PUYALLUP, Wash. - Noah Palitz ran for a pair of touchdowns and the defense racked up three interceptions but the Pacific Lutheran University football team was unable to come away with the win in Saturday's Homecoming clash at Sparks Stadium, ending on the wrong side of a 27-14 scoreline against Northwest Conference rival George Fox University.
The first half was a defensive slugfest. The Bruin defense pounced on a Lute fumble midway through the first quarter, scooping up the ball and returning it 22 yards to take the 7-0 lead.
PLU (1-2, 0-1 NWC) answered in the second quarter.
Colby Rhinelander picked off a pass to setup an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive for the Lutes that ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Palitz to tie the game.
George Fox (1-2, 1-0 NWC) drilled a 40-yard field goal as time expired to take a 10-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Bruins made it 17-7 with a 75-yard drive to open the third quarter before capitalizing on a Lute fumble to make it 24-7 early in the fourth quarter. GFU tacked on another 40-yard field foal before the Lutes covered 65-yards in just 1:48 to close the gap to 27-14.
John Walker set the stage for the score with a 50-yard reception while Palitz finished off the drive with a three-yard plunge.
PLU attempted an onside kick but the Bruins recovered and did just enough the final four minutes to preserve the win.
Quarterback
Erik Bainter finished with 158 yards passing and 65-yards rushing.
Alex Rendon was the most popular target with six receptions while
Rikiho Sakai and
Manuel Felan each had four. Palitz had 64 total yards on the day, including 46 on the ground and 18 receiving yards.
Tristan Thomas led the Lute defense with nine tackles while
Kord Tuttle finished with eight and two TFLs.
Kaysen Higa,
Jared Elwin, And Rhinelander all had interceptions, part of a secondary that limited the Bruins to just 107 passing yards.
PLU controlled the ball in the opening half, holding the ball for almost 20 minutes but the script flipped in the second half with GFU holding the ball for almost 19 minutes.
The Lutes hit the road next Saturday, traveling to Portland, Oregon for a showdown with Lewis & Clark College. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
