Chapman Hopes Momentum Continues

Gone are the days of 50-0 blowouts for the Chapman football team. In fact, last season, the Panthers finished on the wrong side of too many landslides.

But after enduring a 4-5 season that included one of the program’s toughest schedules and crucial injuries, the Panthers will try to return to some normalcy this season.

The Division III independent team will have another tough schedule, featuring St. Mary’s, which plays Division I-AA. And Chapman opens with home games against Western Washington and Hardin-Simmons, two teams the Panthers lost to last season by a combined score of 54-14.

So there are no lofty expectations. But the Panthers, with quarterback Greg Hyland back as one of nine returning starters, are hopeful they will improve upon 1997, when they finished with three consecutive victories after losing five of its first six games.

A postseason berth is a longshot for Chapman, considering it must finish undefeated to guarantee itself an NCAA Division III playoff berth, Coach Ken Visser said.

“Maybe the NCAA will overlook one loss if it’s to a really tough team,” Visser said. “But [making the playoffs] is not why we do this. All of us should be out here because we have the love of the game within.

“I don’t care if you’re 8-1 or 1-8, you should always line up to win. And I feel these kids love the game and will play their hearts out every down.

“Just look at how they finished last season.”

Three starters return on offense, but one of those is Hyland, a 6-foot senior from Rosemead. He completed 55% of his passes for 1,320 yards with nine touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season.

The Panthers also have some depth at quarterback. Visser said Pat Markovsky, a former Edison High standout who played at College of the Desert last season, and Todd MacKaben, a 6-5, 220-pound transfer from Yuba College, have played well in practice.

The receiving corps is led by tight end Dave Vaccaro, a 6-2, 245-pound senior who caught a team-high 25 passes last season for 440 yards and six touchdowns.

Newcomers Eric Del Conte, a 6-2, 195-pound junior from Santa Rosa College, and Johnny Vineyard, from Fullerton and Orange Coast colleges, should make an impact. Del Conte, formerly of San Clemente High, was a JC All-American and had 84 receptions last season.

The big questions for the Panther offense are on the offensive line and at running back.

Last season, injuries plagued Chapman’s running game, which averaged only 2.6 yards per carry. It got so bad that defensive back Sandy Smith filled in and had 13 carries last season.

Senior Robert Hayes didn’t start at tailback until the final game of last season, but finished as the team’s leading rusher gaining 200 yards in 33 carries.

Hayes returns, but the Panthers have a lot of untested players behind him. Visser said Jared Rollins, a junior transfer from Fullerton College, and Tony Thompson and Mark Crowley also could figure in the mix.

“We lost five running backs to injuries last season,” Visser said.

Now a different bug has hit the offensive line.

Visser said that when potential players had problems qualifying academically, or couldn’t secure enough financial aid, or just decided to go elsewhere, it was always an offensive line candidate.

The Panthers only have eight offensive linemen on the roster. Visser even had some defensive linemen play on the offensive front during a recent scrimmage against Fullerton College.

Visser said he has never gone into a season with so few offensive linemen, but the Panthers will try to counteract the lack of depth and size up front by using different tactics.

“We’re going to roll out our quarterback, try to give our line some different blocking angles,” Visser said. “Obviously, we’re not going to be able to line up and just have our guys go straight after the defense.

“It’s a tough, hard-nosed bunch,” Visser said. “They have to fight for all they’re worth . . . and figure out a way to get it done.”

The kicking game received a boost when a medical hardship waiver was granted to senior Mario Acosta, who played in only one game last season because of an ankle injury.

Acosta, from Servite High, averaged 44.9 yards per punt in 1996 and was named a second-team All-American.

Matt George, who kicked nine field goals, including a 52-yarder last season, and also averaged 43.8 yards per punt last season, moved on to play in the preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was released.

Steve Little is the front-runner to take over George’s place-kicking duties for the Panthers.

On defense, Chapman will rely on a hard-hitting unit that features six returning starters.

Senior linebacker Keith Dykes returns after missing most of last season with an ankle injury. Dykes played in parts of three games last season after leading the team in tackles in ’96.

Bill Lupo, a 6-3, 272-pound senior, will anchor the defensive line after making 47 tackles, fourth-best on the team, last season.

The secondary should be strong with junior Brian Johnson, the team’s leading tackler last season, senior Ty Pursley and Smith returning.

“No doubt, the defense will be a strong part of this team,” Visser said. “But you still have to go out and score enough points to win.”

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Chapman’s schedule

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Saturday Western Washington 7 p.m. Sept. 19 Hardin-Simmons 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at Whittier 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Azusa Pacific 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at Cal Lutheran 1 p.m. Oct. 17 Occidental 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at Menlo 1 p.m. Oct. 31 La Verne 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. Mary’s 1 p.m.

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