Sept. 23, 2006

Chapman Debuts New Field in Win Over Lutes

Game Statistics

(Courtesy Chapman Sports Information Office)

ORANGE, Calif. – It didn’t take long for first-year Chapman head football coach Bob Owens to introduce the West Coast Offense to Panther fans in the inaugural game at Wilson Field on Saturday night. In fact, it took just 40 seconds and one play from scrimmage for Chapman quarterback Eric Marty to connect with wide receiver Harrison Dull for 71 yards and the first touchdown in the history of Wilson Field.

That touchdown set the tone for the game as Chapman University defeated visiting Pacific Lutheran University, 42-25, giving the Panthers their first victory of the season and Owens’ his first win as Chapman head coach. Pacific Lutheran is now 0-3 for the season.

Dull not only scored the first touchdown at Wilson Field, he caught another long pass – 49 yards – for Chapman’s second touchdown, and shattered the school record for receiving yards in a game with 327. The previous record of 192 yards was set by Eric Del Conte in 1999.

Marty finished the game with 386 yards passing – the second-highest passing total in Chapman history – and three touchdowns. The Panthers held the lead from beginning to end.

Pacific Lutheran got the board in the second quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Gordon to halfback Chase Reed. That cut the Chapman lead to 14-7. Pacific Lutheran never got any closer, though the Lutes out-gained the Panthers in total offensive yards, 476-455.

Gordon, making his second collegiate start, completed 30-of-44 passes for 381 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also connected with Reed on a 35-yard scoring pass and with Brian Stevens on a 12-yard score. The other PLU touchdown came on Craig Stahl's five-yard run.

Craig Chiado had 10 receptions for 90 yards, Reed had seven grabs for 97 yards and two scores, Stevens had six catches for 125 yards and one score, and Jacob Washburn added six catches for 69 yards for the Lutes.

Chapman’s defense came up with several big plays to keep PLU from gaining any momentum, and helped give the Panthers their first win in five tries against PLU.

The Lutes return to action next Saturday when they play the host University of Puget Sound Loggers at Baker Stadium.

- PLU -