TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran football team sent a message to their crosstown rivals Saturday: We're back.
The Lutes guaranteed their winningest season since 2014 with a 35-10 throttling of Puget Sound at Baker Stadium in Northwest Conference action.
Getting help from up and down the lineup, the Lutes dominated all aspects of the game – a far cry from what this year's seniors experienced early in their career against the Loggers.
"We kind of got it handed to us growing up as a young team," said senior Kord Tuttle about UPS defeating PLU in 2019 and twice in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. "It has been our mission to turn this program around and we are very happy with where we are at.
"We are changing this culture to a winning culture and to be able to pass the program on with a winning record to the next class feels like a real accomplishment."
The Lutes (6-3 overall, 5-1 NWC) got a big second half from rarely used running back Kaden Reimer. They got big defensive moments from linebacker Blake Doss and cornerback Kaysen Higa.
And through it all, they answered the call of the coaching staff to roll to their sixth win of the season.
"We challenged their energy in the second quarter and definitely at halftime," PLU coach Brant McAdams said. "Our guys came out and brought better energy. We told our guys we are getting the looks we expected to get, you just have to go execute and the guys responded."
The Lutes trailed 3-0 early in the second quarter when quarterback Erik Bainter hit running back Noah Palitz for a 41-yard touchdown and a 7-3 lead with 12 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the first half.
The defense then got the ball back on downs and Bainter and company immediately went to work, moving down the field and eventually scoring on a QB sneak for a 14-3 lead.
UPS (0-8, 0-6) seemed ready to answer, but Nasier Ford forced a fumble on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line and the Lutes took the lead into the half.
In the locker room the team discussed adjustments, including putting Reimer in the backfield.
Reimer had only carried the ball 10 times all season, but was called on to rush 13 times in the second half. He rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
"It is an awesome atmosphere and to get more playing time in this big rivalry game – it felt good to have an impact," Reimer said. "We definitely picked it up in the second half. We did all that we needed to do. It was one job and one play at a time."
Reimer scored his first touchdown on a 5-yard run with 10:08 left in the third quarter and added his second on a 2-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.
In between, Bainter found Patrick McInerny for an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Defensively, the Lutes also went to work holding the Loggers to xxx yards in the second half and forcing two interceptions, a turnover on downs and a punt.
"We just relied on our fundamentals," Tuttle said. "We just had to lean on our teammates and use that silent focus and calm aggression. UPS always comes out fired up and ready to play. You have to just stay in yourself."
The Lutes did just that Saturday and other than a slow start, were never really threatened.
Bainter finished 7-of-19 for 146 yards with two touchdowns. He also rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown. Manuel Felan had three receptions for 55 yards and Jacob Schuh had five carries for 31 yards.
Tuttle finished with seven tackles, including two for a loss and a sack. Higa had four tackles and an interception, Ford had five tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, split a sack and forced the fumble. Jared Elwin had a pick and Doss had a big tackle for a loss on a punt attempt. Gavin Hawley added six tackles, including two for a loss and a sack.
The Lutes wrap up the regular season at 1 p.m. Saturday against Pacific at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
"We have taken a couple of moments this season to stop and really appreciate how far we have come," McAdams said. "But then – as always – it is on to the next one."
