Second quarter dooms Chapman in 43-7 loss to No.14 Azusa Pacific

GLENDORA, Calif. – After three weeks off, the Chapman University football team returned to play on Saturday night, losing 43-7 to NAIA No. 14 Azusa Pacific at Citrus Stadium. The Panthers hung tight for the first quarter, but a 20-point second quarter broke the game wide open as the Cougars capitalized on a pair of mistakes by Chapman to score touchdowns.

Chapman (1-1) began the game with a three-and-out on its first offensive possession. Following Chapman's punt, Azusa Pacific put together an 11 play, 39-yard drive that ended with a field goal by junior K Eric DeLira to take a 3-0 lead at the 8:20 mark in the first quarter. The Panthers defense held APU in check for the rest of the first quarter.

Azusa Pacific's offense came to life late in the second quarter with a 52-yard touchdown pass from senior QB John van den Raadt to senior WR Matt Davis to take a 10-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Azusa Pacific's Cameron Villalobos forced a fumble which APU recovered on Chapman's 40-yard line. Five plays later, van den Raadt connected with senior WR Jeremiah Andujo for a 16-yard touchdown pass making the score 17-0 with 3:13 remaining before halftime. Van den Raadt, who killed Chapman with his legs last year, did his damage through the air this time around, completing 14 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

After the touchdown, Azusa Pacific (3-1) allowed Chapman to move the ball down to their 19-yard line after three-consecutive completions by sophomore QB Michael Lahey. The second-year Chapman quarterback went 7-for-10 on the night for 70 yards and also ran for 30 yards. After a timeout with one second remaining in the half, Chapman set up for a field goal which would have narrowed Azusa's lead to two scores, only to have the field goal attempt blocked by sophomore LB Matthew Moody and returned 98 yards for a touchdown by senior LB Spencer Danielson to push the lead to 23-0 at half.

The second half had a promising start for the Panthers. After the defense forced APU to punt, Chapman put together a 13-play, 61-yard drive capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Bret Visciglia to junior WR Kali'i Kunitomo which narrowed the score to 23-7 at the 5:53 mark of the third quarter. On the drive, junior RB Chad Milburn had five of his 11 carries on the night. He finished the game with 43 yards on 11 carries.

Less than a minute after Chapman's touchdown, APU answered back with a touchdown to make the score 30-7 capping a two play drive. Junior RB Johnell Murphy score from 33 yards out for the Cougars. Murphy had 81 yards on the night.

In the fourth quarter, APU added a rushing touchdown by junior RB Oliver Petty and a 53-yard touchdown pass from van den Raadt to senior TE Tyson Hetzer to run away with the 43-7 victory.

Azusa Pacific's defense held Chapman to 261 yards of total offense and had eight tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Chapman's defense gave up 460 yards of total offense to the Cougars who have one of the top-ranked offensive attacks in the NAIA. Chapman's defense was led by sophomore DB Jason Jacobi who had 10 tackles.

by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/fball/2011-12/boxscores/20110924_hkq2.xml