TACOMA, Wash. – Leading 35-10 late in the third quarter, victory seemed to be in hand for the Pacific Lutheran University football team, but Lewis & Clark College gave the Lutes all they could handle down the stretch before the Lutes escaped with a 38-37 victory. 
 
The Pioneers nearly completed the comeback and knotted the score with 1:18 remaining, but the PLU defense came up with a huge stop as the home team elected to go for two and the win.  After PLU stopped the extra point, Lewis & Clark recovered the ensuing onside kick, but the Lute defense didn't allow a first down and ended the Pioneer magic with a sack on 4^th and 30 after 20 yards of penalties against the home team. 
 
"I'm very proud of the way we came out and executed on offense and defense in the first half," said PLU Head Coach Brant McAdams.  "We took a clear step forward from the week before.  We made some mistakes throughout the day that put us in challenging situations, but out team responded well and picked each other up.  Huge shoutout to our defense for responding all game and coming up with a huge stop at the end to keep the lead." 
 
PLU jumped all over the Pioneers in the first half and for the majority of the first three quarters.  After a three-and-out to begin the game, the Lutes marched 69 yards on 10 plays and Malik White scored the first of his two touchdowns to put the visitors up 7-0.  Freshman quarterback Darius Chaffin came in for the 'Batman Package' in the second quarter and connected with John Walker on a 34-yard pass to make it 14-0 with 12:12 remaining before half. 
 
After Lewis & Clark cut the lead in half, Chaffin returned the momentum back to the visitors with a 38-yard kickoff return and PLU cashed in three plays later as Erik Bainter called his own number for an 11-yard rushing touchdown.  Colby Rhinelander picked off a Pioneer pass on the next possession and White took advantage of the short field, hitting paydirt on the drive's sixth play from 19 yards out. 
 
The home team kicked a field goal to pull to within 28-10 after kicking a field goal on the opening possession of the second half, but the Lutes had an answer for each Pioneer challenge.  Michael Martinez got into the act with PLU's fourth rushing score of the game on a one-yard plunge with 3:08 left in the third. 

Lewis & Clark returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown to make the score 35-17 and the Pioneers took control until the game's final moments. 
 
As a team, the Lutes dominated the line of scrimmage.  PLU rushed for 250 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, while holding the Pioneers to just 39 and 1.4, respectively.  The Lute defense also sacked the quarterback on four occasions, with Nico Golla leading the way with 1.5.  Kalen Davis-White seemed to live in the Pioneer backfield, with a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.  Rhinelander and Jared Elwin both picked off a pass for a defense that forced three turnovers.

White led the Lutes with 115 yards rushing and two scores on 19 carries, while Bainter ran for 99 and a score.  Throwing the ball, Bainter was 15-for-30 for 100 yards and two interceptions. Chaffin proved to be a weapon, throwing for a touchdown and running back three kickoffs for 94 yards. 

"Our expectation continues to elevate and I know our guys will be eager to learn from this film and get after it next week," said McAdams."
 
With the victory, PLU moved to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference action.  The Lutes will look to continue their winning ways next Saturday when they head to Spokane to take on Whitworth University at 1:00 p.m.