Football wins first game of the season

Chapman University beat Pacific University 36-6 at its first home game Sep.1. Photo by Max Weirauch

Chapman’s football team ended its first game of the semester with a 36-6 win over Pacific University Sept. 1, starting their season off at 1-0.

“We expected to (win)… We felt like this was our time,” head coach Bob Owens said.

The game was scoreless with just under two minutes left in the first quarter, when the Panthers almost put themselves on the board with a last-minute touchdown, but two flags were called and the touchdown was waived. The momentary burst of excitement, however, seemed to provide a boost to the team’s morale.

Despite being completely covered, junior wide receiver Trevor Vill caught a touchdown pass that ended the first quarter, and Chapman kept the energy going, finishing 21-0 at halftime.

Senior quarterback Ian Fieber credits his offensive success to the team’s dynamic. Saturday’s game was Fieber’s first for Chapman, but he said he was lucky to have spent this summer building camaraderie with his fellow Panthers, particularly with Vill, who connected on two of Fieber’s five touchdown passes.

“When I’m comfortable I’m going to go out and produce,” Fieber said. “That mental connection, that friendship… it’s going to pay off.”

Pacific made effort towards a comeback with eight minutes left in the third quarter, but Chapman quickly answered with another touchdown.

Senior wide receiver Dominic Vaccher also finished with two touchdowns, and senior tight end Jacob Chobanian ended the game with the team’s fifth. Freshman wide receiver Spencer Corona completed four of the team’s five field goal kicks.

Chapman has its next game Sept. 15 at Whitworth University. The homecoming game is set for Oct. 13 against Occidental.