PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran Football team extended their winning streak to three games on Saturday afternoon, after the Lutes were able to hold onto a ten-point lead entering the fourth quarter and move to 4-0 on the road this season. The Lutes 31-28 victory marks their third game in a row eclipsing the 30-point mark.a
 
The Pioneers took the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff and give the Lutes the ball to come out of halftime. A 42-yard completion began the game for the Pioneers and got them into Lute territory just one play into the game. But a crucial seven-yard sack by Gavin Hawley pushed Lewis & Clark outside of field goal range to the 38-yard line, forcing a punt on 4^th and 17.
 
PLU rushed the ball four-straight times to open their first drive starting at their own 21. A 12-play 52-yard drive over nearly five minutes ended abruptly as Darius Chaffin and Kellen Meade connected for just five yards on a fourth and six. The Lutes forced a three-and-out in response, and drove from their own 38 to the Pioneers 13-yard line to end the opening quarter with the score still 0-0 but with PLU knocking on the door.
 
The first play of the second quarter broke the scoreless tie as Chaffin rushed 10-yards to the endzone. Cole Sargent executed the point after attempt to give the Lutes a 7-0 lead. An unsportsmanlike penalty on the Lutes on the following kickoff put the Pioneers near midfield to start their third drive of the game. Defensive Back Kellen Meade intercepted the Pioneers 4^th and 8 pass and returned it for a touchdown, but was called back due to a pair of offsides penalties on the Lutes. The Pios would be forced to punt two plays later.
 
Following a Lutes three and out deep in Pio territory, Lewis & Clark began their next drive in excellent field position. The orange and black drove it into the Lutes endzone on a one-yard rush after four plays to tie the game up at 7-7. PLU established the run to begin their next drive, before taking it to the air on 3^rd and 4 where Chaffin connected with junior Jase Ellamar for a 20-yard touchdown; giving the Lutes a 14-7 lead in response.
 
The PLU defense held strong on the Pios next drive, giving the Lutes the ball back in short notice. A 47-yard completion to Connor Meade opened the drive and directly led to a five-yard dump-off to running back Jacob Schuh for the Lutes second touchdown in as many drives and leaving just 13-seconds left before half. PLU took a 14-7 lead into the break.
 
Now receiving the ball to start the second half, the Lutes were able to double up on consecutive possessions, driving six plays down the field, capped off by 34-yard touchdown reception by Ellamar for his second score of the game and Chaffin's third touchdown pass of the game.
 
The Pioneers wouldn't go down without a fight though, following up with a 13-play drive and cutting the deficit to 28-14. With the Lutes following drive starting at the Pioneers 44 yard line, Raysen Motoyama and Noah Palitz drove the Lutes down to the Pioneers 19-yard line. The drive would stall there, resulting in a 36-yard field goal off of the foot of Cole Sargent. The Pioneers scored another touchdown on their next possession, taking it through the air to make it a 31-21 game in favor of the Lutes at the end of the third quarter; PLU's drive stalled after three plays, giving the ball back to the Pioneers going into the final quarter.
 
A pair of long passes set up a one-yard touchdown run by the Pioneers and cutting their deficit to just three. After the Lutes were forced to punt yet again, Lewis & Clark's next drive stalled at the PLU 25-yard line, ultimately resulting in a missed 42-yard field goal. PLU's next drive went 12 plays and 42-yards down to the Pios 26, but a 4^th and 1 rush was stopped short and turned the ball over back to the Pioneers with two minutes remaining in the game.
 
Lewis & Clark took it to the air yet again, driving down to the closing seconds of the game, where their drive would end at the PLU 23-yard line with just five seconds remaining. The Pio kicker would miss his next field goal of the game in attempt to tie it up late, but the Lutes survived the comeback and came away with the 31-28 victory.
 
Chaffin got it done through the air and on the ground yet again, throwing for three touchdowns and running one in. His 264 all-purpose yards and 61.3 completion percentage led to a 153.7 quarterback rating. Jacob Schuh was one of five total rushers for the Lutes, with junior leading the way with 73 yards on 13 attempts. Junior Jase Ellamar totaled 115 yards receiving on seven catches, setting a new career best, and nearly equaling his 2023 season total.
 
On defense, Gavin Hawley totaled two sacks while Sam Morasch had the lone pass break up in the game.. Kawika Lopez, Kellen Meade, and Davyn Waters each totaled six tackles, with Waters all being solo tackles.
 
The Lutes got it done on the ground, with a team total of 214 rushing yards to the Pios nine. In the passing game, PLU had 223 yards in the air whereas Lewis & Clark had 366. Neither team had a turnover aside from the Lutes pair of turnover on downs, but Chaffin and the Lutes offense were an impressive eight-for-fifteen on third down. PLU remains ahead of Lewis & Clark in the Northwest Conference standings, sitting in third at 3-1 with Whitworth and Linfield leading the conference at 4-0.
 
"Our guys up front on both sides of the ball led the way again today. We established the run and stopped the run to control the game early" Said Head Coach Brant McAdams.
 
"We took care of the football in set conditions and we ate up critical minutes on the clock when Lewis & Clark was clawing back in. Hats off to them for how they fought back in."
 
McAdams and the Lutes remain tough on the road this season, and will look to stay on-track next week against George Fox. "We've got a lot to celebrate for a tough rough win. We also have plenty to correct and tighten up this week. Back to work!"
 
The Lutes return home next weekend, as they are set to face the George Fox Bruins at Sparks Stadium at 1 p.m.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.