TACOMA, Wash. – A significant advantage on special teams allowed visiting Whitworth University to defeat Puget Sound 30-12 in the second football match up of the season between the schools.
The Pirates (3-0) blocked two kicks, recovered a bad snap on a punt and consistently pinned the Loggers (2-2) deep in their own territory with a strong kicking game.
This game played out very differently than Whitworth's 53-6 win in the opener last month. Puget Sound outgained Whitworth 322-258 and had a 3-2 advantage in turnovers. The Loggers also had a 38:16 – 21:44 edge in time of possession. But after a rough second quarter the Pirate defense settled down and kept the Loggers in check.
The Pirates kicked off five times in the game and the average starting field position on those kickoffs was the Loggers' 11 yard line.
Meanwhile, Whitworth blocked a field goal in the first quarter and blocked an extra point in the second, which Colton Chelin returned for a defensive two-point conversion. The last Pirate to do that was Bryce Hornbeck in Whitworth's game at UPS in 2019.
The Pirates took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 14-yard pass from Jaedyn Prewitt to Ethan Peloquin, the fifth time the pair have hooked up on a TD this season.
Puget Sound answered with its most successful drive of the day, going 98 yards for a touchdown. Silas Washington broke free for a 58-yard run to finish the drive. But Chelin's PAT return made the score 9-6.
The Loggers surprised Whitworth with an on-sides kick and recovered at their 47 yard line. One play later Duncan Varela ran 53 yards for a touchdown. Chelin stopped a two-point attempt to keep the score 12-9.
The Pirates retook the lead just before halftime when Andrew Meredith caught a pass between two defenders over the middle and broke free for a 77-yard touchdown.
Whitworth had two chances to increase the lead early in the third quarter. After driving into the UPS redzone, penalties killed the possession and the Bucs turned the ball over on downs. Similarly, after RudyJay Keopuhiwa sacked Mason Rutledge and recovered a fumble at the UPS 20, the Pirates moved backwards because of penalties and had to punt.
RaPue's punt pinned the Loggers inside their own five. Three plays later Hornbeck intercepted Rutledge and returned the ball 11 yards for a touchdown, his second career interception return for a touchdown.
The Pirates essentially put the game away on their next possession after a short UPS punt. Prewitt connected with Jerusalem To'oto'o for a 32 yard touchdown pass with 9:59 to play in the game.
Meanwhile the Whitworth defense never allowed the Loggers into Pirates' territory until the final UPS drive. The Bucs held the Loggers on downs on the 15 yard line with 3:42 to play. Whitworth was able to run out the clock.
Prewitt completed 13 of 21 passes for 208 yards. He threw three touchdown passes, but also his first two interceptions of the season. Meredith, Peloquin and To'oto'o all caught four passes each. Meridith went for 110 yards.
Whitworth's running game was kept in check, finishing with 42 yards on 20 attempts.
The Pirate defense sacked Rutledge six times in the game. Keopuhiwa had two of those for a total of 18 yards. Derrick Platt finished with 10 tackles, including a 14-yard sack. Tanner Sullins also had a pair of sacks.
Rutledge completed 10 of 20 passes for 118 yards, but the bulk of Puget Sound's attack was on the ground. Varela ran for 146 yards on 26 carries, while Washington picked up 107 yards on 12 attempts.
Varela was also the leading receiver with six catches for 60 yards.
Whitworth will complete the four-game season next Saturday against Pacific Lutheran (3-0).