Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University football team dominated yardage, time of possession, and won the turnover battle on Saturday but was unable to come away with the victory on Homecoming, falling 17-14 to Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference clash at Sparks Stadium.

An opening quarter yielded no point with the visiting Pirates (4-2, 1-2 NWC) striking early in the second quarter with Connor Johnson running 19-yards for the touchdown. The Lutes (1-3, 1-2 NWC) answered midway through the quarter, engineering a quick four-play 62-yard drive in just 88 seconds. Marc Gallant got things rolling with a 19-yard rush before Cole Chandler hit Jacob King on a 34-yard reception to set up a first and goal. Chandler took it in the following play from nine yards out to tie the game. The Pirates tacked on a field goal the following drive before the Lutes struck again with Chandler finding DJ Winter for a 48-yard touchdown pass to seize the 14-10 advantage.

Whitworth reclaimed the lead midway through the third quarter, completing four straight passes before Tariq Ellis scampered 60-yards for the touchdown in what proved to be the final score of the afternoon. PLU threatened early in the fourth quarter, marching down to the Whitworth 21-yard line before the drive stalled and ended with a missed field goal. The Lutes were on the move later in the fourth, advancing to the 19-yard line but again came up empty with a sack and two straight incompletions forcing a turnover on downs. Whitworth sealed the win with a nine-play 45-yard drive, chewing up the final 5:37 of the game clock. The Pirates converted a third and one with backup quarterback Leif Ericksen running 25 yards to the one-yard line. Whitworth was able to run out the clock from there, taking three kneel downs to escape with the win.

PLU outgained the visiting Pirates 345-301, limiting the high-flying Whitworth passing attack to just 132 yards and no touchdowns through the air, while dominating time of possession, holding the ball for over 10 minutes longer than Whitworth. The Lutes had the ball for 35:08 during the game, including for nearly 12 minutes in the third quarter.

Gallant averaged 4.6 yards a carry on the ground, gaining 73 yards on 16 carries while Chandler ran for 39 and a score. Chandler passed for 224-yards with Brady Winter his top target, making six catches for 74 yards. Jacob King hauled in five passes for 76 yards while DJ Winter had 52 yards receiving and a touchdown.

Carson Ketter paced the defense with 12 tackles and one sack while Travis McMillion had eight tackles, including two tackles for loss. The Lute secondary got after the Pirates with Anthony Bautista and Cooper Murphy both grabbing interceptions.

The Lutes return to the gridiron next Saturday, traveling to Salem, Oregon to face Willamette University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.