CMS Football Suffers First Defeat of 2023 Season at Chapman

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Hunter Headlee had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter to open the scoring for Chapman, and the Panthers were able to take a 20-7 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday evening, handing the Stags their first loss of the 2023 season.

With the loss, CMS slips to 4-1 on the season and 2-1 in the SCIAC, while Chapman improves to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in league play. 

Tyler Pacheco had 134 yards rushing and 103 yards passing for Chapman, including a 25-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the first half to put the Panthers ahead 20-0. 

CMS got back within 20-7 when Walter Kuhlenkamp finished off a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left in the third.

Thanio Bright had his third interception of the season early in the fourth quarter to give CMS some hope. However, after CMS punted, the Panthers were able to kill the final 9:58 of the fourth quarter with a 15-play drive that ended with them taking a knee on the CMS 7-yard line to end it.  

Joey Asta led the CMS defense with eight tackles (six solo), while Joe Posthauer and Emmett Thomas King III each had seven. Bryce DesJardins paced the offense with 87 receiving yards, while Anderson Cynkar had six catches for 41 yards. 

CMS will be back in action on Saturday for a road game at La Verne.