NEWBERG, Ore. --- After opening the season with a competitive home matchup against the 2019 Southern California Interscholastic Athletic Conference runners-up, the George Fox Bruins hit the road this week to take on the defending SCIAC champions, Chapman University, in Orange, Calif. Saturday.

The Panthers, who played no games in the spring after the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020 SCIAC football season, opened 2021 with a 35-23 win at Pacific (Ore.) before knocking off SCIAC opponent La Verne 59-25 in their home opener last Saturday. The Panthers will be playing their third game in three weeks, while the Bruins have had a bye week to prepare for Chapman after falling to SCIAC runner-up Redlands 24-14 in their season opener Sep. 4.

Chapman head coach Bob Owens won his fourth SCIAC Coach Of the Year honor in 2019 after the Panthers completed an unbeaten regular season, then upset Northwest Conference champion Linfield 68-65 in a wild, seven-overtime home playoff game. The Panthers completed a 10-1 season after falling to Saint John's (Minn.) 55-26 in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. Owens, now in his 15th year in Orange and his 22nd overall as a head coach, picked up his 100th career win in the victory at Pacific.

The Panthers return SCIAC Defensive Player Of The Year Dillon Keefe, a senior outside linebacker, whose pick-six against the Boxers in week one turned the momentum of the game in Chapman's favor after the Boxers had driven down the field for a game-opening score and had forced a Panther punt on Chapman's first possession. Fellow First Team All-SCIAC linebacker Duncan Heger returns on the opposite side, but the Panthers have a number of new faces on defense with just four starters returning on that side of the ball.

The quarterback duo of Jonston MacIntyre and Reed Vettel return, with MacIntyre a dual threat and Vettel more of a traditional pocket passer. A deep stable of backs combines with MacIntyre in a potent rushing attack that averages a little under 200 yards on the ground through the first two contests. The Panthers have enviable balance, averaging 240 yards through the air, led by an experienced wide receiver corps that features a half dozen seniors.

Momentum-changing plays played a huge part in the outcomes for each team week one. George Fox was knocking on the door for a game-opening score, when a 4th-and-1 call at the goal line did not go the Bruins way, with Redlands marching 99 yards to paydirt on the ensuing drive. The Bruins stayed competitive with the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs the entire game, but could not come back from the early deficit.

"We played a very good and experienced team and even though we feel we played below our standards we were right there with them as we expected to be," said head coach Chris Casey. "We simply need to clean up some areas of blocking and tackling, play more consistent, and take advantage of opportunities when they come about during the course of a game."

The Bruins defense forced two turnovers and had three sacks against the Bulldogs in week one, with veteran DL Riley Lusk picking off the first pass of his career. George Fox will look to establish more balance on offense against a Chapman defense that has allowed an average of 435.5 yards through the first two weeks. Bruins starting quarterback Haiden Schaan had a solid first outing, completing 23-31 for 251 yards and a TD with no interceptions against Redlands. However, the Bruins only managed 16 yards on the ground against the Redlands defense. Pacific was able to dominate up front against the Chapman D and rushed for 127 yards, exempting lost sack yardage. 

"Chapman is another very good football team," said Casey. "We need to play hard, fast, confident, and not beat ourselves. We are looking forward to the game and relish the challenge of being an outstanding program playing another outstanding program."

Saturday's game will be under the lights at Ernie Chapman Stadium, kicking off at 7 p.m. The Bruins will have another bye week before NWC play begins in Puyallup against the Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Oct. 2.