Cal Lutheran Can’t Hold Off Chapman

For the second consecutive week, Chapman University pulled off some last-minute heroics.

In the process, the Panthers short-circuited Cal Lutheran’s comeback efforts.

Reserve running back Robert Hayes scored on a 28-yard touchdown run with 1:09 remaining to give Chapman a 23-16 victory over Cal Lutheran in a nonconference football game Saturday night at Chapman in front of 2,274.

Hayes finished with 93 yards in 13 carries and his 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, they forced Chapman to settle for Matt George’s 37-yard field goal with 3:32 remaining to make it, 15-9.

Cal Lutheran marched 54 yards in three plays, with Dorian Stitt and Billy Busch taking the Kingsmen to their first lead.

Stitt’s 40-yard kickoff return gave Cal Lutheran good field position, then Busch broke two tackles to turn a short pass in the flat into a 46-yard gain.

Two plays later, Stitt, who had 71 yards in 12 carries, scored on a three-yard run and Ryan Geisler’s conversion gave Cal Lutheran its first lead, 16-15, with 2:06 remaining.

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

A 28-yard pass to Dave Vaccaro and a 16-yarder to Jason Jellerson moved the ball to the Cal Lutheran 45 with 1:23 remaining. A personal foul penalty against the Kingsman moved it to the 28, setting up Hayes’ touchdown.

Cal Lutheran quarterback Zack Hernandez, who completed 14 of 33 passes for 183 yards, couldn’t move the Kingsmen when they got the ball back at their 20.