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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LA VERNE, Calif. – The Panthers needed a clutch fourth quarter defensive stand to do it, but with its 31-27 victory over host University of La Verne, the Chapman University football team secured its first six-win season since 1996, highlighting a turnaround that has seen the program go from 2-7 in 2005 to 6-3 this year. The game was not without a little drama the likes of which the Chapman-La Verne rivalry hasn’t seen in several years, including six lead changes through the first three quarters. Chapman began the fourth quarter with a 44-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Eric Marty to senior WR Brandon Koller, which gave the Panthers a 31-21 lead with 13:39 to play. It was Koller’s second touchdown catch of the day after connecting with senior QB Luke Robinson with time expiring in the first half. But the Panthers’ 10-point cushion lasted just seconds as La Verne’s Taylor Hart returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown that made the score 31-27. Chapman’s defense blocked a critical PAT kick attempt to keep the Leopards trailing by four and in need of another touchdown. The Panthers ate up nearly seven minutes of the clock on their next drive and reached the Leopards’ 10 yard line before La Verne (1-8) intercepted a pass by Marty. The Leopards then began a drive that would take them into Chapman territory and looking for the go-ahead touchdown. Having missed the extra-point earlier, La Verne was desperate to get into the end zone and forced to run on 4th and 1 on the Panthers’ 30 yard line. Chapman’s defense stuffed the Leopards for no gain and ran out the clock over the final 2:44. Chapman’s offense had little trouble moving the chains, accumulating 507 yards of total offense – its second-highest single-game output of the season. Marty and Robinson combined for 372 yards passing and senior WR Harrison Dull made 10 catches for 145 yards. Chapman’s career receiving leader caught for over 100 yards for the fifth time this season and set the single-season receiving record with 1,042 yards. He finished with 2,097 yards for his career. Junior FS Garrett Earls tied the team lead with his fourth interception of the season in the second quarter and ran it back 44 yards. Senior SS Kaeo Kane also had a big interception return for 54 yards in the first quarter. Both picks led to touchdowns for Chapman. The late-game dramatics renewed a rivalry that from 1994-03 featured eight games decided by five points or less and an average margin of victory of 2.7 points. La Verne leads the series 9-5 with the Panthers winning the past two in a row.
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