PORTLAND – Pacific Lutheran scored touchdowns on each of its first five drives as the 21st-ranked Lutes coasted to a 44-7 Northwest Conference football victory over Lewis & Clark Saturday afternoon at Griswold Stadium.

With the win, PLU improves to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Lewis & Clark falls to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the NWC. The Lutes will return to Oregon next weekend, when they will travel to Forest Grove to take on Pacific on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.

Dalton Ritchey completed 11 of his 12 pass attempts for 138 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards on five carries while playing only five drives for the Lutes. Jon Schaub threw for 87 yards and a touchdown as PLU passers combined to go 20-for-24 on pass attempts for 219 yards and five scores.

Kyle Warner caught seven passes for 79 yards and three touchdowns, while Marc Gallant and Beau Lockmer each added scoring catches for PLU. Niko Madison rushed for a game-best 89 yards and a score on only seven carries. On defense, Cody Tupen finished with a pair of sacks and Blake Petersen picked off a pass in the win.

The Lutes picked up 29 first downs and 513 yards of total offense, with 294 coming on the ground and 219 coming through the air. Meanwhile the PLU defense limited Lewis & Clark to 12 first downs and only 188 yards of total offense. Jake Constantino rushed for 56 yards and the Pioneer's lone score of the day.

PLU built a 35-0 lead midway through the second quarter before Lewis & Clark took advantage of a PLU fumble to score its lone touchdown of the day off a three-play, 32-yard drive. The Lutes followed with a touchdown in the third quarter and added their final points on a fourth-quarter safety when a Pioneer snap sailed over the L&C punter's head and out the back of the end zone.