Brant McAdams in huddle at preseason practice 2026

Adekale Ande

Football Gears up to Contend for NWC Title

By Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

The Pacific Lutheran University football team is looking to move up the Northwest Conference standings this fall after finishing in the top three of the final standings in each of the last four seasons.

That’s been the conversation of fall camp since day one. We’ve done some things well to where we consider ourselves a good football team, but we have to take the next step to get in the conversation of being a great football team.

Head Coach Brant McAdams

Now in his ninth season at the helm, McAdams has engineered the Lutes into contenders, finishing runner-up in the conference standings in 2022 while placing third in each of the last three seasons. To punch through the top and qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time since 2013, or win the NWC outright for the first time since 2001, McAdams knows they’re going to have to do things slightly different to get past traditional powers Linfield University and Whitworth University.

Team Victory after beating UPS 41-27 on 10/11/25.

We’ve made adjustments. Whether its teaching plans, conditioning, football IQ, situational IQ, and trying some new additional things. We’re always looking for a one percent way to get better. That’s the goal. We’re not settling for top three. That’s where we’ve been and our goal is to get past that.

sideline celebration in win over George Fox on senior day

The 2025 Lutes finished the season with a 6-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in league play. The Lutes lit up the scoreboard in their five conference wins, scoring at least 31 in all five games, including pouring 46 on Lewis & Clark College, 47 on Pacific University, and 55 on George Fox University.

Against the top of the league, Pacific Lutheran was within striking distance. The squad lost by just two scores to Linfield while suffering a tough 10-6 road loss to NWC Champion Whitworth at the Pine Bowl.

This year, the Lutes will use a tough non-conference slate to prepare for another potential run at the conference title. The season begins with a clash at Mount Tahoma Stadium against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Surf Division Champion California Lutheran University on Sept. 5 before squaring off against 2021 National Champion and 21st-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) the following week at Sparks Stadium. The non-league slate concludes in Texas with a showdown at 14th-ranked Trinity University.

That’s three non-conference games that are going to challenge us. We embrace the opportunity to play really good teams in non-conference because it prepares us for the best teams on our schedule in conference play.

Helping build to this moment has been a mantra within the program over the last nine years of leaving things better than you found it.

One of the more powerful things that we talk about is leave it better than you found it. When we go on road trips we bring a broom and a dust pan. This senior class has done a really good job of asking that question ‘how can we leave this program better than we found it?’ and not waiting until halfway through the season when you start to see the end of a career.

They ask that question at the beginning of fall camp and I’ve seen them take initiative to adjust and adapt and improve and grow to develop different parts of the program. That’s honestly been really fun seeing that kind of initiative. Since I started in 2018, we’ve had groups of guys willing to leave the program better than they found it. They’ve improved the performance excellence on the field, improved the service in the community, and the leadership off the field.

Anchoring the team this fall will be a veteran defensive unit led by new defensive coordinator Mike Smith. While new to the DC role, Smith is no stranger to the Lutes, having served as the defensive line coach for the previous three seasons. He replaces Ketner Kupp who departed from the Lutes for a job with the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Under Smith, PLU has produced six All-Conference selections on the D Line and three All-Region performers and helped the Lutes rank sixth nationally in rushing defense in 2024.

Definitely have more depth and more experience coming back on defense. Mike was working right alongside Ketner and our defensive staff (the past three years) so the development and installment of the defense is only going to adjust in terms of personality but the base of the X’s and O’s is going to be similar.

Mike takes a lot of pride in stepping in front of a defense that has done some really good things in league play and going what do we have to do to make this even better and not settle on just being good.

2026 PLU Football Roster

Cole Becker celebrates recovering fumble in PLU's 31-28 homecoming win over Willamette

Headlining the defense is senior Cole Becker. The defensive end from Lake Stevens, Washington was a First Team All-Conference selection last fall and Second Team All-Region 6. He was second in the conference in sacks with 9.5 with 11 tackles for loss (TFLs) resulting in a net loss of 80 yards. He also generated 46 tackles, nine hurries, three pass breakups, and had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Opposite Becker will be speedster Kaden Watts, a sophomore from Spokane’s Shadle Park High School. Watts appeared in a handful of games last fall and was a big star for the track & field team, running the 100-meters and 4x100-meter relay at the 2026 NWC Championships.

Cole is coming off a great year and there’s a lot of eyes on him. Kaden had a great offseason. To have a guy with his frame, his motor, his energy, he’s going to be a problem too. They’re not going to be able to just chip one side and try and slow Cole down because that’s going to leave a one-on-one for Kaden.

