Sun division winner Pomona-Pitzer Colleges will host the Surf division winner RV Chapman University in a rematch of last year’s inaugural SCIAC Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m.
The 6-1 Sagehens claimed the Sun division by the widest margin (three games) of any winner in the two years since the conference’s move to the dual pod scheduling format. The Panthers also went 6-1 in the Surf division, advancing over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges by one game after sweeping their regular season matchups on Oct. 12 and Nov. 2.
In a reverse of last season, Pomona-Pitzer defeated Chapman, 21-17, in their only game this season despite the Panthers churning out 451 yards and 25 first downs on their home field to the Sagehens’ 174 and six as 13 penalties for 128 yards doomed the hosts. The Sagehens struck first on a double pass trick play where tight end Quinten Wimmer took the snap in shotgun and lateralled to his brother Sander Wimmer who hit deep threat Matthias Olson over the safeties for a 40-yard sprint to the end zone. Chapman tied the game twice after go-ahead Pomona-Pitzer touchdowns – the second coming on a blocked punt and 37-yard return – and took the lead on a field goal early in the fourth quarter, but another blocked punt set up a short field for the Sagehens to post the final points of the game on a touchdown with 9:50 remaining on the clock. A pair of Chapman interceptions, 156 yards on the ground from Gio Ursino and seven tackles with two for a loss, a sack and two pass breakups by Alexander Terriquez were not quite enough for the Panthers while Kalani Pickett grabbed one of two Sagehen picks and broke up two passes as the conference’s solo tackle leader Thomas McConnell totaled 14 tackles.
The Sagehens have gotten creative on offense this season, with sophomore Grady Russo quarterbacking the season opener and Pomona-Pitzer’s only other nonconference game but missing three SCIAC games in the middle of the schedule for which Nick Kim filled in. Russo totaled eight touchdowns through the air and on the ground in two games against the University of La Verne but otherwise was 32-for-49 passing for 352 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions while also running for 71 yards (including losses on sacks) on 16 carries with one score, while Kim went 45-for-79 with 322 yards and a 3:4 TD:INT ratio. With Grady back under center against California Lutheran University and the University of Redlands, the Sagehens’ offense was notably more dynamic thanks to his running ability which also allows the Wimmer brothers more freedom in their primary positions as pass-catchers. Alongside Olson, the trio combined for a conference-best 69 catches for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, McConnell covers from sideline to sideline with 12 more solo tackles than anyone else in the SCIAC while Alden Kling rode a three-sack performance against the Bulldogs to the conference lead with one per game and Athlete of the Week recognition. Pickett has led the secondary after a standout rookie season last year, picking off two passes and defending another three. The Sagehens have surrendered just 0.7 points per game more than the Panthers despite ranking last in yards allowed, with the bend-don’t-break philosophy still netting a +8.7 point margin across seven games. They also have lost the fewest yards on penalties in the conference, while Chapman has given up the league’s most yardage on penalties.
The Panthers have posted a conference-best +11.6 point margin with a net yardage positive of 120 yards per game while also picking off 13 passes and surrendering just seven sacks. Former 4-star recruit and Division I quarterback Joey Yellen has played superbly in a game manager role as Chapman has ranked second in the SCIAC with 204.1 passing yards per game and third in rushing at 163.9 yards per game. When called upon to air the ball out in games with at least 25 attempts, he has connected on 58-of-96 (60.4 percent) passes for 723 yards with seven of his nine touchdowns despite also throwing all five of his interceptions. Gio Ursino has led a two-pronged rushing attack with Tyler Pacheco, combining for 866 yards on 187 carries (4.63 per) and 10 touchdowns. Five different players have caught at least 10 passes in conference play, with Gian Lagemann grabbing a team-high 24 while four have scored a pair of touchdowns, including Pacheco. Terriquez is among the conference leaders in tackles with seven loss, which chart Tate Zimmerman tops at nine solo and two assisted. The pair has combined with Isaiah Munoz to get to the quarterback 11.0 times for the conference leader in sacks as a team (21) while Caleb Padrid patrols the secondary, having swatted down seven passes and picked off another three. Jacob Gaudi and Renick Martin have also contributed to the ballhawking Chapman secondary with three and two interceptions, respectively. Chapman has also been the joint-hardest hitting defense with six forced fumbles.
Tune in for kickoff on the brand-new turf of Merritt Field at 2:30 p.m. via livestream through FloCollege and/or live stats.
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