PUYALLUP, Wash. — Quarterback Anthony Mahaffey's first collegiate start was a memorable one. Engineering a 21-point comeback with the help of a ballhawking defense, the Pacific Lutheran University football team notched a 31-28 Homecoming win against Willamette University to open Northwest Conference play on Saturday at Sparks Stadium.
 
"Super proud of our team in how they responded to an uphill battle coming out of the first half," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.

"We took a little bit to catch a rhythm on offensive behind a new QB but the way our guys never gave up and kept fighting is a major lesson we will take from today. A lot of guys got challenged at halftime and they answered the call."

The Lutes (2-2, 1-0 NWC) trailed 21-0 before driving 70-yards on 11 plays with Mahaffey finding Dayton Savea in the endzone for a three-yard touchdown pass with 15 ticks left in the first half. 
 
That drive came after a rocky start. The Bearcats (1-3, 0-1 NWC) struck early in the second quarter, scoring on a halfback pass and then taking the top off the defense once again with a two-play, 85-yard drive that included a 65-yard touchdown pass. Willamette doubled down on the ensuing kick, recovering an onside kick and scoring another touchdown, covering 53 yards on just three plays to stake a 21-0 advantage.
 
Cole Becker got things rolling for the Lutes in the third quarter with a sack fumble and recovery to set the Lute offense up at the Willamette six-yard line. Three plays later, Mahaffey hit Connor Meade in the endzone to knife the deficit to a single score.
 
The PLU defense buckled down, stopping Willamette on a fourth and one at the 27-yard line before Will Frank intercepted a pass at the 25-yard line. PLU capitalized, tying the game after Mahaffey hit Jase Ellamar for a 70-yard touchdown. 
 
The Bearcats pushed ahead 28-21 early in the fourth quarter but a bad snap inched PLU closer, getting a safety with 10:21 to play. A big punt return from Connor Meade set the Lutes up on the 15-yard line with just over five minutes to go. AJ Stepina would later score from six yards out while catching the two-point try, giving PLU its first lead of the day at 31-28 with 3:30 left to play.

Eli Fernandez picked off the Bearcats in their first play of the following possession and PLU chewed up the rest of the clock to pull out the wild come from behind win.

Mahaffey finished with 281 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate start, tossing touchdowns to four different targets. Ellamar was his favorite target on the night with six catches for 117 yards while Meade caught five balls for 48. 
 
Jacob Schuh led the ground game, grinding out 66 tough yards on the day.
 
Ryan Dikover punted five times and pinned Willamette inside the top on three of those occasions.
 
Defensively, Eli Fernandez had 12 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup while Becker had eight tackles, including three sacks. Avery Coleman and Will Frank also had interceptions on a day the defense limited Willamette to just 13 total yards in the fourth quarter.

"Willamette had a great game plan and executed it well in the first half. It's great to see the competition in the NWC continue to improve. Every week is going to be a battle."
 
The Lutes are back on the gridiron next Saturday at 1 p.m., heading across town for a battle for The Trophy against University of Puget Sound.