ORANGE, Calif. – Daniel McKeirnan's interception with 1:34 to play in the game secured a Whitworth 24-17 win at Chapman University on Saturday night in a non-conference football contest for both teams.
The Pirates improved to 2-0 after rallying from a 17-10 second half deficit. Whitworth's defense held the Panthers (0-1) to just over 100 yards of offense after halftime.
Luis Salgado's eight-yard touchdown run with 6:30 to play gave Whitworth its first lead of the game, capping an 85-yard scoring drive. After the teams exchanged punts, Chapman took over on its 43-yard line with two minutes to play. After an 18-yard play on first down, McKeirnan intercepted Panther QB Nathaniel Espinoza at the Whitworth 39-yard line right in front of the Pirate bench. The Bucs were able to run out the clock to end the game.
The final stats were as close as the game. Whitworth had 372 yards while Chapman finished with 368. But the Panthers had 252 in the first half and only 116 after halftime.
Both teams had chances to score in the first quarter after taking their initial drives deep into the opposing team's territory, but both teams came up empty. Chapman scored on the first play of the second quarter, a one-yard keeper by Espinoza on third down. That drive was set up by a Pirate fumble at their own 36-yard line.
Whitworth answered with a 75-yard drive that took eight plays. Austin Ewing completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Evan Liggett, tying the game at 7-7.
Chapman quickly scored again when Espinoza hit Amir Adams with a 39-yard touchdown pass on the fourth play of a 74-yard drive, giving the Panthers a 14-7 advantage.
The Pirates had a chance to tie the game before halftime, but settled for Iden Bone's 34-yard field goal with 3:00 to play in the second quarter.
Whitworth took the opening kickoff deep into Chapman territory to start the third quarter and appeared to have a touchdown pass from Ewing to Salgado. But the play was called back by offensive pass interference and an ensuing field goal attempt was wide right.
The Panthers got a 25-yard field goal from Ken Baierl to retake a seven-point advantage late in the third quarter.
Whitworth retied the game on the Pirates' next drive, going 61-yards on 13 plays. Ewing scored from the one-yard line on a QB keeper with 14:07 left in the game. Whitworth benefitted from a Panther penalty that gave the Pirates a first down on a play that initially resulted in a missed field goal.
After forcing Chapman into its first punt, the Pirates took over on their own 15-yard line. Ryan Blair took over at quarterback after the first play and directed a drive that included a 3rd and 10 conversion on a screen pass to Salgado at the Chapman 28-yard line. Salgado scored the eventual game-winning touchdown two plays later.
Ewing was 17 of 28 for 217 yards and one touchdown, while Blair finished 4 of 6 for 66 yards. Liggett caught six passes for 92 yards and one score and Solo Hines had five catches out of the backfield for 58 yards. Salgado carried 18 times for 95 net yards.
Espinoza finished 22 of 36 for 291 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Chapman. Adams had seven catches for 145 yards and one score. Espinoza was also the Panthers' leading rusher with 51 yards on 11 carries.
Tiliti Adams led the Whitworth defense with seven tackles and two pass breakups. McKeirnan had five solo stops before his game-clinching interception. Dylan Ventress also had five solo tackles.
The Pirates will take a week off before opening the Northwest Conference schedule on September 30th at home against Pacific Lutheran.
