Morgan Sets Mark in Chapman Victory

Chapman quarterback Curtis Robinson says he loves to hand the ball to Darnell Morgan because, “I love to see what he’ll do after he gets it.”

Robinson had a great view Saturday night as Morgan rushed for a school record 259 yards in a 57-7 victory over Redlands at Ted Runner Stadium.

Redlands barely had time to catch a glimpse. Morgan, who scored on a 76-yard run on his first carry, had 229 yards by halftime. Chapman led 33-0.

The punishment continued in the second half even after Morgan left the game in the third quarter. Chapman’s substitutes scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 57-0 before Redlands scored a late touchdown. Chapman rushed for 525 yards and held Redlands to minus-5 yards rushing.

“It was a very frustrating night and very embarrassing,” Redlands Coach Mike Maynard said. “It was a difficult night for all of us. I’m glad it’s over and we can go on to something else.”

It’s the type of result probably won’t help the Panthers in their quest to join the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Two conference teams--Claremont-Mudd and Whittier--did not schedule Chapman this season.

Redlands did but probably now regrets it. Chapman (2-0) beat the Bulldogs, 54-24, last season in Orange. Redlands (1-2 ) was competitive in that game, but appeared overmatched from the beginning Saturday.

“I think,” Chapman Coach Ken Visser said, “we played a really good football game.”

After what has become the Panthers’ obligatory first play, a fullback dive by Taliv Traylor that gained two yards, Morgan shifted Chapman into hyperdrive.

He took a handoff from Robinson, running toward a massive hole in the left side of the line and accelerated into the secondary. One Redlands player had a shot at the tackle, but Morgan’s fake left him watching flat-footed as Morgan finished the 76-yard touchdown.

After two carries Morgan already had 100 yards, the 12th time he has gained that many in his two-plus seasons at Chapman. It didn’t take much longer for him to ring up his fourth 200-yard game. He had 229, including a 23-yard touchdown, by halftime.

He also caught a swing pass from Robinson on third and 19 and ran for a 51-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left in the half.

But he did most of his damage on the ground, surpassing by one yard the school record he set last season against Whittier. On his first carry, Chapman’s offensive line set up in a formation that badly fooled Redlands, and because of strong blocking, Chapman was able to get outside for many of his 21 carries. With that advantage, it was no contest.

“The holes were huge,” Morgan said. “The coaches just say 1,000 miles an hour and that’s what I try to give them all the time.”

Chapman’s defense also gave no quarter. Linebackers Freddy Brown and Keith Dykes were in on 10 and eight tackles, and Dykes scooped up a Redlands fumble and ran 33 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 19-0 lead in the first half.