Panthers’ Focus Strays as 13-Game Winning Streak Ends

Things did not get any better for the Chapman football team Saturday when it got back to playing games.

This week’s turmoil, which saw two players ruled ineligible, was going to be pushed out of their minds. The Panthers were going to be focused. They had promised themselves.

But for once, Chapman--which has manhandled every team in its path this season--couldn’t deliver.

Many of the 3,874 at Chapman sat stunned long after La Verne’s Anthony Rice intercepted a Curtis Robinson pass to clinch a 22-19 victory. The Panthers seemed physically and mentally worn out.

Chapman’s 13-game winning streak was over and thoughts of an undefeated season and NCAA Division III playoff berth were gone. It left the players mum, including Robinson, who declined interview requests. It left Panther Coach Ken Visser so weary he could only struggle for reasons.

“I know the kids have had a very difficult week,” Visser said. “We tried to focus all the emotion on the game. They’ve been through a lot.”

Chapman officials learned on Tuesday that running back Darnell Morgan was ineligible, having already used four years of eligibility. Two days later, Malcolm King, a starting defensive back, was ruled ineligible for the same reason.

It hit the players hard. The Panthers were ranked fourth in the West Region, moving into serious contention for a playoff spot.

But the two ineligible players left the team’s future in doubt. NCAA officials are expected to make a ruling within two weeks and Chapman (5-1) could forfeit its five victories.

“We’re not in control of our destiny anymore,” defensive back Atlas Helaire said on Friday. “We have to wait on what the NCAA says. In the meantime, we have to continue to win ball games.”

That didn’t happen Saturday.

The Panthers added insults to ineligibility, making several key mistakes. They had four personal foul and one unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

“Maybe we were too emotional,” Visser said. “And it hurt.”

The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty set up a La Verne touchdown. One personal foul penalty set up a field goal. And there were other gaffes.

Darnell Rubin fumbled a punt, which led to a La Verne touchdown. Martrice Stephens had a long pass slip through his fingers, which would have been a Panther touchdown.

The Panther defense, which had only been giving up 70 yards per game rushing, gave up 309 Saturday. At one point early in the second quarter, Visser called timeout to prop up his defensive unit’s morale.

It was far from the machine that had outscored opponents, 222-42, through the first five games.

True, La Verne (5-1) was the toughest team the Panthers have faced, but their minds did not seem entirely on the game.

“We had our minds set on a championship, and then all this happens,” Helaire said Friday. “There have been too many distractions this week.”

It was earlier this week the Panthers said they were dead set on putting those concerns aside. By the end of Saturday, those thoughts still lingered.

Said linebacker Freddy Brown this week: “It’s tough to have a shot at the playoffs go down the drain because of such a small mistake. We can’t harp on the bad things right now. All we can do is play and win.”

Saturday the Panthers played, but they did not win.