Chapman Football Makes Impressive Comeback : Debut: Panthers topple Whittier, 30-13, in program’s first game in 62 years.

Chapman’s return to the gridiron was as close to flawless Orange County football as it gets these days.

Long drives for touchdowns. No fumbles. No interceptions. No punts until the second half.

The Panthers, playing their first game after a 62-year hiatus, defeated Whittier, 30-13, Saturday in front of 4,200 at Newman Field.

The last time the school fielded a football team, the college was called California Christian, the campus was in Los Angeles and Panther football was far from fearsome.

Records are hazy but it’s believed the Panthers won only one game in their final three seasons before the program was disbanded in 1932.

It was immediately evident that times have changed. No way did California Christian have anyone like Curtis Robinson.

Robinson, a 6-foot-3, 206-pound quarterback, completed nine of 14 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns in 17 carries.

Robinson, a junior transfer from Citrus College, was courted by such Division I programs as Fresno State and USC--and Saturday Whittier didn’t seem to stand a chance.

“I think Whittier had a young defense and he was a little too much for them,” Chapman Coach Ken Visser said, “although they hit him hard.”

Hard enough to separate Robinson’s shoulder on his first carry, the game’s second play. Robinson had turned the corner on the option, gaining 14 yards, and nearly broke it for a touchdown before defensive back Carter Devol made a hard tackle.

After the game, Robinson had ice on his throwing shoulder. “It will hurt me more tomorrow than tonight,” he said.

On Chapman’s first offensive drive, the Panthers drove 92 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown.

There were some shaky moments. They were forced to call timeout twice during the drive. They had an 11-yard touchdown run by Robinson called back because of a holding penalty.

But three plays after the penalty, Robinson hit Dave Poltl in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown with 4 minutes 6 seconds left in the first quarter.

After Whittier tied the score at 8:56 in the second quarter, Chapman scored 17 consecutive points. Bill Hamlin kicked a 27-yard field goal, Robinson scored on a 17-yard run and then completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Green.

Green, a junior from Fullerton College who made four receptions for 157 yards, caught the ball at the Whittier 40 and blazed into the end zone, giving the Panthers a 24-7 lead at the half.

Whittier cut it to 24-13 early in the fourth quarter, but Robinson ran it in from four yards with 8:53 left.

It was a doubly emotional victory for Visser. For one thing, it was a satisfying beginning for a program he started from scratch last December and a team that he saw on the field for the first time Sept. 25. For another, it was a return to the campus he coached on for the past three years.

Honestly, I’m glad this game is over,” Visser said. “I’m awfully happy to get a win. I knew we had good personnel but it’s tough to get them together in such a short time.”