McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Trailing 24-14 entering the fourth quarter, visiting Whitworth University rallied to defeat 4th-ranked Linfield 28-24 in a battle of undefeated Northwest Conference football teams on Saturday at Maxwell Field.
The Bucs will find out when and where they will open the NCAA Division III football playoffs when the field is announced on Sunday at 2:00 pm (PST).
Austin Ewing completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Evan Liggett with 29 seconds to play in the game to complete a 75-yard drive that took 14 plays.
Ewing completed 37 of 52 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for a touchdown, but had to survive three interceptions. Dillon Kuk caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. The pair led Whitworth (9-0 overall, 7-0 NWC) to only its second-ever win at Linfield (8-1, 6-1) and first over the Wildcats since 2018.
Linfield jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on its first two possessions of the game. Sophomore QB Luke McNabb found Colton Smith wide open for a 24-yard touchdown pass on the first drive, then completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Connor McNabb, his older brother, on the second drive. In between the Pirates moved the football effectively, but Ewing was intercepted in the Linfield endzone on a pass that Kuk had a chance to catch for a touchdown.
The Pirates finally found their grove at the end of the first quarter, scoring on a long catch and run from Ewing to Kuk. Kuk caught a pass near the Linfield sideline behind his defender and outraced the rest of the defense to the endzone for a 60-yard touchdown catch.
The teams traded possessions in the second quarter before the Pirates took advantage of a short punt to even the score with 1:13 to play in the half. With first and goal at the nine-yard line, Luis Salgado initially took a handoff left, reversed field to the right, pitched the ball to a trailing Ewing at the five and Ewing made the corner of the endzone to get the tying touchdown.
But Linfield had enough time to set up a 40-yard field goal by Gavin Dalziel as time expired in the opening half to take a 17-14 lead at halftime.
Whitworth moved the ball effectively on its first drive of the second half, but Ewing suffered his third interception of the game, which was returned out to the Linfield 38-yard line by Chance Sparks. The Wildcats scored 11 plays later when Luke McNabb completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaac Hoidal, increasing Linfield's lead back to 24-14 late in the third.
When the Wildcats forced a quick three-and-out on the Pirates' next possession, it looked like the hosts might have seized total control. But the Whitworth defense stepped up and forced a quick punt as well.
Taking over on their own 13 early with a few seconds left in the third quarter, the Pirates went 87 yards in 13 plays, scoring on a seven-yard run by Solo Hines with just under ten minutes to play.
Linfield had the ball at its 25-yard line with 9:51 left and the Wildcats had a chance to put the game away. They went on a 50-yard drive that took 11 plays and 4:33 off the clock. But the Pirate defense stiffened at their own 25 and forced a field goal attempt, that Dalziel just missed to the right.
Down only three with 5:18 left, Ewing drove the Pirates 75 yards for the winning score, converting two third downs and a fourth down along the way. Caelin Johnson caught a five-yard pass on fourth and four at the Whitworth 41 with just over two minutes to play. Jarvis Natvidad, who had not caught a pass all game, made consecutive grabs for 15 and 13 yards to set up the Bucs with first and goal at the Linfield five. That's when Ewing rolled right and found Liggett in tight coverage for the game-winning touchdown.
With 29 seconds to work with, Linfield didn't have much time starting from their own 25. They got to their own 40 with three seconds left and McNabb completed a 15-yard pass to Smith, who lateraled to Connor Wolfe. Wolfe was tackled at Whitworth's 37 with the clock at 00:00.
Linfield outgained Whitworth 465-368 and held the Pirates to only 30 net yards rushing, which was impacted by a loss of 21 yards when the snap got through the hands of Hines in the wildcat formation. But the Pirates were able to take advantage of generally better field position thanks to stellar play by the special teams.
Liggett had five catches for 53 yards and his game-winning score. Johnson caught five passes for 41 yards, with four of those receptions converting first downs. Salgado caught seven passes for 37 yards and ran for 25 yards on nine attempts.
Zach Brooks was credited with ten tackles, including a three-yard sack, and recovered a fumble to lead the defense. JT Muñoz had six tackles, including one for loss, and broke up a pass. Zach Loveless had an interception in the first half.
Luke McNabb completed 28 of 41 passes for 354 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for Linfield. Connor McNabb ran for 57 yards on 12 carries and caught six passes for 79 yards.
Whitworth's win is its first in McMinnville since a 17-13 victory in 2005.
Historically, with the win the Pirates evened their all-time football record at 417-417-18, the first time Whitworth has been at the .500 mark in football since the 1928 season.