Chapman Tumbles in Opener, 32-20

Playing catch-up football from the outset was too much for Chapman to overcome as the Panthers lost to Willamette, 32-20, in their season opener before 2,216 Saturday night at Chapman.

Willamette, the Salem, Ore., team that is ranked 14th in the nation in NCAA Division III, led the entire game, although Chapman made it close early in the second half.

An interception and blocked punt led to two touchdown passes from Stan Villanueva to Steve Bryant to bring the Panthers within 22-20 early in the fourth quarter. But Willamette scored the final 10 points, including Duncan Libby’s clinching 26-yard field goal.

Villanueva, who set Chapman’s single-season passing record last fall, completed 15 of 35 passes for 224 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Willamette quarterback Luke Atwood completed only two of his seven passes for 40 yards, but ran for 126 yards. Justin Peterson added 121 yards rushing.

The Bearcats scored first on Libby’s 34-yard field goal.

Chapman took the lead early in the second quarter on a six-play, 85-yard drive. On third down from his own 19, Villanueva hit Gabriel Giannandrea on a screen pass that gained 75 yards. Two plays later, Marcus Collum caught Villanueva’s six-yard scoring pass.