PUYALLUP, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University football team scored on offense, defense, and special teams on Saturday, steamrolling Northwest Conference rival Willamette University 53-0 at Sparks Stadium.
 
Lute signal caller Erik Bainter threw for four touchdowns and ran for another while John Walker hauled in three TD catches in the blowout win that saw the Lutes rack up 458 yards of total offense and limit the Bearcats to just 138 total yards.
 
The Lutes (5-3, 4-1 NWC) wasted little time getting on the board, blocking a Bearcat punt on their opening drive with Syi Campbell scooping up the loose ball and rumbling 25 yards for the score. Jacob Schuh blocked the punt, allowing Campbell to scoop the loose ball and giving PLU a 7-0 lead just under two minutes into the game. 
 
Special teams continued to shine in the first quarter with Max Boekenoogen blasting a 56-yard punt that was downed at the Willamette (2-6, 0-5 NWC) two yard line. Gavin Hawley tackled the Bearcats' quarterback in the endzone the following play, boosting the Lute advantage to 9-0. 
 
John Walker caught a nine-yard touchdown from Erik Bainter early in the second quarter, capping off an 11-play, 64-yard drive. Bainter plunged in from one yard out later in the quarter, putting an exclamation point on another 64-yard drive.
 
Noah Palitz made it 29-0 Lutes with 35 seconds left in the opening half, hauling in an 18-yard reception from Bainter. 
 
Bainter hit John Walker from four yards out with 10:47 left in the third, capping off a 73-yard drive before finding Walker again just six seconds into the fourth quarter, a 31-yard touchdown pass.
 
Brennon Blevins reeled in an 87-yard catch from backup quarterback Kellen Kranc with 11:21 left in the game while Cole Sargent booted a 27-yard field goal with 4:45 remaining to push the Lute advantage to 53-0. 
 
Willamette threatened late in the game but a Cheyn Tam-Switzer interception preserved the shutout, the team's second of the fall.

"We're proud of the way our guys bounced back this week," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.

"We're even more proud of our seniors. Getting out to an early lead with big plays on all three phases of the ball on the backs of our seniors speaks to how hard they've worked to get our program to this point."
 
Bainter finished with 207 yards pass and four TDs while the Lutes combined for 318 yards through the air. John Walker was the top target with six catches for 105 yards and a trio of scores. Noah Palitz had four catches for 56 yards and a score while Blevins had three catches for 101 yards and a TD.
 
Raysen Motoyama averaged 6.4 yards per carry, collecting 45 yards on the ground while Bainter covered 36 yards on seven carries.
 
Kalen Davis-White had four tackles, two hurries, and 2.5 TFLs on the day while Michael Gurr, Gavin Hawley, Ashton Barton, Nikolas Kron, Kord Tuttle, and Campbell all finished tied for the team lead in tackles with five.

Syi Campbell had a big special teams TD to start the day for @PLUfootball and he talks with the Lute Sports Network about embracing his role on the team #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/yvUi2Lf1vq

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) October 30, 2022

 
The Lutes are back in action next Saturday, looking to retain The Trophy when they square off against crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.