Chapman Flattens an Undermanned Pomona-Pitzer : Football: Panthers spot the Sagehens an early lead before storming back to win, 61-14.

Chapman scored 54 consecutive points and routed a depleted Pomona-Pitzer, 61-14, Saturday night at Chapman.

It was the third time the Panthers have scored at least 59 points in their first football season in 62 years. This one was so one-sided that the referee mercifully let the clock run after some incomplete passes in the fourth quarter.

The game was long over by then. Pomona-Pitzer (1-7), which started the night with 27 healthy players on the sideline, lost three starters to injury, including its starting quarterback. Chapman (5-2-1), which spotted the Sagehens a 14-7 second-quarter lead, went ahead, 24-14, at the half and scored 30 points in the third quarter.

“They lost some people who could have helped keep the game closer,” Chapman Coach Ken Visser said. “And once it starts to go, it’s hard to stop.”

Chapman gained 482 yards in total offense, all but 95 on the ground.

Darnell Morgan rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns in 11 carries. Quarterback Curtis Robinson rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and passed for 65 yards and another score.

Oscar Ford rushed for 76 and a touchdown and caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Robinson.

But in the beginning, Pomona-Pitzer seemed to be capable of staying in the game. The Sagehens sliced through Chapman’s defense early, scoring on long drives on two of their first three possessions.

“I guess we came in thinking we were going to blow them down,” Chapman defensive lineman Robert Ernster said. “But they got those two big drives and we knew we were in for a good game.”

That’s pushing it, but you could see why the Panthers were worried.

Pomona-Pitzer quarterback Jack Ramirez was finding plenty of open receivers and running back Robert Hicks was finding room to run.

Ramirez scored twice on one-yard sneaks, completing drives of 72 and 76 yards, giving Pomona-Pitzer a 14-7 lead with 12 minutes 49 seconds left in the second quarter.

But the Sagehens wouldn’t move the ball effectively again. After Bill Hamlin cut the lead to 14-10 with a 32-yard field goal, Chapman got the ball back on a punt and four plays later Morgan scored on a 19-yard run.

On Pomona-Pitzer’s next possession, Atlas Helaire intercepted his second pass of the game, giving the Panthers the ball at the Pomona-Pitzer 37. Robinson then scored on a 19-yard scramble for a 24-14 halftime lead.

Meanwhile, the Panthers were revving up their defense. Pomona-Pitzer, which gained 47 yards on the ground in the first half, had minus 45 yards in the second. Most of the negative yards came on five sacks.

Ernster and Toney Eggleston each had two sacks and Jeremy Simmons had one.

Eggleston also had Ramirez in his grasp in the end zone in the third quarter. Ramirez tried to throw the ball away but was called for intentional grounding. The safety gave Chapman a 33-14 lead with 11:47 left in the third quarter.

“We want to let teams know that if you come to play here you are in for a long night,” Ernster said. “I think we got the point across.”