Chapman Blows Away Another Opponent

For the second consecutive week, Chapman made a decent football team look like another Panther patsy.

This time it was Azusa Pacific falling, 45-9, Saturday in front of 2,927 at Chapman. Last week, the Panthers beat Redlands, 54-24.

Chapman (7-1) has now outscored its opponents 362 to 126 this season with the season-finale next week at home against heavy underdog Whittier.

Memo to the Poets: duck and cover.

Azusa Pacific put up token resistance early, stopping the Panthers’ first drive after five plays. But on the next series, Chapman’s defense made the first of many big plays. Atlas Helaire III intercepted a pass by Ryan Hawkins, giving the Panthers the ball at the Chapman 45.

Chapman quarterback Greg Hyland then pitched to Darnell Morgan who swept around right end, cut back at about the 30 and scored.

It was the first of three single-play touchdown drives for the Panthers. On the next series Morgan, who rushed for 152 yards, giving him 1,031 for the season, broke through a small hole in the left side of the line and ran 81 yards for a touchdown.

Azusa Pacific (4-4-1) had more first downs that Chapman (19-14) and was only outgained by 84 yards (330-246), but the Cougars committed eight turnovers. Chapman had five interceptions, including three by Helaire.

Alfredo Martinez’s fumble recovery at the Azusa Pacific 44, set up another quick first-quarter score for Chapman. Hyland hit Ford in stride on a post pattern and the Panthers led, 21-0, with 2 minutes 53 seconds left.

Chapman has now outsocred opponents, 124-0, in the first quarter this season.

“They just built themselves too big a mountain,” Chapman Coach Ken Visser said. “We are a good football team and when you ply a good fotball team you can’t do that to yourself. I’ve been on that side plenty of times.”

Azusa Pacific got on the board on the opening drive of the seocnd halfon a 25-yard field goal by Dain Strobel, but Chapman was just getting started.

Hyland again led Ford perfectly on a post pattern for a 33-yard scoring pass, giving Chapman a 31-3 lead with 4:39 left in the third quarter.

Several series later, Ford took a low punt at the Azusa Pacific 43, broke free along the sideline, cut back across the field and scored.

Ford, who started the game as the second leading kickoff returner in the nation (35.6 yards per return), was frustrated by short kicks and punts all game.

“They kept hitting them short all night,” he said. “I was waiting for one long enough to return and that was it.”

Ford, a senior who played at Servite High, finished with six receptions for 119 yards.