Unbeaten La Verne Will Challenge Chapman

With two exceptions, Chapman’s first football team in 62 years has had its way with opponents.

Meet probable exception No. 3: La Verne.

The Leopards (6-0) bring a No. 2 ranking in the NCAA Division III West Region into the game at 7 tonight at Chapman.

La Verne features the Southern California Athletic Conference’s top rusher Darren MacLellan (789 yards, 157.8 per game) and most efficient passer Ryan Campuzano (153.7 rating). The Leopards have the conference’s most stingy defense and most productive offense and have outscored their opponents, 236-90.

Yet, it’s unlikely Chapman will be overwhelmed. Although the Panthers tied Redlands, 14-14, and lost to Occidental, 30-20, they still have outscored their opponents, 219-89.

Still this game is clearly Chapman’s toughest challenge remaining on the schedule. The Panthers (4-1-1) play host to Pomona-Pitzer (1-5) next week and finish the season at Cal Lutheran (2-4) Nov. 12.

“When you don’t have a conference championship to look forward to and you are just starting out,” Chapman Coach Ken Visser said, “these are the type of big games you look forward to playing well in.”

The game is also important to La Verne, although Coach Rex Huigens has said he might hold out a player or two to give them “extra rest” for the Leopards’ final two conference games.

Visser doesn’t buy such talk.

“I don’t believe that for one second,” he said, “because he knows that going to the playoffs is on the line.

“He’s not fooling anybody with that one.”

Last season, despite winning the conference title, a 7-2 La Verne team wasn’t selected for the Division III playoffs.

A victory over Chapman would surely enhance La Verne’s chances this season, but Huigens said the Panthers present special problems because of their speed.

“I think they have as good personnel as any team we have faced,” Huigens said. “We’ve got just one or two kids who can run pretty well, but I don’t have as many guys who can run as well as Chapman does.”

“Hopefully, we can hold them a little under 62.”

Chapman Notes

The Panthers’ first two home games were sellouts, but a limited number of tickets remain for tonight’s game. . . . Curtis Robinson, who was held out of practice and the game last week because of a separated shoulder, got in a full week’s practice and will start at quarterback, Chapman Coach Ken Visser said. Jacob Galasso, who started the Menlo game at quarterback, is the primary backup this week. Quarterback Todd Gragnano’s injured finger is also getting better. He held for the conversion and field-goal attempts and entered the game as quarterback in the fourth quarter last week. . . . Chapman has three players who have runs from scrimmage of more than 80 yards. Darnell Rubin, a wide receiver/kick returner who is being tried at tailback, ran 85 yards for a touchdown against Menlo. Oscar Ford scored on an 83-yard run against Occidental and Robinson had an 81-yard run against Azusa Pacific.