PUYALLUP, Wash. – Whitworth ran into too much Dalton Ritchey in its final football game of the 2014 season against Pacific Lutheran University at Sparks Stadium on Saturday.
The Pirates rallied from a 28-7 halftime deficit to get within a single score, but it was not enough as Ritchey led the Lutes to a 41-27 win. Ritchey, a senior QB, posted 361 yards of total offense for PLU. He ran for 203 yards and three scores and threw for 158 more yards.
Bryan Peterson closed out his record-setting season as Whitworth's quarterback by establishing several new marks on Saturday. He completed 53 of 64 passes for 428 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Perhaps the most impressive record to fall on Saturday was the NCAA single-season mark for pass completions per game. With 306 completions in nine games this season, Peterson averaged 34.0 completions per game to break the old DIII record of 32.1.
PLU used big running plays to overcome the Pirates. The Lutes' option rushing attacked led to scores of 87 and 47 yards by Ritchey and 57 yards by Niko Madison.
Madison capped PLU's opening possession with a 14-yard scoring run, giving the Lutes a quick 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
After the Whitworth defense regrouped and held PLU on downs when the Lutes had a first-and-goal, it was the PLU defense that turned momentum back in the Lutes' favor. Greg Hibbard intercepted Peterson and returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 with 1:10 to play in the opening period.
The Pirates took less than a minute to answer PLU. A kickoff return to near mid-field set up a four-play scoring drive. Peterson started it with a 29-yard pass to Drew Clausen and ended it with an 11-yard pass to Duke DeGaetano.
Ritchey's 87-yard scoring run midway through the second quarter extended the PLU lead to 21-7. Madison's 57-yard burst late in the half gave the Lutes their 28-7 lead at halftime.
The Pirate defense settled down in the third quarter and kept PLU from scoring. Meanwhile, Whitworth drove deep into PLU territory twice, and both possessions ended with Michael Zeng field goals, from 32 and 36 yards, respectively. Whitworth was within 28-13 entering the fourth quarter.
But Ritchey directed a long drive (88 yards, 13 plays) to get PLU its first touchdown of the second half. On third-and-16 at the Whitworth 36, Ritchey broke free for a 35-yard run. He scored from one yard away on the next play.
Whitworth got to the PLU 17 yard line the next time it had the ball, but turned the ball over on downs. But the Pirates did not give up. They got the ball back on Danny Welstad's interception and scored when Anthony Fullman caught a two-yard TD pass with 4:30 to play to get within 35-20.
After forcing a quick PLU three-and-out, Whitworth went 60 yards and scored on Peterson's 21-yard pass to Clausen with 2:32 to play, getting Whitworth within 35-27.
The Pirates tried to convert their second on-sides kick of the game, but PLU recovered at the Whitworth 47-yard line. For the second time in the game, Ritchey turned it into a one-play possession, running 47 yards for PLU's final score with 2:21 to go.
PLU's ensuing squib kick was fumbled by Whitworth and the Lutes recovered, ending any hope for a final miracle.
Peterson was sacked six times by the PLU defense for a total of 46 yards in losses.
Clausen came within one catch of tying the Whitworth single-game record for receptions, which is held by his position coach Jason Tobeck. Clausen caught 21 balls for 163 yards and a score. Connor Williams added 12 catches for 78 yards, while Nick Kiourkas finished with seven for 73. DeGaetano rushed for 85 yards on 18 attempts.
Ritchey completed 13 of his 23 passes for 158 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He ran 16 times for 203 yards (12.7 yards per carry) and three scores. Madison finished with 150 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. Kyle Warner caught five passes for 57 yards.
Luke Peterson led the Whitworth defense with eight tackles, including a ten-yard sack and 2.5 total tackles for loss. Welstad added to his team-leading sack total with one for 11 yards and also returned his interception 24 yards. Paul Miller had Whitworth's other interception.
Joel Teats led the PLU defense with 14 tackles, including three sacks for 25 total yards.
Peterson now holds Whitworth's single-season records for total offense (2,768 yards), offensive plays (535), pass completions (306) and pass attempts (454). He holds Pirate career records for pass completions (668) and attempts (1081). His single season touchdown pass total of 27 fell two short of the record (29) set by his position coach Joel Clark. The same is true for his career TD pass total (66), which came up five short of Clark's record.
Whitworth finishes the 2014 season, Rod Sandberg's first as head coach, with a 6-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the Northwest Conference.
PLU (6-2, 4-2) will finish its season at home next Saturday against George Fox.