Defending conference champ Chapman taken out by CMS in double overtime

ORANGE, Calif. – Nearly 75 percent of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team's total offense came through the air against Chapman. But when CMS needed a touchdown, it ran the ball and fittingly, a CMS rushing touchdown is how the game ended. Sophomore running back Andrew Segre (CMC) scored the game-winning touchdown as CMS took down defending conference champion Chapman 33-30 in double overtime on Oct. 3 at Wilson Field in the SCIAC-opener for both teams. It was also Chapman's Homecoming Game.

Segre's touchdown, a 4-yard score around the left end, came off of an option pitch from junior quarterback Trey Reynolds (CMC) on third and goal. On the play, Segre narrowly evaded a defender to get around the corner and just inside the pylon and then the celebration ensued for CMS (2-1, 1-0 SCIAC). Reynolds passed for 296 yards on the night with one touchdown and did not throw an interception while Segre ran for 37 yards on 10 carries.

To start the second overtime, Chapman (0-3, 0-1 SCIAC) had to settle for a 45-yard field goal from Lucas Alfonso after the CMS defense forced a three-and-out. On the drive, sophomore defensive back Geno Quaid (CMC) pushed Chapman backwards on the drive with a sack. The field goal, which just narrowly made it over the uprights, gave Chapman a 30-27 lead.

CMS also found the end zone with the ground game in the first overtime on a 13-yard scamper by sophomore running back Shane Pico (CMC) around the left side. Chapman won the coin toss and decided to play defense first in the first overtime. On the first play of overtime, a roughing the passer penalty against Chapman set up Pico's touchdown which gave CMS a 27-20 lead. Pico ran for a game-high 85 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns.

When it was Chapman's turn in the first overtime, they turned to wideout Sam Myers who caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Chavez to knot the score up at 27-27. Myers had two touchdowns in the game for Chapman and 11 catches for 144 yards.

In regulation, with 4:53 left in the third quarter, CMS led 17-14 after a 28-yard field goal from junior kicker Matthew Aven (CMC). CMS started the drive on their 1-yard line after a big defensive stop just before the goal line which negated a Chapman scoring threat. Senior defensive back James Ingram (CMC) tackled a Chapman receiver inside the 1-yard line on fourth down which saved a touchdown. CMS took over on downs and on the next play, Reynolds connected with sophomore tight end Chris Cziesla (CMC) for an 81-yard pass down to the Chapman 18-yard line. Four plays later, Aven put CMS ahead 17-14.

The next six points were scored on field goals by Chapman's Alfonso, the later, a 41-yarder which gave Chapman a 20-17 advantage with 9:40 left in regulation.

CMS and Chapman traded punts on its next possessions and with 4:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, CMS took possession of the ball on its 28-yard line. A 40-yard pass from Reynolds to senior wide receiver Ryan Farney (CMC) and a 13-yard by run Pico were the big plays for CMS on the drive which set up Aven for the game-tying field goal. Aven then made a 31-yarder with 1:30 remaining and CMS' defense stopped Chapman's last-ditch effort to win the game in regulation as the two teams went to overtime with the score at 20-20. Aven came into the game 0-2 on field goals and 6-9 on extra points, but he came up big for the Stags against Chapman with a perfect game (2-2 on field goals and 3-3 on extra points).

In the first half, both teams put two touchdowns on the board. CMS struck first with 8:36 left in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Reynolds to sophomore wide receiver Trey Smith (CMC). Chapman evened it up at 7-7 on a 21-yard pass from Chavez to Myers. Chapman then took a 14-7 lead on a 5-yard run by Jeremiah McKibbins with 4:23 before halftime. Two minutes later, Pico tied the score at 14-14 with a 19-yard touchdown run for CMS.

The defense came up big for CMS with 10 tackles for loss which accounted for negative 40 yards for the Chapman offense and also limited McKibbins to 65 yards on 24 carries. Junior defensive lineman Henry Wei (CMC) and sophomore linebacker Brendan MacDonald (CMC) for CMS each came away with a team-high 10 tackles, while Wei had two sacks and five tackles for loss.

Senior wide receiver Tyler Stanek (CMC) caught a team-high six balls for 70 yards. The Stags totaled 408 yards of total offense and played turnover free football for the first time since a 21-14 loss at Occidental on Oct. 25, 2014.

Next on the schedule for CMS is another road game, at La Verne, on Oct. 10 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. Live stats and video for the game can be found here.

Box score
Andrew Segre Touchdown (Video)

by Chris Watts
Director of Athletics Communication
Claremont McKenna College

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