TACOMA, Wash. - The Lute defense paved the way on Saturday afternoon, collecting a pair of pick sixes as the Pacific Lutheran University football team rolled host Willamette University 24-0 inside McCulloch Stadium.
 
The shutout win was the Lutes' first shutout since the 2011 season, blanking Hamline University 27-0 on Sept. 10, and the first shutout in Northwest Conference play since holding Lewis & Clark College scoreless in a 39-0 romp during the 2007 campaign.
 
Pacific Lutheran (3-4, 2-3 NWC) put points on the board in its opening possession, marching 37 yards on 10-plays with Peiyton Hilliard drilling a 31-yard field goal for the early 3-0 advantage.
 
Three plays from scrimmage later, Cheyn Tam-Switzer intercepted a pass and ran it back 22-yards, swelling the Lute lead to 10-0 with 7:41 left in the opening quarter.
 
PLU made it 17-0 just moments before halftime. Starting the drive on the Willamette 25-yard line, the Lutes needed just four plays to find the endzone with Michael Martinez plunging in from two-yards out with 27 ticks left in the half.
 
The Bearcats (1-7, 0-5 NWC) struggled in the second half with their final three drives of the game ending in interceptions including a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown by Colby Rhinelander with 59 seconds left in the game. Ashton Barton made a pick while Tam-Switzer secured his second of the game with 12 seconds remaining.

"It was great to get in the win column today," said Head Coach Brant McAdams. "We're proud of how our team bounced back from falling short against the top teams in the league the last two weeks."
 
Kord Tuttle led the defense with nine tackles, including two TFLs, while Rhinelander had six solo tackles in addition to his pick-six. Tristan Thomas made six tackles while Kalen Davis-White provided five on the afternoon. All told, the Lutes intercepted four passes and sacked the quarterback three times to collect the shutout.

"Our defense came out and set the tone from start to finish. We created turnovers and scored on defense. But most impressively, we kept Willamette off the scoreboard all three times they got into the red zone."
 
PLU's offense thrived on the ground, racking up 173 rushing yards. Malik White finished with a game-high 70 rushing yards on just 14 carries while Martinez had 60 yards and a touchdown. Erik Bainter added 45 yards, including the longest run of the day, a 22-yard scamper. 
 
Punter Max Boekenoogen was seldom needed, but came through when his number was called, punting the ball three times and averaging 40.7 yards per punt, pinning the Bearcats inside the 20-yard line on two occasions.

"Our offense sustained some drives with the ground game but we have to finish with points on the board. Proud of our kicking game today, Hilliard and Boekenoogen and their coverage units helped us win the field position battle. We can't wait to get back home to Sparks Stadium next week to honor our senior class."
 
The Lutes return to the gridiron next Saturday, hosting crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound at 1 p.m. inside Sparks Stadium.