Chapman Holds Off Cal Lutheran

For the second consecutive week, Chapman pulled off some last-minute heroics. This time the Panthers short-circuited Cal Lutheran’s comeback efforts.

And there was another unlikely hero for Chapman.

Reserve running back Robert Hayes scored on a 28-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 9 seconds remaining to give Chapman a 23-16 victory over Cal Lutheran in a nonconference football game Saturday night in front of 2,274 at Chapman.

Chapman quarterback Greg Hyland hailed Hayes’ performance because Hayes didn’t have one carry coming into the game.

Hayes finished with 95 yards in 13 carries and his one touchdown run capped a five-play, 89-yard scoring drive for Chapman (3-5) that took less than a minute and wiped out a fourth-quarter rally by Cal Lutheran (4-4).

The Kingsmen trailed throughout the game.

But after a defensive stand forced Chapman to settle for Matt George’s 37-yard field goal with 3:32 remaining to make it, 15-9, Cal Lutheran drove 54 yards in three plays.

Dorian Stitt scored on a three-yard run and Ryan Geisler’s conversion gave Cal Lutheran its first lead, 16-15, with 2:06 remaining.

Then Hyland, who led the Panthers to a 24-20 last-minute comeback victory over La Verne last week, took over.

“I just told the guys that we’ve been in this situation before and we know what we need to do,” said Hyland, who completed 11 of 22 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.

Although a poor kickoff return and an illegal procedure penalty on the first play of Chapman’s final possession gave the Panthers a first and 15 on their 11 with 1:51 remaining, Hyland didn’t waver.

“That may be Greg’s strongest asset, his poise,” Visser said, “And I’ll tell you, for coaches, moments like that are not a lot of fun. It’s an emotional roller coaster.”

Hyland completed a 28-yard pass to Dave Vaccaro, who had four catches for 94 yards, and a 16-yarder to Jason Jellerson, a reserve who caught the game-winning touchdown last week, to reach the Cal Lutheran 45 with 1:23 remaining.

“I don’t know what happens when we get in our two-minute offense, we just click,” Hyland said.

“I just wish it didn’t take us so long to finally get the ball back in the end zone.