Offensive Athlete of the Week
Name: Tyler Pacheco
School: Chapman
Year: Senior
Position/Number: Quarterback / #6
Hometown/High School: Hollister, Calif. / San Benito
Pacheco accounted for three touchdowns in RV Chapman University’s 27-17 come-from-behind victory in the SCIAC Championship Game against California Lutheran University. The senior connected for two passing touchdowns – the first of which came with 12 seconds remaining in the first half – and leapt over the pile on the goal line to make it a two-possession game late in the fourth quarter. The quarterback totaled 176 yards through the air and another 43 on the ground to lead the Panthers back to the NCAA Championship after a one-year hiatus.
Defensive Athlete of the Week
Name: Andrew Buck
School: Chapman
Year: Junior
Position/Number: Linebacker / #0
Hometown/High School: Menlo Park, Calif. / Menlo Atherton
Buck and the Panthers defense locked down to allow just 78 yards of offense in the second-half rally to win the SCIAC Championship Game. Chapman’s leading tackler recorded nine, including stopping two runs for no gain and forced a fumble on a tackle for loss in the fourth quarter that preceded another fumble that the Panthers recovered, leading to their final score of the game.
Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Name: Jack Walker
School: Pomona-Pitzer
Year: Senior
Position/Number: Kicker/Punter / #11
Hometown/High School: Orlando, Fla. / Lake Nona
Walker opened the scoring for Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in the 12-0 SCIAC Third-Place Game victory over the University of Redlands with a 19-yard field goal and converted a lone extra-point attempt. The senior also booted four punts for an average of 41.8 yards, landing one inside the 20-yard line to keep the Bulldogs on the back foot in the field-position battle.
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