TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University football team motions into Northwest Conference matchups starting Saturday at Sparks Stadium, hosting Lewis & Clark College for the Lutes' annual homecoming game.
The Lutes (1-1) went into the bye-week after a tough setback on the road against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Trailing 17-0, the Lutes battled back and evened the score at 17, but fell short after the Claremont drove the ball down and scored in the fourth quarter.
Chase Rhinelander has been exceptionally great thus far, leading the conference in tackles (13 per game) and being a leader on the defensive side of the ball.
"We played with amazing effort across the ball and on both sides of the ball. It was just some of our fundamental flaws and errors that we made, that led to the game shifting away from us."
For Rhinelander, the bye-week was really important going forward for the Lutes.
"This past bye-week we went back to being a fundamentally sound defense and are ready for Lewis & Clark after this week of practice."
Many important pieces on the team have suffered injuries this season which has limited the Lutes to be at the top of their game.
"The bye-week was really nice! Just being able to go to treatment and giving the body a lighter load. It was really good for our team to get healthy and mentally prepare for our opponent."
The junior Psychology major, Rhinelander, put in a long summer working out and preparing and has certainly capitalized on his first year starting on the field. His main focus this fall is football and being the best team they can be.
"I don't really pay much mind to how we are perceived to the conference and where we are ranked. I believe this team is truly focused on getting better week to week and committed to the process and growing. I have the utmost confidence in our team and think we are going to turn some heads."
Heading into the conference games, the Lutes first matchup will be against Lewis & Clark Pioneers. Rhinelander, along with the rest of the team, have their focus on themselves.
"Our focus is to play free and play our game. Have fun and fly around. We are going to put in the work week to week and we will get to our goals that we want to reach. It is going to be a fun journey."
Oct. 5: PLU vs. Lewis & Clark at Sparks Stadium (12:30 p.m.)
Series History: The Lutes have utterly dominated the series since the first meeting in 1933 with the scales tilted 42-10-3 in favor of the Lutes. PLU has won the last seven meetings, including a 28-14 victory in last year's season finale.
About the Pioneers: Lewis & Clark (1-1) experienced mixed results in the opening two games of the season, getting blanked 20-0 by Pomona-Pitzer Colleges before outlasting Whittier College in a 44-41 barnburner.
Caden Voges has thrown for 335 yards and three touchdowns with a 59.3 percent completion percentage. His most popular target has been Aidan Verba-Hamilton who has 155 receiving yards and all three of the team's receiving touchdowns. On the ground, Michael Abraham averages 5.4 yards per carry with three TDs through the opening two games.
