ORANGE, Calif. – Whitworth University dominated a full four quarters of football at Chapman University in a 37-7 non-conference victory on Saturday night at Ernie Chapman Stadium.
Duke DeGaetano ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns and Dalin McDonnell intercepted two passes with one returned for a touchdown for the Pirates, who improved to 3-0. The Panthers fell to 0-2.
Both teams started slowly. Whitworth's only first quarter points came on a 22-yard field goal by Rehn Reiley. A second field goal attempt by Reiley was blocked. But Chapman missed both of its field goal attempts, one in each of the first two quarters.
The Pirates finally found the endzone midway through the second quarter when DeGaetano ran in from two yards out, capping a 75-yard drive that took just over three minutes. The Bucs tried for two, but the run was stopped. It was the first time Whitworth failed to convert a two-point conversion this season in four attempts.
Then the Bucs scored twice in a span of 49 seconds just before halftime. First, Pirate QB Ian Kolste worked his way through several defenders for a four-yard TD run that capped an 87-yard drive with 1:51 to play that extended the lead to 16-0. Then Dalin McDonnell picked off his first pass of the night at the Chapman 27 yard line. Two plays later DeGaetano ran in from 18 yards to give Whitworth a 23-0 lead at the break.
Unlike the previous week's game against La Verne, Whitworth kept the tempo going in the second half against Chapman. After an exchange of possessions McDonnell picked off Chapman QB Andrew Chavez near the Panther sideline and went 43 yards for a touchdown that gave Whitworth a 30-0 lead.
The Pirates scored their final touchdown with three minutes left in the third quarter when DeGaetano scored his third touchdown of the game from four yards out, capping a 73 yard drive.
Chapman finally got on the board when Ethan Weinstein returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. But that was all the points the Panthers would get.
Neither team threatened to score in the fourth quarter. Whitworth finished with a 486-340 edge in total offense, nearly evenly split between passing (262) and rushing (224).
DeGaetano's rushing effort came on 25 attempts (6.4 yards per carry) and was a career high. Kolste completed 33 of 50 passes for 262 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Kevin Thomas caught a career-high 11 passes for 115 yards while Mike McKeown caught seven balls for 33 yards.
Chavez completed 12 of 22 passes for 100 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Lucas O'Conner came on in the third quarter and went 6-11 for 75 yards.
Hakeem McGrew filled in for Chapman's injured All-Star running back Jeremiah McKibbins, who was out with a concussion. McGrew ran for 147 yards on 20 carries.
Patch Kulp had Whitworth's third interception on the night and recovered a fumble. Kelvin Mackey led the Bucs with eight tackles and forced the fumble that Kulp recovered. The seven points scored by the Bruins was the lowest total at home in four seasons.
The 30-point margin of victory is the largest in the series between the Bucs and Panthers, that Whitworth now leads 6-3.
The Pirates return home to host George Fox next Saturday in Homecoming and the Northwest Conference opener for both schools.