PUYALLUP, Wash.  —  Anthony Mahaffey tied a school single game record by tossing six touchdowns as the Pacific Lutheran University football squad maintained its grip on first place in the Northwest Conference standings with a 47-29 victory over Pacific University at Sparks Stadium.

Four of Mahaffey's six touchdowns came during a dominating second quarter that saw the Lutes (4-2, 3-0 NWC) pile on 28 points. That PLU scoring binge included a 26-yard touchdown pass to AJ Stepina, a two-yard pass to Jase Ellamar, a 26-yard score to Dayton Savea, and a 10-yard pass to Ellamar with six seconds left in the half.

The visiting Boxers (1-5, 0-3 NWC) drew first blood, scoring on the game's opening drive.George Sonko caused mayhem in the Pacific backfield later in the first quarter, leading to a safety to make it 6-2. It was all Lutes in the second quarter, entering the halftime break with a 30-6 advantage. PLU generated 246 yards of offense in the second quarter while limiting the Boxers to just eight total yards during the same 15-minute segment. 

Mahaffey found Stepina again with 4:10 left in the third quarter to make it 37-13 PLU while Evan Harvey booted a 23-yard field goal with 6:51 left in the fourth. Mahaffey hit Connor Meade with 5:38 remaining in the game, an 85-yard touchdown pass that put the quarterback in the record books. Mahaffey's six touchdowns ties PLU Hall of Famers Craig Kupp and Marc Weekly. Kupp threw six TDs in 1989 against Southern Oregon University while Weekly did it twice in his career, first against Oregon Institute of Technology in 1991 and again against Cumberland UNiversity in 1993. 

"We love the way our guys responded to the challenge of coming out and executing at a high level in the first half against a good football team," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.

"Anthony made great decisions and our defense stiffened up when it mattered most. We'll get eyes on this film and keep working to be better for next week."

Mahaffey finished 24-for-34 with 331 yards and six scores with seven total players catching passes. Meade led the way with six catches for 145 yards and a score while Ellamar and Stepina both had a pair of touchdowns. Mahaffey additionally ran for 52 yards, averaging 13 yards per rush. Jacob Schuh did the dirty work on the ground, leading the squad with 76 yards.

Avery Coleman had eight tackles for the Lutes, including six solo tackles while Eli Fernandez and Zachary Gable both had interceptions.

The Lutes, tied for first place with Whitworth University, host Linfield University next Saturday, Kickoff at Sparks Stadium is set for 1 p.m.