SportsFootball

Leopards prepare to face Chapman

The Leopards will play Chapman for their Homecoming game tomorrow at Ortmayer Stadium. Offensive linemen junior Allen Jackson, senior Nathan Robertson, junior Tim Maiorca and junior Alvin Santos anticipate direction from head coach Don Morel and quarterback Gary Tessitore. ULV is currently 2-2 in SCIAC and 2-4 for the season overall. / photo by Laura Ambriz
The Leopards will play Chapman for their Homecoming game tomorrow at Ortmayer Stadium. Offensive linemen junior Allen Jackson, senior Nathan Robertson, junior Tim Maiorca and junior Alvin Santos anticipate direction from head coach Don Morel and quarterback Gary Tessitore. ULV is currently 2-2 in SCIAC and 2-4 for the season overall. / photo by Laura Ambriz

by Scott Harvey
Sports Editor

As the University of La Verne football season begins to wind down to the last three games of the season, the Leopards are looking for results this Saturday as they face Chapman for what head coach Don Morel is deeming “a much-needed win” for Homecoming.

The Leopards are still recovering from a loss on Oct. 11 to a strong Cal Lutheran team which forced costly turnovers from the Leopards offense and used good field position to overcome the strong La Verne defense on the way to a 34-7 win.

The Leopards also must deal with the fact that former No.1 kickoff returner in NCAA Division III, senior Bert Martin, will not be returning kicks this week after being removed from the team.

Thus far the La Verne football season has been much less successful than previous years, but La Verne has still managed to keep a No. 1 ranking in defense in the Southern California Intercollegiate Conference (SCIAC) and No. 5 in NCAA Division III, allowing 274 total rushing yards and 1,131 passing yards.

Although the Leopard defense has played its part, the offense has lacked the individual power that has made La Verne a strong team in the past. With the loss of running back Anthony Rice, who graduated last spring, and also the loss of junior quarterback Ryan Hawkins, the La Verne offense has had to totally revamp the heart of its line-up.

The Leopards are currently fifth in SCIAC on the offensive side of the ball, rushing for a 683 total yards, passing for 927 total yards and yielding 25 turnovers in six games.

Although the Leopards have been struggling to win games, individuals have stepped forward in the absence of Rice and Hawkins. Junior running back Ordell Williams, in particular, has been consistent for La Verne in the backfield rushing for a SCIAC leading 496 yards on 127 carries. Senior wide receiver Liron Wilson has also been consistent bringing in 15 catches for 227 total receiving yards.

Chapman is also reeling from a season that is “not up to standard” according to Chapman Sports Information Director Jim Moore, leaving them 1-5 overall for the season.

“Chapman has had trouble with the teams they have played, but it won’t be easy for us, we will have our hands full on Saturday,” said Morel.

The rivalry between Chapman and La Verne is young, only three years (1994-96), but each game has shown to be a nail biting thriller to fans and have ended in point margins of one, three and six points in three collective years.

When the two teams first met in 1994, La Verne kept the score tight throughout the game and came from behind to steal a 36-33 win. In 1995 the Panthers came back to tie the Leopards, but were edged out by one point as Chapman failed to score on the last drive of the game.

Last year was even more ironic as senior offensive powerhouse Anthony Rice, playing defensive back for an injured Leopard, stole Chapman’s glory on the last play of the game as he intercepted a pass in the La Verne end zone as the final seconds ticked away in the fourth quarter, giving La Verne the win, 18-12 and extending the series lead to 3-0.

“Most teams in SCIAC won’t play Chapman, but we have stayed consistent the last few years. I think Chapman has had some good quality teams in the past and we will have to see how good they are this year,” said Morel.

Chapman, although an independent team with no conference, has piled up an impressive schedule this year playing obscure but quality teams in Western Washington, Willamette, Hardin-Simmons, and fellow La Verne opponent Howard Payne.

With a decent running game from running back Gabe Baltodano, who has gained a total of 149 yards on 46 attempts, and a consistent passing game from quarterback Greg Hyland, who has thrown 48 completions on 96 attempts for 541 total passing yards, Chapman hopes to surprise La Verne with its second win of the season. The Leopards, according to Morel, are “pumped up” and ready for the challenge.

“I think it will be a good game. We always play well against Chapman,” said Wilson.

La Verne is currently 2-2 in SCIAC and 2-4 overall.

The game will kick off at 1 p.m. on Ortmayer Field.

Scott Harvey, Assistant Sports Editor
Scott Harvey
Other Stories
Laura Ambriz, Photography Editor
Laura Ambriz
Other Stories
Previous article
Anthony should remain on coin
Next article
Local joints provide nourishment

Latest Stories

Related articles

Baseball

Baseball and softball end seasons at SCIAC tournament

The baseball and softball teams both saw their seasons end last weekend in their respective Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournaments.
Baseball

Leopards sweep Senior Day doubleheader, head to SCIAC tournament

The Leopards dominated during their Senior Day doubleheader against Redlands at Ben Hines Field on Saturday, bouncing back from a series-opening loss to the Bulldogs on May 1. Game one’s final score was 9-2, and game two's score was 6-2.
Baseball

Leopards earn walk-off win over Chapman

A walk-off error gave the Leopards the win over the Chapman Panthers, 8-7, in their series opener April 24 at Ben Hines Field. 
Leopard Scoreboard

Leopard Scoreboard

Sports results, schedule and standings for the week of May 1, 2026.