LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne football team played a strong second half Saturday afternoon but it wasn't enough to overcome a big opening 30 minutes by the Chapman Panthers, falling 42-21.

Jimmy Rumsy added another highlight to his reel on the Leopards' opening drive with a 71-yard touchdown reception on a dart from quarterback Brian Rudden. The sophomore ran a post route, outran a pair of defenders draped on him, made the catch, kept his balance, and sprinted into the end zone to put the Leopards up 6-0. Rudden finished with 210 yards through the air. Rumsey finished with 84 yards on four receptions.

Freshman quarterback Bradley Kenny stepped in behind center in the fourth quarter and immediately led the Leopards down the field. The North Highland native went 3-3 on the drive highlighted by a 44-yard catch and run by Makena Ramos-Kamaka. That's when Fredrick Mangan's number got called. The senior from Seattle took the handoff, made a move to get free, and scampered into the endzone for a 27-yard score. Ramos-Kamaka led the Leopards with 98 receiving yards.

Malcolm Perry added a score early in the third quarter when he barreled up the middle for a four-yard score. He set up his touchdown rush a player earlier when he caught a pass in the flat and made a man miss to get inside the five. 

The Panthers quickly erased the early 7-0 deficit, scoring on their first three possessions to take a 21-7 lead at the end of the first. Chapman kept rolling in the second, scoring three more times to take a 42-7 lead at halftime.

Chapman's three quarterbacks combined for 293 yards threw the air led by Joey Yellen's 115. 

The Leopards put momentum on their side midway through the second quarter when a La Verne punt bounced off a member of the return team. Mangan jumped on the ball to give the Leopards possession at the 50-yard line. But the Leopards fumbled possession away on their first play on offense to end the threat.

Turnovers proved to make the difference. Chapman turned two of La Verne's three turnovers into touchdowns.

Vicente Zepeda led the Leopards with nine tackles. Nathan Tagaloa and De Lante' Moore each notched seven. Devn Martin and Christopher Long II both recorded five. The Leopards' defense kept the Panthers scoreless in the second half.

Jayson Lopez made all three of his points after attempts. Lopez has made 24 of 25 PATs this season.

The Leopards move to 0-9 overall and 0-7 in the SCIAC. The Panthers improve to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the SCIAC.

La Verne concludes its season next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cal Lutheran.