TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University football squad returns to the gridiron on Saturday, eager to resume a fall schedule and learn from the lessons that this spring's four-game slate provided the team. 
 
The Lutes were able to compete in a four-game spring season in February and March, playing a home-and-home series with fellow in-state Northwest Conference rivals University of Puget Sound and Whitworth University.
 
"I think nothing substitutes competition, so to get to play real games gave us an opportunity to develop that you wouldn't have otherwise," said Head Coach Brant McAdams who embarks on his fourth season at the helm at PLU.
 
"While it was a short offseason, getting a chance to get some film and game day development for some of our young guys and veterans was critical."
 
While a scaled back schedule, it offered more opportunities to compete than what the Oregon institutions were able to get with George Fox University and Pacific University playing just two games while Linfield University, Lewis & Clark College, and Willamette University didn't play any contests during the 2020-2021 academic year.
 
The ability to play meaningful games during the spring provided a sense of normalcy for the 2020 freshman class that had a first-year experience that was anything but normal due to COVID-19. 
 
"Last year's first year class was unique because they didn't get so many of the usual first-year experiences. So to get that year of four games was critical for their development. It was something that helped make the college transition normal for them. There's still a lot of things they're learning for the first time. This is the first true fall camp for them as opposed to the modified return to campus that we had in January. Nonetheless, getting those experiences and connections with the upperclassmen and a chance to get led by good leaders was a critical piece of their first year."
 
Setting the standard for the Lutes this fall will be a stout defense that returns nine of its top 10 tacklers from a season ago. 
 
"The defense has done a good job setting the tempo, setting the energy in practice and our offense has responded and stepped up to the challenge. Our defense has overall a little more experience on the field and I think the whole team looks to them to continue to set the tone for who we are as a football team."
 
That veteran core includes linebacker Kord Tuttle who led the team with 37 tackles, including 24 solo in the shortened 2021 spring campaign. That also included a team-best 5.5 tackles for loss along with an interception. 
 
Fellow linebacker Kalen Davis-White is back after collecting 36 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks while senior leaders Tristan Thomas, Max Larson, and Shaun Kim return after combining for 55 tackles in the spring. 
 
"I'd have to say the senior leadership from Tristan, Max, Shaun is something that has continued to propel the defense."
 
Thomas and Larson are a part of an experienced defensive line that also includes Nico Golla who tallied 18 tackles and one sack as a first-year in the spring. 
 
Kim is part of a secondary unit that also returns corners Jesse Canda and Cheyn Tam-Switzer.
 
Despite a wealth of returners, McAdam's expects Gavin Hawley and Iosefa Lea'e to make an impact on the defensive line as first-years along with sophomore Nasier Ford providing a refreshing spark for the unit. 
 
McAdam's also expects big things from Kaysen Higa, a junior who converted to linebacker after playing as a wide receiver the last couple of years. 
 
"I think Kaysen will be a dark horse for us. He's a guy that played slot receiver the last couple of years and moved over to the defensive side and has excelled in multiple positions."
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Lutes feature experience both on the line and in the backfield. 
 
"I think we're older and more experienced at our skill positions. At receiver, as a group they've collectively gotten older and more mature. On the offensive line, we're still relatively young but having Colin Chun and Ryan Lusk come back for their fifth year has provided a tremendous amount of experience, maturity, and leadership in that room."
 
In addition to Chun and Lusk, the Lutes have experience on the offensive line from both Nico Skinner and Thomas Jacobs who both saw plenty of action as first-years during the spring. 
 
At wide receiver, seniors Jace Keim and Alex Rendon headline the group. The duo combined for 27 catches and 228 yards. Deep threat John Walker returns after racking up a team-best 169 receiving yards in the spring, including averaging 24.1 yards per catch. Also back is versatile tight end Laakea Ane.
 
"Laakea can play a lot of positions and makes us very versatile. But we have a lot of football games of experience coming back between Alex, Jace, and then some pretty explosive contributors in the receiving corps with John and Manuel Felan."
 
Under center, Erik Bainter and Kellan Kranc return to orchestrate the offense. In the spring, Bainter had a 58.3 percent completion percentage in the three games he played while also rushing for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kranc threw for 333 yards while tossing two touchdowns.
 
"The quarterback room is probably as solid, top to bottom, as it's ever been. Erik, Kellan, and Nick Knutson are all stepping in and operating the offense incredibly well. We also have some dynamic first-years that are still coming along and picking up the offense."
 
At running back, the Lutes will be fairly green but have the benefit of relying on fifth-year senior Malik White, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry last spring, along with sophomore Raysen Motoyama. 
 
"Overall I think what you can see from the offense is a balanced attack that has a solid plan to control the ball more than we have in the last few seasons. We're pretty excited about being able to get versatile in the run game while still being a balanced offense."
 
PLU's special teams crew returns several key cogs to an already effective unit.
 
An All-West Region selection in the spring, Max Boekenoogen returns after averaging 40.6 yards per punt. That included four boots of 50-yards or more, including a massive 71-yarder while pinning the opposition inside the 20 on six occasions during the four game season. 
 
Peiyton Hilliard is back at the kicker spot after drilling three field goals, including a 39-yarder in the season finale while Wyatt Winkle is serving once again as long snapper. 
 
"You have a lot of leadership in a group that is very self-driven and self-motivated. So they've done a great job of taking ownership of their craft and that spills over into special teams when the guys on each team trust that specialist to come through and produce with their leg. It elevates the production and the energy on each of those units."
 
An unexpected benefit of last year's COVID season is the NCAA blanket eligibility waiver allowing for the return of six seniors for their fifth-year of eligibility. 
 
"We have six guys from last year's senior class came back to use their fifth year. The leadership and experience they bring, it's an intangible that is very hard to quantify. I can hands down say that without those six guys we would not be as good of a football team. The leadership, the maturity, the understanding of expectations, and the culture that they bring and help communicate, is priceless."
 
The Lutes open their nine game schedule on Saturday, heading to Thousand Oaks, California for a clash under the lights against California Lutheran University. 
 
"You always want to start the season fast. So as we continue to stack up positive practices building and honing the fundamentals on all three phases of the game, the goal is to come out and play hard and play fast for 60 minutes and show improvement."

Saturday's game kicks off at 7 p.m. The Lutes open their home slate the following weekend, hosting University of La Verne at 12:30 p.m. inside Sparks Stadium and begin Northwest Conference play on Oct. 2, hosting George Fox University.