SALEM, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran had a strong defensive effort Saturday afternoon at McCulloch Stadium, holding Willamette to just two field goals as the Lutes defeated the Bearcats, 13-6, in a Northwest Conference football game.
The Lutes conclude their season at 6-3 overall, 4-2 in the Northwest Conference, while Willamette ends the year with a 4-6 record, including 3-3 in the NWC.
The Lutes clung to a 7-6 lead in the fourth quarter before turning a short pass into the game's longest play to score a touchdown with 9:11 remaining. Kyle Warner took a screen from Zack Halverson and went 63 yards for the game-clinching score.
Willamette almost broke up the play twice before Warner scampered upfield. First, the Bearcats put significant pressure on Halverson, whose arm was hit slightly as he threw the ball. Warner caught the ball, slipped a tackle, and ran the rest of the way for the score. The extra point attempt by Nick Kaylor hit straight onto the left upright and bounced out, but the defense kept Willamette off the board for the remainder of the contest.
Pacific Lutheran scored on its first possession, driving 85 yards on 14 plays to score the game's first touchdown. The drive included a 26-yard pass from Halverson to Warner on 3rd-and-13 from the Lutes' 12-yard line, and also featured 19-yard passes to Warner and Tyler Bowen. Halverson completed the drive with a 1-yard run with 3:45 left in the first quarter.
The Bearcats gradually reduced the PLU lead as Kyle Derby kicked a 28-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half and added a 19-yard field goal with 9:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Willamette almost put the ball into the end zone prior to both field goals. At the end of the first half, WU had 1st-and-goal at the PLU 2. After Widing spiked the ball to stop the clock, the Bearcats' Jake Turner fumbled the ball with Willamette recovering at the PLU 14. After spiking the ball again, Derby kicked the first of his two field goals.
On Willamette's first drive of the second half, the Bearcats earned 1st-and-goal at the 4-yard line prior to Derby's second field goal. The next three plays netted just one yard, leaving WU with 4th-and-goal at the three. Derby connected on the kick, but PLU still owned the lead, 7-6.
Derby later attempted a 33-yard field goal that sailed wide left with 11:31 remaining in the game.
On its final possession of the game, Willamette drove from its own 22-yard line to the PLU 48 before back-to-back sacks by seniors Erik Magnussen and T.J. Suek ended the threat.
In his final collegiate game, Halverson completed 17-of-25 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown. Warner led the Lutes with eight receptions for 156 yards. Brandon James was PLU's top ground gainer with 13 carries for 55 yards.
The Lutes gained 321 yards in the contest, while Willamette ended the game with 309 yards of offense.
Senior linebacker Adam Schwander led the Lutes with 10 tackles, including seven unassisted, and senior Justin Whitman added eight tackles.
(Courtesy of Willamette Sports Information Office)
