Written by Student Assistant Christian Bond

TACOMA, Wash.  - The Pacific Lutheran University football team scored three touchdowns in the final four minutes of Saturday's Battle of the South Sound against the University of Puget Sound to emerge with the 31-20 victory over the crosstown rivals at Sparks Stadium.

Quarterback Walker LaVoy was forced into action after Cole Chandler left the game in the first quarter. LeVoy was more than up to the task, going 13-for-22 with 181 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, along with running for 21 yards on seven attempts.

"To come into a situation like that," Scott Westering said. "He only got a couple of reps this week. The beauty is how we rose up around him."

Puget Sound (3-4, 1-4 NWC) scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth, leading the Lutes (4-3, 3-2 NWC) 20-10 with 6:10 left in the game. The comeback started when LeVoy connected with DJ Winter on a nine yard pass to cut the Logger lead to three. With 1:38 remaining the game, LeVoy dropped a dime to Kellen Westering in the back of the end zone. The 23-yard touchdown pass would prove to be the game winner.

"When you have teammates like mine who trust and believe in you, you try to focus on playing the game," LeVoy said. "Kellen is a great receiver. I gave Kellen a chance and he ended up making a play for me."

Darin Hardgrove punctuated the game with a 17-yard touchdown run with 1:09 left in the game. The touchdown gave the Lutes an 11 point lead. Hardgrove couldn't be stopped on the ground. He ran for a career-high 123 yards on 20 carries.

The PLU defense stood tall, holding the Puget Sound offense 339 total yards. The Loggers entered the contest averaging 500 yards per game. Travis McMillion led the way with 15 tackles. Derek Chase was also in double digits, racking up 10 tackles. Cooper Murphy put the game away with an interception and had three tackles while Isaiah Watkins collected two sacks.

"It's not about the number of interceptions I get," Murphy said. "Finally getting one and having it close out the game felt good, but it's about how we played as a unit."  

The Lutes finish their home slate next Saturday at 1 p.m., hosting Lewis & Clark College at Sparks Stadium.