FOOTBALL: Leopards Fall To Panthers In Season Finale
The University of La Verne football team concluded its 2008 campaign with a 33-14 road defeat to non-conference rival Chapman University Saturday at Wilson Field in Orange. La Verne was deadlocked with the Panthers at 14-14 before Chapman reeled off 19 unanswered points in the victory.
In the third quarter, Chapman received a pair of touchdowns from Kyle Floyd from 2 and 6 yards sandwiched around a Panther safety to give the home team a 30-14 lead heading into the final quarter of play. The Leopards suffered two fumbles and an interception in the final 30 minutes of action.
La Verne (2-7) got off to a fast start thanks to Taylor Hart who returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to provide the Leopards with an early 7-0 lead. The Leos would hold the Panthers scoreless for the remainder of the quarter to maintain its touchdown lead.
Chapman (5-4) opened the second quarter with a 10-play, 80-drive that concluded with a 1-yard run by Floyd to knot the game at 7-7.
A 13-play, 57-yard drive by the Leopards moved the ball to the Chapman 15, but a missed field goal attempt of 32 yards kept La Verne from taking the lead. The Panthers capitalized three plays later on an 80-yard pass from Eric Marty to Akio Lloyd to give the home team a 14-7 lead.
The Leopards would pull even as they marched 50 yards on 10 plays to the end zone as Charles Lacy hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Christian Winnewiser with 1:41 left to tie the game at 14-14 heading into the locker room.
The Leopard quarterback duo of Anthony Andre (168) and Winnewisser (60) combined for 228 yards through the air. Winnewisser also rushed for a team-high 40 yards. For Chapman, Marty completed 16 of 26 passes for 338 yards and a touchdown.
