In a classic tale of two halves, the University of La Verne overcame a 21-point second half deficit to tie Chapman, only to watch the Panthers register the game-winning score in the final minutes as the Leopards dropped a 35-28 decision in non-conference action Saturday at Wilson Field in Orange.
Chapman controlled the first half, as Panther quarterback Bret Visciglia engineered four scoring drives to take a 28-7 lead at intermission. The Leopards fought back in the second half with 21 unanswered points, tying the game on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Arguello to wide receiver David Kain with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers responded with a four-play, 52-yard drive in 1:53, capped off by a 5-yard run from Al White with 3:22 left to take a 35-28 advantage. The key play in the drive was a 42-yard pass from Visciglia to Akio Lloyd.
Chapman struck first by taking the opening kickoff and driving 65 yards on 11 plays in 6:59, culminating on a 1-yard run from Visciglia for a 7-0 advantage.
La Verne countered with a lengthy drive of its own taking the opening possession 73 yards for the score, culminating with a 6-yard run by receiver Allen Daniels to tie the game 7-7 with 3:41 left in the first quarter.
Chapman again marched the ball down the field for a long touchdown scoring drive as Visciglia connected with Mike Lambesis on an 18-yard pass play.
La Verne threatened on its ensuing drive moving the ball all the way to the Chapman 6-yard line but the Panthers forced another turnover with an interception at the 2-yard line. All told, the Panthers held the Leos scoreless in three trips inside the 30-yard line during the first half.
Chapman (3-3) increased its lead to 28-7 with 2:32 left before the half on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Visciglia to Chris Langstaff.
The Leopards came out in the second half and scored quickly on a 12-yard touchdown run by Brown to narrow the margin to 28-14 with 6:21 left in the third quarter.
La Verne would pull even when Chapman fumbled the punt giving the ball back to the Leopards at Chapman's 36-yard line, setting up Arguello's scoring strike to Kain. Arguello was 21-of-27 on the night for 279 yards and two touchdowns.
After the Panthers regained the lead in the final minutes, La Verne had one last possession but could not register a first down on four plays.
The Leopards (0-6) totaled 458 yards on offense, including 170 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Both Brown (59) and Koloa (56) rushed for more than 50 yards on the night. For Chapman, Visciglia passed for 266 yards while Langstaff hauled in 10 passes for 133 yards. White rushed for 66 yards on 10 attempts.
La Verne will resume SCIAC action next Saturday as it hosts the University of Redlands at Ortmayer Stadium. Kickoff is 1:00 pm.
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