PUYALLUP - Pacific Lutheran's passing attack overcame wind and rain to defeat Menlo, 35-17, in a Northwest Conference football game Saturday afternoon at Sparks Stadium.

The victory improves the Lutes' season record to 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the Northwest Conference. The Oaks drop to 4-5 on the season, with a 3-2 record in conference play. It was the Lutes' seventh straight win over Menlo after the Oaks won the first meeting between the two teams in 2002.

Fumbles on Menlo's first two drives of the game gave Pacific Lutheran the momentum early on. After the PLU offense stuttered in the driving rain in its first possession, the Oaks got the ball on their own 29-yard line. On Menlo's first offensive play, Andy Sturza sacked quarterback Nick Ruhl and forced a fumble four yards behind the line of scrimmage. Erik Magnussen picked up the ball for the Lutes on the Menlo 22-yard line and ran it into the end zone to give PLU a 7-0 lead.

An eight-play, 62-yard drive gave the Lutes their second touchdown and a 14-0 lead later in the first quarter when quarterback Jordan Rasmussen found Drew Griffin in the middle of the end zone from eight yards out for his first of four touchdown passes in the game. The PLU defense limited the Oaks offense to only 76 yards on 33 plays in the first half, forcing three fumbles and intercepting one pass.

The Lutes' third scoring drive came just before halftime on a 29-yard pass pass from Rasmussen to wide receiver Greg Ford in the corner of the end zone. Pacific Lutheran's Bryan Neumiller intercepted Nick Ruhl's pass at the Menlo 28-yard line 31 seconds before halftime, but Richard Isett's field goal 26-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left as time ran out and the Lutes wen into the half with a 21-0 lead.

In the third quarter, Menlo took the kickoff and converted three third down plays on its way to an 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to close the gap to 21-7. Quarterback Cruz Castillo accounted for most of the yards on the drive, completing two passes for 37 yards and rushing four times for 10 yards and the score to give the Oaks their first points of the game. After the Menlo defense forced a PLU punt, the Oaks offense once again gave the ball away when Dalton Darmody sacked Castillo, forcing a fumble that Tony Slater returned to the Menlo 25-yard line. Four plays later, Rasmussen once again found Ford in the end zone, this time from 11 yards out.

The PLU defense held firm on Menlo's next drive, forcing a three-and-out and an Oaks punt, but Eddie De Leon's 58-yard punt was downed at the PLU 1-yard line. After Rasmussen rushed up the middle for a couple yards on first down, the PLU quarterback fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone to give Menlo a safety and two points.

On the Lutes' second possession of the fourth quarter, Rasmussen completed two passes to Ford for 49 yards en route to PLU's final score of the game. On second-and-21 from the Menlo 23-yard line, Rasmussen completed a short pass to Isaac Moog on the right side, who snaked his way through the Oaks defense for a touchdown and a 35-9 PLU lead with 9:38 remaining in the game.

Menlo's next drive proved to be its longest of the game, as the Oaks took the kickoff and marched 77 yards down the field on nine plays to score their second touchdown with 5:59 left to play. Castillo completed a two-yard pass to Lance Walkup on first-and goal to give the Oaks their second score. Shaun Souza rushed to the left side for a two-point conversion to push the Oaks to within 18 points of the Lutes.

With less than six minutes remaining in the game, the Oaks successfully attempted an onside kick, but their drive stalled after six plays when Castillo threw four consecutive incomplete passes to turn the ball over on downs. The Menlo defense once again forced a PLU three-and-out, but the Oaks fumbled the punt return and the Lutes recovered with 1:47 left in the game and were able to run out the clock for the win.

Pacific Lutheran finished the game with a 340-225 advantage in offensive yards, as well as a 5-2 advantage in takeaways. Rasmussen completed 20-of-46 pass attempts for 244 yards and the four touchdowns, and Ford led all receivers with 11 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Castillo finished 10-of-29 for 140 yards and one touchdown for the Oaks, with Lance Walkup catching four passes for 44 yards and a score.

The Lutes finished with 96 net rushing yards, including 58 on nine carries by Sean Snead. Souza had 41 of Menlo's 85 rushing yards on 41 carries.

Sturza led the PLU defense with nine total tackles including a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and pass break up. Giustin Jenkins had eight tackles and Dalton Darmody had two sacks among his seven tackles.

The Lutes finish out the 2009 season next Saturday at Linfield in another Northwest Conference game.