THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — For the second straight week, a two-point conversion was the deciding factor, and this time it was Cal Lutheran football that had the ball in the final moments. The pass from quarterback Nick Lasher was just off target and the Chapman Panthers escaped with a 42-41 win. 

In a non-conference matchup with the Panthers, the Kingsmen got an early look at the top competition in the SCIAC. The loss sent Cal Lutheran to 0-2 as Chapman improved to 2-0. 

The heroics from Cal Lutheran were seen all over the field in the home opener. Lasher answered every call from the Panthers as he completed 28-42 passes for a total of 387 yards and four scores. He had a long of 70. 

The rushing attack was held in check as the Kingsmen only accounted for 46 rushing yards. Isaiah Martin had two rushing touchdowns, but just 26 yards. 

The receiving core for the Violet and Gold saw their fair share of balls thrown their way. Julio Angel came up big with eight receptions, for 128 yards, and the 70-yard catch. 

Four more Kingsmen recorded three-plus catches. Dallas Martin was a highlight reel as he caught three touchdown passes for a total of 58 yards. Johnny Borjas recorded four catches and Tyson Lundring and Jadon Cline both had three. 

Jalani Blade came up with an interception, to lead the defense, and also added eight tackles, six of which were solo. Randall Voutt and John Lopez Jr. were next with six and Keshaun Charles had five. Charles recorded a tackler-for-loss and Blade, Andrew Aviv, Rafael Navarro and Pete Mitchell each recorded half a tackle-for-loss. 

It was an offensive game as Cal Lutheran recorded 433 total yards and Chapman had 551. Both teams were above 50-percent on third-down conversions with the Kingsmen going 9-17 and the Panthers 6-10. 

Chapman got on the board first, on their second possession, with a 22-yard touchdown pass. Cal Lutheran answered on the ensuing possession. Lasher found Angel for a 70-yard reception on the first play and the Kingsmen were in business. I. Martin capped off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown.

The Panthers took the lead back in the second quarter off a 69-yard pass. The Purple and Gold were right there to answer again. A 10-play, 69-yard drive was finished by a 26-yard pass-and-catch from Lasher to D. Martin. 

There was only 1:34 left in the half after the Kingsmen tied the score, and that was all Chapman needed. The Panthers took a touchdown-lead into the half, after scoring with two seconds left. 

The Kingsmen got the ball to start the second half and Dante Coxsom raced for 80 yards down to Chapman's 20-yard line. Cal Lutheran tied up the score quickly in the second half as I. Martin rushed up the middle for a five-yard score. 

The game continued to go back-and-forth as Chapman went right down the field to take a 28-21 lead with 8:33 left in the third. The story stayed the same as Cal Lutheran drove down the field looking to tie. The big play of the drive was a 34-yard pass to Lundring as the Kingsmen got into Panthers' territory. A few plays later, on fourth-and-goal, Lasher found D. Martin for the 1-yard score.

The Panthers had one more score in them, in the third quarter, and took a 35-28 lead to the fourth. The Kingsmen needed to make a move again. Cal Lutheran put together a 15-play drive, going 78 yards in 7:40, and ended with another I. Martin rushing touchdown.

Halfway through the fourth, Cal Lutheran needed a stop. The defense stepped up and Blade picked off the Chapman quarterback with 7:17 left in the game. The Panthers got the ball back a few plays later as Lasher threw an interception. 

Chapman milked the clock over the next few minutes, getting big chunks of yards as they moved into field goal range. The Panthers continued to move the ball and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:33 left in the game. 

The Cal Lutheran offense had one last shot to tie the game and force overtime. The Kingsmen took the ball down the field to Chapman's 33 and had a fourth-and-one with 52 seconds left. Lasher picked up the first down as he raced forward to pick up the yardage. 

The Violet and Gold scored with 29 seconds left as Lasher found D. Martin for a 31-yard touchdown. The Kingsmen went for the two-point conversion and the attempt failed as the pass from Lasher sailed high over his intended target. 

The Kingsmen stay at home for their next contest. Cal Lutheran welcomes Puget Sound to William Rolland Stadium next Saturday at 11 a.m.

Box Score: CU 42, CLU 41
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