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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Chapman University football team fought No 24-ranked Occidental College into overtime on Saturday only to lose by a touchdown, 21-14, dashing hopes of a Panther upset on the road at Patterson Field. Chapman (5-3) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end in heartbreaking fashion after leading with less than five minutes to play in regulation. The fact that the Panthers were even in a position to win the game and push their winning streak to five might have come as a surprise to many. Chapman proved that this year’s winning season has not been accidental, putting up more offensive yards (421-320) and gaining more first downs (22-16) than the three-time defending SCIAC champion Tigers on their own home field. And when Panthers’ junior QB Eric Marty connected with junior WR Harrison Dull for a 94-yard touchdown pass – the longest pass play in Chapman history – to give them a 14-7 lead with 6:20 left in regulation, it looked as though the upset dream would become a reality against Occidental (7-1), who has been ranked in the nation’s top-25 since 2004. However, a big kick return by the Tigers set up a four-play, 39-yard drive with senior WR Rocky Caisulli catching his second of three touchdown passes in the game to tie the score at 14-14 with 4:52 on the clock and force overtime. After Occidental scored a touchdown on their first overtime possession, the Panthers reached their opponents’ 7 yard line on their first two plays. However Marty’s next three passes fell incomplete and Chapman fell 21-14. It was Chapman’s first loss in three previous overtime games in school history. The offense was led, once again, by Marty who passed for 301 yards, but was forced to scramble often and was sacked five times. Dull caught seven catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, the Chapman defense held a potent Tigers’ offense in check most of the day, limiting them to nearly 150 yards less than their season average in total offense. Junior LB Nick Gaitan led the Panthers with seven tackles, one pass breakup, one QB hurry and two tackles for loss. He and sophomore DL Bob Burton each earned pass sacks, as well. The Panthers will travel to La Verne on Saturday to try to wrap up the season with their sixth win. La Verne (1-7) leads the all-time series 9-4, but Chapman got the best of the Leopards in 2006 with a 35-12 win in Orange.
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