THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Connor Meade had a career day with 121 reception yards but it wasn't enough for the Pacific Lutheran University football team to come away with the win, falling 18-15 to West Coast rival California Lutheran University on Saturday in the season opener at William Rolland Stadium.

"Season openers always reveal some good things and some bad," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.

"Unfortunately, today revealed a few more missed opportunities than opportunities seized. There were some flashes of good football but overall we didn't make enough big plays to get the win. Hats off to CLU. We have a lot of work ro do this week before our home opener against Simpson."
 
The visiting Lutes (0-1) drew first blood, scoring on their second drive of the game. PLU benefited from good field position, starting the drive at its 41-yard line thanks to a fourth down stand by the defense. A pass interference call on the first play of the drive set the Lutes up at midfield and the Lutes needed just nine plays to find the endzone, with the 59-yard drive capped off by a Meade 18-yard touchdown reception from Darius Chaffin. PLU would miss the extra point and finished the opening quarter with a 6-0 edge.

The host Kingsmen (1-0) got on the board late in the first half, kicking a 41-yard field goal with 3:15 left in the second. Cal Lu would find the endzone less than a minute later with Drew Nees scoring a pick six to make it 10-6 Kingsmen, a scoreline they'd take into the locker room at halftime.

A First Team All-Northwest Conference selection last year in basketball, PLU's Emmett Holt wasted little time making an impact on the gridiron, scoring a go-ahead touchdown for the Lutes with 3:35 left in the third quarter to cap off an 80-yard drive. Meade was a big part of the drive, grabbing receptions of 13 and 27 yards during the drive. A 15-yard reception from Jase Ellamar put PLU at the seven yard line before Chaffin found Holt to make it 15-10 PLU. 

A shanked punt gave Cal Lu a short field late in the fourth quarter and they capitalized. The Kingsmen covered 39 yards on just six plays, scoring the eventual game winner on a 12 yard rush with 3:30 left in the game. 
 
PLU had two opportunities to tie or take the lead, going three and out on its first drive before mounting a drive that started at the Lute 15-yard line. A 29-yard catch from Dayton Savea put the Lutes in Cal Lu territory. A pass interference call moved the Lutes to the Cal Lu 25-yard line but the Lutes would run out of time after a dropped pass in the endzone and a long scramble, stalled the drive at the Cal Lu 20-yard line. 

Chaffin finished 19-for-42 with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns with Meade the most popular target with seven receptions for 121 yards and a score. Ellamar had four catches for 43 yards, one of six Lutes to catch a pass on the day. Jacob Schuh led the ground game with 43 yards.
 
Micah Ragaza-Bourassa led the Lutes with six tackles, including a sack while Cole Becker had three quarterback hurries.

PLU finished the game with more first downs (18 to 15), more passing yards (232 to 148) and more total yards (277 to 234) than the hosts. 
 
The Lutes open up their six game home slate next Saturday, welcoming Simpson University to Sparks Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.