PUYALLUP, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University football team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the home opener on Saturday, grounding the high-flying University of La Verne offense in a 22-12 victory at Sparks Stadium.
 
The Lutes (1-1) racked up 206 yards on the ground and controlled the clock, holding the ball for over 35 minutes in the 10-point victory with the PLU defense limiting the Leopard offense to just 252 yards after La Verne came into the game averaging 517.5 yards per game. 
 
Peiyton Hilliard got the Lutes on the board with 2:48 left in the opening quarter, booting a 28-yard field goal to cap off a 13-play, 80-yard drive.
 
The Lutes capitalized on good field position early in the second quarter with Erik Bainter finding Laakea Ane on a 16-yard strike and finally a two-yard touchdown strike, giving the Lutes a 9-0 cushion. La Verne (1-2) answered the following drive as PLU held a slim 9-6 advantage at the halftime intermission.
 
In the third, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on fourth down extended the drive for the Lutes who made the Leopards pay with Ane running in from a yard out on a 62-yard drive that put the home side up 15-6. Malik White shouldered the load early in the fourth quarter in an eight-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off with a three-yard scamper to the endzone from Bainter. 
 
LaVerne scored the ensuing possession and recovered the onside kick but the Lute defense held strong on the final two drives of the game with Jared Elwin breaking up a fourth down pass to end a drive before an interception by Francisco Lugo sealed the win with 1:24 remaining.

Cailey Collado catches up with Ashton Barton & Malik White after @PLUFootball's big win over La Verne #golutes pic.twitter.com/4NkHBJNgiM

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) September 18, 2021

 
White led the Lute ground attack with 102 yards on 13 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per touch while Bainter added 41 yards and Noah Palitz grinded out 40.
 
Bainter threw for 149 yards and a score, with Alex Rendon the top target with five catches for 47 yards.
 
Ashton Barton led the defense with 13 tackles, including 1.5 TFLs and an interception. Kord Tuttle made 11 tackles along with a sack while Elwin netted seven tackles. 
 
The Lutes take next weekend off before facing George Fox University on Homecoming on Oct. 2 to open up Northwest Conference play. Kickoff at Sparks Stadium is set for 1 p.m.