Villanueva’s Passes Lift Chapman

Chapman’s first play from scrimmage Saturday night was a disaster: a deep pass to an open receiver downfield that was dropped.

But the host Panthers came back against Whittier with two touchdowns on two practically identical passes to lead the way to a 20-10 victory.

Whittier took a 7-0 lead after a muffed Chapman punt and a two-play scoring drive. But Chapman quarterback Stanley Villanueva came back with a 53-yard pass to an open Bobby Calderon to tie the score at halftime.

On the final play of the third quarter, Villanueva hooked up with Calderon again, this time from 42 yards for another score. On both plays, Calderon was alone within a 10-yard span, much like Chapman wide receiver Greg Garand, who dropped Villanueva’s game-opening pass.

Villanueva led Chapman (1-2), completing 15 of 31 passes for 246 yards. He had two interceptions. Calderon had seven catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Whittier led, 10-7, in the third quarter before Villanueva’s second touchdown of the night made it 14-10 at the end of the quarter. Consecutive fumbles cost Whittier (0-2).

Poet quarterback Mark Mejia, who completed 12 of 23 passes for 91 yards, fumbled a snap at the Whittier 16 yard line to start the fourth quarter. The ensuing Panther drive stalled, though, and Chapman had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Matt Deter to increase the lead to 17-10.

The Poets fumbled again on the second play of their next drive on their own 31 yard line, setting Deter up for another field goal, this one from 21 yards to make it 20-10.