PUYALLUP, Wash. – Ryan Blair completed 24 of 34 passes for 293 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions to lead visiting Whitworth to a 34-23 win over Pacific Lutheran on Saturday afternoon in head coach Rod Sandberg's 100th game as Pirate head coach.
The #16/#19 Bucs improved to 4-0 with the win in the conference opener for both teams. The Lutes fell to 2-2. Sandberg improved to 78-22 in his 11th season as Whitworth's head coach.
The Pirates took the opening kickoff 72 yards in 11 plays, scoring from seven yards away on a third down completion when Blair hit Nathan Owens on a slant over the middle.
After an exchange of punts, PLU got within 7-3 on Cole Sargent's 34-yard field goal attempt that capped a 12-play, 52-yard possession for the Lutes.
Blair threw his second touchdown pass to Dawson Tobeck, who caught his second touchdown in as many games, from 11 yards away to cap a 46-yard possession after PLU tried a fake punt and failed to complete the pass. The extra point was missed, leaving the score at 13-3.
The Lutes, who would get the ball first to start the second half, appeared to grab momentum by scoring their first touchdown with one second left before halftime. Darius Chaffin threw a five-yard scoring pass to Noah Palitz. PLU also missed the extra point, leaving the score at 13-9.
Whitworth's defense held the Lutes to a three-and-out to start the third quarter and the Pirates took advantage, going 80 yards in only nine plays. Blair found Caelin Johnson in the back of the endzone from six yards away for the touchdown. Johnson had to jump high for the ball and got his toe just inside the back of the endzone for the 20-9 lead after the extra point by Iden Bone.
PLU answered right back, scoring on a four-yard touchdown run by Palitz to finish off a 50-yard drive. Chaffin completed a two-point conversion pass to get the Lutes within 20-17.
The teams exchanged punts before Whitworth scored two straight times to build some breathing room. First Luis Salgado scored on a one-yard run on third down to finish a 60-yard drive. Then after a very quick three-and-out forced by the Pirate defense, Blair connected with Evan Liggett for a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown with just under ten minutes to play to give Whitworth a 34-17 lead.
PLU got one touchdown back when Chaffin ran in from five yards out to finish off a 64-yard drive with 5:49 to play, but the Lutes were only within 11 points after missing another PAT.
Whitworth recovered the on-side kick attempt but had to punt three plays later. The Lutes were driving when Caleb Shawen clinched the game with an interception outside the Pirate endzone with just under two minutes to play.
Liggett caught his NWC-leading eighth touchdown pass of the season and finished with six receptions for 149 yards. Tobeck caught four passes for 59 yards. Salgado ran 17 times for 62 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season.
Zach Brooks led the defense in tackles for the fourth straight game with 13 stops, including a three-yard sack. Jacob Brandvold added eight tackles and Shawen had seven in addition to his interception. JT Muñoz had two sacks among his five tackles.
Chaffin completed 20 of 28 passes for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception. More than half of those yards came in the fourth quarter as PLU had to go exclusively to the passing game. Thor Stepina caught eight passes for 94 yards. Chaffin also led the Lutes in rushing with 70 yards on 16 attempts.
Whitworth will host Willamette next Saturday in the Pine Bowl as the Pirates celebrate Homecoming and Hall of Fame induction day.