FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Luis Salgado ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns to lead Whitworth to a 28-14 win at Pacific (Ore.) in the Northwest Conference football opener for both schools on Saturday at Hansen Stadium.
The Pirates improved to 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the NWC by outscoring the Boxers (1-3, 0-1) 22-7 in the fourth quarter. The Bucs finished the game with a 364-294 edge in total offense.
Whitworth scored the only points of the first half on Iden Bone's 36-yard field goal that completed the Bucs' second possession of the game, a 53-yard drive that took 12 plays.
The Pirate defense was rock solid in the opening half. Not only did the defense limit Pacific to 70 total yards of offense, the defense survived a pair of unusual special teams blunders. First the Boxers' blocked Bone's second field goal attempt of the game and returned the ball to the Whitworth 30-yard line. But Chris Knutson came up with an interception in the endzone to keep Pacific off the boards. The Pirates' next possession ended in a blocked punt that allowed Pacific to take over at the Whitworth 36-yard line. The Pirates stopped the Boxers on downs without allowing a first down.
Pacific's offense finally got untracked in the third quarter, going 72 yards on 10 plays to score their first touchdown on a seven-yard pass from Keaton Smith to Riley Camarillo. It was set up by a 35-yard run deep into Whitworth territory by Brody Bantolina.
After forcing Whitworth to punt, the Boxers had a chance to extend the lead. They moved to the Pirates' 19-yard line, but were forced to settle on a 36-yard field goal attempt that was blocked by Knutsen.
After taking over on their own ten-yard line, Whitworth went 90 yards in ten plays, including a 41-yard pass completion from Logan Lacio to Chase Gomes for a first down at Pacific's 22-yard line. Salgado completed the drive with a three-yard run, then ran in for a two-point conversion, to give the Pirates a 14-7 lead.
The defense forced Pacific into a three-and-out and the offense took advantage, moving 55-yards in only five plays. Lacio hit Drake Mathies for a 27-yard touchdown to give the Bucs a two-score lead. It was Matthies' first touchdown catch of his career.
Down two touchdowns, Pacific was forced to attempt to convert a fourth down inside their own 20 with under six minutes to play and the Whitworth defense created an incomplete pass by Smith. Two plays later Salgado scored his second touchdown of the game from 14 yards away with only 4:42 left.
The Boxers didn't give up and quickly went 80 yards in only six plays to score on Smith's 20-yard pass to Micah Warren with 2:06 to go. Pacific then converted an on-sides kick when Whitworth tried to secure the ball before it went the required ten yards but did not field it cleanly.
The defense came up big again and prevented the Boxers from scoring.
One year after setting the NWC record with 365 rushing yards in one game at Pacific, Salgado had his best game of the season and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Lacio also had his best game as a starting QB for Whitworth. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 229 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Caleb Northcroft led the Bucs with four catches for 41 yards, while Matthies finished with three for 40, including his touchdown.
Drew Cody, who came into the game as the NWC's leading tackler, added 11 stops, including an 11-yard sack. Hunter Letteer made eight tackles, while Knutson finished with five tackles, an interception and two passes defended.
Whitworth limited Bantolina, the Boxers' all-star running back, to 87 yards on 19 attempts. Smith completed 16 of 34 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Camarillo caught seven of those passes for 87 yards and a score.
Whitworth will return home to host George Fox next Saturday for One Big Weekend, that features Homecoming, Hall of Fame and Parents' Weekend events.