down to get the ball back from Cal Lutheran. The Panthers offense put together a timely drive to set up a short field goal, and their kicker put it through for a 10-point, two-possession lead late in the fourth quarter.

Merkel's heroics almost resurfaced, as he returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, which would have been his second of the evening, but a holding penalty on the return nullified the score.

The Kingsmen tried to hurry down the field, but an interception iced the game for Chapman, handing Cal Lutheran its first loss of the season, 35-25.

Farley threw for 178 yards on 15 completions, with six of those going to Woodworth for 113 yards. Bowers led the defense with 10 tackles, adding a sack and a pass breakup. Hunter Hall recorded eight tackles, while Gannon Greenan and Max Juarez totaled seven each. Juarez added 1.5 TFL and two QB hurries. Merkel returned four kickoffs for 157 yards, including his 100-yard house call.

Cal Lutheran will move on to host Redlands, a team it beat 27-10 earlier this season, next weekend on senior night.