PUYALLUP, Wash. - Brady Winter hauled in two touchdowns and racked up 136 yards as the Pacific Lutheran University football team remained perfect at home with a 33-20 victory over Northwest Conference rival Willamette University on Saturday at Sparks Stadium.

It was a sluggish opening half for both teams but the Lutes (3-3, 2-2 NWC) came alive in the final moments of the second quarter to take a 10-0 advantage into the halftime intermission. Nolan Hoover hit Winter on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 2:41 remaining, capping off a 14-play, 72-yard drive for PLU. A quick three and out gave the ball to the Lutes with Alex Brost nailing a 42-yard field goal as time expired for the 10-0 edge.

Willamette (1-5, 0-4 NWC) used an 80-yard touchdown strike early in the third quarter to cut the PLU lead to just four but the Lutes' countered with a drive of their own with Ethan McElderry catching a 12-yard touchdown pass from Walker LaVoy to put the home side back up 17-6.

PLU's lead mushroomed again midway through the third quarter with LaVoy hitting Winter on a 61-yard touchdown pass. McElderry hit paydirt again late in the fourth quarter, bowling in from a yard out with 6:03 left to boost the Lute lead to 30-12. Willamette scored late to close within 10 but failed to recover the onside kick. Anthony Louthan returned the kick to the Willamette nine-yard line before Alex Brost hit his second field goal of the game with 34 ticks left as the Lutes emerged with the 33-20 win.

The Lutes racked up 276 yards through the air with LaVoy and Hoover splitting time under center. Winter was the most popular target with six catches for 136 yards and two scores while Wesley Nixon had five catches for 73 yards.

"Really proud to see senior Brady Winter step up and add a spark to our offense today," said Head Coach Brant McAdams. "He and the guys around him worked hard this week to keep improving as a unit and they did that today."

The Lute defensive unit limited the Bearcats to just 35 rushing yards. Matt Anthony led the defense with 10 tackles, two TFLs, and an interception while Hunter Briggs had eight takedowns and one sack.

"Defensively we did a better job in the box stopping the run and made some plays when they were forced to throw. Great to see another senior step up when Matt Anthony came away with his interception. This group of seniors realizes their days together in a uniform are ticking down and they're maximizing every day together."

The Lutes return to the gridiron next Saturday, trekking to McMinnville, Oregon to face Linfield College.

"I'm excited to get back out to the practice field with them this week."