TACOMA, Wash. - Wes Nixon scored three touchdowns and the Lutes generated four turnovers on defense and special teams but it wasn't enough in the season opener, stumbling 28-20 to crosstown rival University of Puget Sound on Saturday at Baker Stadium.
 
Pacific Lutheran (0-1) drew first blood in the opening quarter, capitalizing on fumbled punt. Tyler Perpignan pounced on the loose ball, setting the Lute offense up on the UPS 37-yard line. Bryce Missey found John Walker for a 33-yard completion to the one-yard line before Nixon capped off the drive, scoring on a shovel pass for the early 7-0 advantage. 
 
The Loggers (1-0) answered in the second quarter, cobbling together a 15-play, 79-yard drive that ended in a nine-yard reception to Duncan Varela to tie the game. Special teams came up big once again for the Lutes with another fumbled punt setting the Lutes up with a first-and-goal from the one yard line. Kellan Kranc found Nixon on a two-yard pass to put visiting PLU up 14-7.
 
With time expiring in the first half, Kord Tuttle intercepted a pass and returned it 100-yards to the house but a personal foul negated the runback as PLU took a 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. 
 
Puget Sound opened the third quarter with an 83-yard touchdown drive, eating up nearly half the quarter. PLU's next drive stalled on fourth and two at the Logger 33-yard line. UPS would chew up nearly 10 minutes on the ensuing drive, marching 67-yards to take a 21-14 lead with 8:56 remaining in the game. 
 
A Lute fumble set the Loggers up at the 17-yard line and Puget Sound found the endzone three plays later, building a 28-14 advantage with 61 seconds left. 
 
PLU covered 59-yards the next drive, getting completions for 16- and 25-yards to Walker before Kranc found Nixon for his third score as time expired.  
 
"First, I'm really proud of our team for how they've embraced protocols to give us all the chance to play this game," said Head Coach Brant McAdams. 

"Every season brings new faces into the fold and it was great to see new guys step up in this first game. We have lots of things to correct on film but I know we will be better in two weeks than we were today."

Walker led the Lutes with three catches for 74 yards while on defense Kord Tuttle was all over the field, finishing with 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one sack, and an interception. Ashton Barton finished with eight tackles while Kalen Davis-White had seven tackles and a sack. Syi Campbell was credited with the Lutes' first interception of the day. 
 
Saturday's tilt was the Lutes' first in 448 days, the longest stretch between games since the program was on hiatus from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. 
 
PLU has a bye week next Saturday before hosting Whitworth University on Feb. 20 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.