Chapman Airs Out Its Latest Victory

Without Darnell Morgan in the backfield, Chapman lacked its usual explosive running game. But who needed a running game?

Quarterback Curtis Robinson, inconsistent in the first four games, got going in a big way, passing for 203 yards and four touchdowns in the Panthers’ 45-7 victory over Sonoma State Saturday night at Chapman.

It was the 13th consecutive victory over two seasons for Chapman (5-0), an NCAA Division III independent that has now routed Division II opponents in two of the last three weeks.

This time Sonoma State received the punishment. Last week, the Cossacks (1-5) ended a 13-game winless streak by beating Humboldt State in their Northern California Athletic Conference opener, but Chapman got them back on the losing track with gusto.

The Panther defense, led by linebacker Keith Dykes (11 tackles, three for a loss) and tackle Robert Nicholl (eight tackles, three sacks), didn’t give up a point, limiting Sonoma to 38 yards rushing and 259 yards total offense.

The Panther offense, playing without leading rusher Morgan in the first half when he didn’t feel fully recovered from the leg injury he suffered last week, didn’t have any problem providing the big plays.

Robinson, a fifth-year senior who had passed for an average of 117 yards in the first four games, struck the Cossacks on the game’s opening possession. The play after he gained nine yards on an option keeper, he faked the run and dropped back to pass.

Receiver Martrice Stephens had beaten corner Eric Sutton by at least 10 yards on a simple fly pattern, and Robinson’s pass found him in stride for a 59-yard touchdown.

In the second quarter, Robinson and Stephens struck again, burning Sutton on the same play. This time it went for 65 yards. It was Sutton’s last appearance of the evening.

“These guys had one assignment: Keep an eye on that receiver,” Sonoma State Coach Frank Scalercio said. “I don’t know what they were looking at. They weren’t looking at him.

“I’m not blaming one guy. This was an embarrassment. Our minds were not on football tonight.”

The bad news kept coming for Sonoma. In the second half, Morgan decided he was ready to go, and on his second carry he showed it. Morgan took the ball on a sweep and, sprung by some nice blocking, ran free down the left sideline. Two Sonoma State players had the angle on him at the 25, but he cut back sharply between them. The 59-yard touchdown gave Chapman a 24-0 lead.

Robinson touchdown passes of eight yards to Gabe Baltondano and 37 yards to David Vaccaro made it 38-0.

Robinson said it felt like a breakthrough for him.

“This is a game I’ve been waiting for all year,” he said. “We ran the same patterns tonight and they finally came together.”

Sonoma State, having little luck on offense, got a break for its only touchdown. Darnell Rubin mishandled Robinson’s pitch and it bounced into the end zone, where LeSean Woods fell on it.

The Chapman reserves extended the lead in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Greg Hyland hit Evan Boyd with a five-yard touchdown pass.