Post-Game Comments

PUYALLUP, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University football team went toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked Linfield College on Saturday before running out of steam in the second half, ultimately falling 42-10 to the 24th-ranked Wildcats in a Northwest Conference showdown at Sparks Stadium.
 
The Lutes (1-5, 0-4 NWC) had a promising opening drive, marching 50-yards on nine plays before stalling on the Linfield 21-yard line. A fake field goal turned into calamity for host PLU with the pass getting intercepted by Linfield's Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett who ran the pick back 94-yards for the game's first score.
 
The Wildcats (5-1, 4-0 NWC) would strike again in their first offensive series of the game,taking a 14-0 lead with 4:12 left in the opening quarter. 
 
PLU would launch another extended drive, covering 64 yards before stalling on the Linfield 13-yard line and coming away with no points for the effort. The Lutes finally got on the board with 28 seconds before halftime. Quarterback Braden Amorozo hit Alex Rendon on a 19-yard pass to ignite the drive that covered 49-yards on eight plays with Alex Brost nailing a 37-yard field goal as PLU went into the locker room within striking distance, trailing Linfield 14-3.
 
The third quarter wasn't kind to the Lutes with Linfield scoring on its opening two drives, part of a 21-point quarter. 
 
Cody Barnett nearly tallied his second pick-six of the season, intercepting a Linfield pass and rumbling 61-yards before getting tracked down at the five-yard line. Luke Bobin did the rest of the work, catching a pass from Bryce Missey on the ensuing play with 1:42 left in the game. 
 
Cody Brown finished the day with 93-yards of total offense, collecting 49 on the ground and 44 through the air while Amorozo passed for 152 yards in his first collegiate start.
 
Kord Tuttle and Shaun Kim headlined the defense, each finishing with eight tackles while Barnett had six tackles, two breakups and a 61-yard interception return. 
 
"Today's takeaway is that we need to continue to hone our skills and execution of our assignments. We need to do that for four quarters. I was proud of our kids in the first half but that's a good football team. They made some adjustments and played a better second half for themselves," said Head Coach Brant McAdams. "I'm pretty proud of our kids and the resolve and fight and discipline. Now we just need to learn how to finish individual plays, and drives, and quarters."
 
The Lutes are back on the gridiron next Saturday, making the trip across the Cascades to face Whitworth University at 1 p.m. inside the Pine Bowl.