PUYALLUP, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University football team scored on five straight possessions in the first half, steamrolling Northwest Conference rival Willamette University 50-0 on Saturday at Sparks Stadium.

PLU (4-2, 2-1 NWC) rolled up a season high 534 yards of offense while the defense allowed just 187 yards, earning the team's second shutout of the season.
 
Darius Chaffin had a field day, throwing three touchdowns— all to Thor Stepina— while rushing for another. Chaffin finished the afternoon 17-for-21 with 254 passing yards and no interceptions while running for 57 yards, averaging 11.4 yards per rush.

The Lutes punted on their opening possession but quickly found itself back on offense after Sam Morasch picked off the Bearcats' (2-3, 0-2 NWC) first pass of the day and setting the PLU offense up at the 16-yard line. 
 
Jacob Schuh needed just one play to make the Bearcats pay for the mistake, rushing 16-yards into the endzone for the early 7-0 lead.

PLU covered 71 yards on just seven plays on its next possession with Darius Chaffin finding Thor Stepina from five yards out. 

Raysen Motoyama scampered into the endzone from 11 yards out, capping off a brisk three-play, 61-yard drive to make it 20-0.
 
A Colby Rhinelander interception set up another short field for the Lute offense with Chaffin hitting Stepina from three-yards out to make it 27-0 early in the second quarter. 
 
Motoyama tallied his second touchdown of the half with 10:11 left in the second quarter, an 18-yard run that closed out a 78-yard drive. Chaffin used his legs with 44 seconds left before halftime, scoring from 37-yards out as the hosts enjoyed a 40-0 edge at the halftime intermission.

Stepina hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass with 10:34 left in the third quarter, his third touchdown of the day, making it 47-0 before Cole Sargent booted a 23-yard field with 6:17 left in the third to make it a 50-0 ballgame.

PLU's defense had a big day in the shutout, finishing with three interceptions and blocking a Willamette 32-yard field goal in the second quarter to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.

Kalen Davis-White spearheaded the defense with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss while Morasch, Rhinelander, and Mouse Williams all had interceptions.

Stepina finished with seven catches for 105 yards and three scores, one of eight receivers to catch a pass in the blowout win. PLU finished the afternoon with 326 yards through the air and 208 on the ground. Chaffin led the ground attack with his 57 yards on just five attempts.

"O and D led the charge together today," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.

"Our defense stepped up and found ways to get off the field without allowing points. Great effort by Gavin Hawley to get a hand on their FG attempt. Offense did a great job moving the line of scrimmage and making plays. Scoring on five consecutive drives and going 7-7 in the red zone is a testament to the work that they are putting in."

The Lutes have now won eight in a row against the Oregon rivals, outscoring the Bearcats 189-7 over the past four seasons.

Pacific Lutheran is back on the gridiron next Saturday, trekking to Portland to play Lewis & Clark College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.