Chapman Tips Menlo for First Win

It was difficult to tell what, or even who, won the game for Chapman Saturday night. Sure, Matt George’s 20-yard field goal with 1 minute 33 seconds remaining was the difference in the Panthers’ 24-21 victory over Menlo, but there was plenty of thanks to go around.

There was Chapman’s secondary that intercepted four passes, including one by linebacker Fred Romo that set up the winning drive. Or reserve quarterback Mike Cancelleri taking over for injured starter Greg Hyland midway through the fourth quarter and leading two scoring drives.

Or Menlo itself, which committed four costly penalties on the Panthers’ final two possessions, including roughing George on a badly-missed 50-yard field-goal attempt on the last drive.

“We played very courageously, especially since we’ve had so many injuries,” Chapman Coach Ken Visser said. “Obviously we don’t have a great record right now, but I think this was a tribute to [the fact that] man isn’t beaten until he quits.”

In addition to losing Hyland to a slight concussion, the Panthers also saw starting tailback Gabe Baltodano go down with a knee injury in the second quarter, followed by back-up running back Charles Efriam, who suffered a leg injury during the second half.

Chapman (1-4) trailed, 21-13, at the half, and the score remained that way into the fourth quarter. On Chapman’s first possession of the final quarter, Hyland ran for a first down on an option, then left the game in favor of Cancelleri, who had thrown only two passes this season.

Cancelleri immediately hit Dan Emhof for a 28-yard gain to Menlo’s 42. A 10-yard screen pass to Terry Noice, plus a facemask penalty, moved Chapman to the 22.

A pass interference call in the end zone put the ball at the three, and fullback Stanley Spencer powered his way in from there with 7 minutes 20 seconds left.

Cancelleri then rolled out on the two-point conversion attempt, throwing back under heavy pressure to David Vaccaro, who pulled down the high arcing pass to tie the score, 21-21.

Romo then intercepted a pass over the middle and returned it to Menlo’s 34. After Menlo stopped Chapman on three plays, George’s field-goal attempt fell drastically short, but the Panthers were given another shot after a late hit.

On the next play, Menlo (2-4) roughed Cancelleri, putting the ball inside the 10-yard line.