Panthers Dominate Home Opener, Defeat the Dons 38-9

The Chaffey College Panthers bounced back in a big way in their 2025 home opener, rolling past the Santa Ana College Dons 38-9 on Saturday night at Grigsby Field. Chaffey's defense forced five turnovers and scored twice, while the offense delivered explosive plays to secure the first win of the season.

Quarterback Francisco Villalbazo led the attack, throwing for two touchdowns. He connected with Nehemiah Harrison on a 27-yard score in the second quarter and found Jordan Woods for a 50-yard strike in the third quarter. Villalbazo later added a nine-yard touchdown pass to Justin Benson as the Panthers built a commanding 38-0 lead.

Running back Hakim Halliburton paced the ground game with several key runs, while Alpaki Pavia added 33 rushing yards. Quarterback Evan Powell contributed to the attack, with a 39-yard rush to fuel a second-quarter drive and added 33 passing yards.

Chaffey's defense set the tone early and never let up. Taylor Chapple-Love returned a fumble 24 yards for the Panthers' first touchdown, while Donovan Brown added a 68-yard interception return for a score before halftime. William Harper recorded two interceptions, and Sivaj Dejurnett-Simmons tallied 2.5 sacks to highlight a relentless defensive effort.

After taking a 24-0 lead into the break, the Panthers quickly extended their advantage in the third quarter with back-to-back touchdown passes from Villalbazo. The Dons finally got on board with a late touchdown and a safety, but the outcome was already decided as the Panthers cruised to a 38-9 win. Chaffey finished with five takeaways, converted all four red-zone opportunities, and held the Dons scoreless until the fourth quarter.

The Panthers will host Moorpark College on Saturday, September 13, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online here.