TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University football team looks to build on the late season success of a year ago, returning a solid nucleus of players that finished the season with shutout victories in two of the final three games of the season.

The Lutes closed out 2021 with a 4-5 overall record and a 3-6 mark in Northwest Conference play. Pacific Lutheran was simply dominant in late October and early November, blanking Willamette University 24-0 on the road before steamrolling University of Puget Sound 33-0 the following week to win The Trophy. The Lutes closed the season at Pacific University where a late Boxer touchdown was all that stood between the program closing the year with a winning campaign.

"The expectation is always to build on the year before. We graduated a good group of seniors but we return a good group of experienced players," said Head Coach Brant McAdams who gears up for his fifth season in Luteville.

"We got ourselves into some games that went down to the wire against a couple of teams in the top half of our league. The next step for us would be to come out of those four-quarter games with a win."

Last season the Lute offense featured a balanced attack that was able to chew up the clock. PLU ranked 15th nationally and first in the NWC in time of possession and will look to continue that trend into 2022.

Spearheading the offense is the quarterback position where the Lutes return three with game experience. Erik Bainter is QB1 after throwing for 1,140 yards and rushing for 459 more yards, scoring 10 total touchdowns. Also in the pen will be veteran Kellan Kranc along with Darius Chaffin, the versatile second year player who scored through the air, on the ground, and on special teams in 2021.

Hauling in those passes will be an experienced receiving corps led by Honorable Mention All-NWC selection John Walker. Walker finished last fall with 320 yards and four touchdowns and has been a consistent deep threat for the program over the past three years.

"I've been really impressed with our receiving corps. I think they really went to work this summer and came back faster, more disciplined, more focused, and I think it's shown in our camp practices."

Joining Walker on the perimeter will be Marc Basa, Brennon Blevins, Manuel Felan, and Patrick McInerny.

"Kamaehuokalani Makanui sneaks into the two deep as a freshman. He's athletic and has good hands. It's a good group. Excited to see them help us increase our completion percentage because that's been a major point of emphasis and an area we know we need to grow in."

Not to be overlooked is starting tight end Laakea Ane who had 10 catches and a touchdown while adding on another TD on the ground.

The ground attack includes a steady dose of returners, including Raysen Motoyama, Michael Martinez, and Noah Palitz. The trio ran for 375 yards last fall with six touchdowns. Notable is the return of Motoyama who ran for 90 yards in the first part of last year's opener before suffering a season-ending injury.

"Top to bottom probably our top position group in regards to level of competition within the group because we think they could all do some really good things running the rock."

Up front the Lutes will start three freshmen for the opener but have battle tested players in Honorable Mention All-NWC Nico Skinner, Aeryk Hatico., and Thomas Jacobs.

Earning their way into the lineup is freshmen center Josh Holder along with guard Griffin Montana and tackle Aron Daley.

"We're going to have a young offensive line, so we're going to have to utilize all aspects of the offense to spread the box out a little bit. Our quick game on offense is going to be a steady part of what we do to give us a chance to be balanced and run the ball and be balanced like we were last year."

Defensively, the Lutes return a star-studded cast for coordinator Jud Keim with the unit among the nation's best in 2021. The PLU defense ranked ninth nationally in sacks (30), 13th in interceptions (20), 19th in turnovers (26), and 37th in red zone defense.

"Our defense was definitely the big brother of the program last year and through the offseason and they earned it. When you finish the year ranked top 10, top 20 nationally in some key categories and our kids have embraced that and really run with it.Captains Kalen Davis-White and Nico Golla are phenomenal in holding the guys around them to their standard. And Jared Elwin's been in the program since 2018. When he speaks everyone listens."

"Across the board on defense we have great leadership and some great play makers. Michael Gurr, Cheyn Tam-Switzer, Colby Rhinelander, and Kord Tuttle. They all made a lot of great plays last year. A stout group that has worked really really hard to try and elevate the expectation and the standard even more."

Linebacker Kalen Davis-White led the Lutes in tackles last fall with 65 tackles, including 32 solo takedowns. His superlatives include 9.5 TFLs, four sacks, an interception, and two forced fumbles while earning Second Team All-NWC.

Defensive end Nico Golla was equally as disruptive. The junior netted 8.5 TFLs with 33 tackles. Ashton Barton returns after making 62 tackles and two interceptions with Honorable Mention All-NWC selection Kord Tuttle adding 58 tackles and seven TFLs.

In the secondary, HOnorable Mention All-League Colby Rhinelander was a ballhawk with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries while Elwin had 42 tackles, three picks, and two forced fumbles.

Supplementing the veteran cast has been newcomer Sam Morasch who made the transition to the gridiron after playing for the 2022 NWC Champion PLU men's basketball team last year.

Making the jump into a starting role has been Gavin Hawley and Aiden Shroyer.

"Gavin was a role player last year now stepping into a starting role. Aiden as well. Aiden is one of our strongest kids and he got even stronger over the summer. Definitely going to be an impact in the box."

Max Boekenoogan headlines the specialists. The senior punter was Second Team All-NWC and ranked sixth nationally in punting last fall, averaging 39.1 yards per boot.

 "Max has been the grandfather of the group. Having done it for five years. It's been a good kicking competition between Andrew Comito, Cole Sargent and Logan Ready. Andrew edged out the other two but I expect those guys to compete through the fall."

Excitement surrounds the program this fall, embarking on a 10-game regular season slate for the first time in program history. That 10th game sends PLU to Minnesota this weekend for a clash with nationally-ranked Bethel University.
 
"The expectation (vs Bethel) is to not get enamored with the ranking and do what we've practiced. There's going to be variables that we haven't had a chance to deal with yet but we've dealt with a lot of different things. So, the expectation is to travel well and put our best foot forward against a great opponent."

Kickoff on Saturday in Saint Paul, Minnesota is at 1 p.m. (Central Time).