FOREST GROVE, Ore.- The Pacific University football team hosted No. 21 Chapman under the lights at Hanson Stadium on Friday night, but it was the highly-ranked Panthers that came out on top 35-23.
 
Chapman, coming off an impressive 10-1 season in 2019, scored 21 unanswered points after surrendering a touchdown on the Boxers' opening drive. Despite a few late scores from Pacific, the Panthers always found a way to reply with a touchdown of their own to grab the 35-23 win in the season opener.
 
The Boxers out-gained the Panthers with 348 yards of total offense, including 255 yards through the air and 93 net yards on the ground. Pacific also held the advantage in first downs, moving the chains 23 times on the night.
 
Joshua Harris (Senior/Sonora, CA) led the Boxer offense with 135 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries. Kenyon Harris (Senior/Ogden, UT) had a great night as the Boxers' signal caller, going 23-27 for 255 yards with one passing touchdown.
 
Ty Hargis (Senior/Lebanon, OR) was Kenyon Harris's favorite target with a team-high seven catches for a total of 51 yards. Kyle Kern (Junior/Roseville, CA) made six grabs for 89 yards and a touchdown.
 
Pacific put together a very impressive opening drive to begin their season. The 14-play, 75-yard drive was led by Josh Harris's nine carries, capping it off with a plunge into the end zone to give his team an early 6-0 lead.
 
The Boxer defense stifled the visitor's first drive, but a pick-six halfway through the second quarter would flip the momentum in Chapman's favor. Pacific's offense would stall in their next drive and the Panthers would capitalize on the opportunity as they added another touchdown just before halftime to make it 14-6.
 
Chapman carried their momentum into the second half as they quickly extended their lead to 21-6 after a 45-yard burst from Panthers' running back Isaiah Woods. 
 
Pacific would manage another solid drive in the third quarter, but back-to-back sacks after reaching the Chapman six-yard-line would force the Boxers to settle for a field goal. The visitors made it a three-score game when Gio Ursino scampered for a 19-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
 
At the 4:48 mark in the final period, Josh Harris found the end zone for the second time in the contest to make it 28-15, but the Panthers continued to move the ball quickly and effectively, answering with another score to restore their three-touchdown advantage.
 
With just over two minutes remaining, Kenyon Harris connected with Kern on a 17-yard strike for six points. It would prove to be too little, too late, however, and Chapman would run the clock out to earn the victory. 
 
By The Numbers
 

• Gage Quinabo-Reis (Senior/Honolulu, HI), Chase Hofmann (Junior/Half Moon Bay, CA), and Deshayne Stevens (Junior/Ewa Beach, HI) each tallied four tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
• Kenyon Harris would find eight different receivers on the night, including Kash Taylor (Junior/Hemet, CA), Braeden Lowe (Freshman/Veneta, OR), Isaiah Pitre (Redshirt Sophomore/Oakland, CA), Colton Smith (Sophomore/Kerman, CA), and William Bookland (Freshman/Lahaina, HI).
• The Panthers have won all three of their contests against Pacific dating back to 2018.

 
Up Next
 
The Boxers have a bye next week before traveling to Claremont, CA on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. to take on Pomona-Pitzer.
 
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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