Also in the mix at defensive end will be California senior Calvin Cummings and Hawaiian sophomore Connor Nauta.

The interior of the defensive line will feature fifth-year senior Kalaiakea Yap from Lahaina, Hawaii and junior Dawan Johnson from nearby Franklin Pierce High School. Yap appeared in eight games during the 2024 season, recording 17 tackles while Johnson played all 10 games last fall, making 17 tackles with four TFLs.

Kalai is our only fifth year and he’s got a lot of experience playing inside and Dawan is the quiet bowling ball in the middle that is strong. We’ll have the ability to play at the line of scrimmage, gap control, but also be able to move guys and get gap penetration and cause havoc.

I think one of the foundations that we’ve been able to hang our hat on the last couple of years is the way Mike’s developed the d line. We’ve been able to get home with four and be able to play seven man coverage and not have to fabricate pass rush.

The Lutes return all three starting linebackers, including a pair of Second Team All-League selections in Avery Coleman and Jackson Hale. A Stadium High School graduate, Coleman was second on the team in tackles last fall with 68, including 8.5 TFLs, two sacks, and an interception.

A senior from Mount Spokane High School, Hale had similar credentials last fall, boasting 63 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and three sacks.

PLU’s third starter is Cheney, Washington senior Micah Ragaza-Bourassa. Ragaza-Bourassa had 31 tackles last year, including six quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.

That crew will benefit from a strong group behind them in Bellingham, Washington native Landon Downey, Enumclaw, Washington native Mason Taylor-Wells, and Langley, Washington native Ryan Morgan.

I stepped in to coach the linebackers and one of the things Ketner told me on his way out was ‘I don’t know how much more I can teach some of these guys.’ They’re students of the game. Micah and Jackson have almost two seasons of starting under their belt and Avery has a season under his belt. And that’s not including the guys who are their backups right now— Mason, Ryan, and Landon who don’t have as many snaps but they’re ready to be the next man up.

Anchoring the secondary is Second Team All-Conference safety Eli Fernandez. The junior from Sunnyside High School led the team in solo tackles (49), total tackles (86), and interceptions (four) last fall. Kawika Lopez is projected to start in the other safety spot. The junior from Las Vegas, Nevada played nine games last year and racked up 30 tackles.

PLU has plenty of experience at cornerback featuring juniors Will Frank and JJ Miles. A junior from Monroe, Washington and Iglemoor High School, Frank played all 10 games last year with two interceptions and six pass breakups. A Rogers High School graduate in Puyallup, Miles played all 10 games in 2025, making 41 tackles with an interception and four pass breakups.

This is a group we have high expectations for. They took pride in some of the things they did but defensively we gave up a lot of yards in the air last year. This group is going to take that personally and make every attempt to tighten up the backend so our box has a little bit more time to get after the quarterback.

With a bevy of returners, it will be tough for newcomers to crack into the defensive lineup but Stadium High School grad Cruz Nolan at defensive end, Hawaiian defensive back Deegan Anduha, along with Culver-Stockton College transfer Jamil Beleford (linebacker) look to make some noise during the season.

Offensively the Lutes averaged over 400 yards of offense a game last fall and scored over 30 points a game but has to replace three All-Conference offensive linemen in addition to 2025 NWC Offensive Player of the Year Jacob Schuh.

With our offense, it comes down to taking a step forward in quarterback play. 56 percent completion rate is not going to get the job done despite some of the really amazing passing performances we had last year. It’s going to come down to improved quarterback play and making sure our QB’s are comfortable back there.

Last season saw several explosive performances from the offense. Anthony Mahaffey tied a school record with six touchdown passes in a comeback win over Willamette while Schuh set a single game rushing record in a 41-27 thrashing of University of Puget Sound. The duo scored early and often to close the season, a 55-21 win over George Fox.

“The O Line has been the big question mark heading into the season. We knew that last spring going through spring ball. This year the returners have stepped up to the challenge. There’s less first years competing to be in the two deep on offensive line than maybe some other position groups.”

Caleb Rhinelander will lead the front five as the projected starting center. A junior from Honolulu, Hawaii and Punahou School saw action in a majority of games last season.

Hands down (the leader of OL) is Caleb. He’s cerebral and has the best work ethic. After that it’s vocally our seniors— Jacob Brown and Drew Thelen.

Flanking Rhinelander will be Yakima, Washington junior JP Peralta and Sunnyside, Washington junior Santi Casas-Vargas. Tackles look to be junior Trevor Coble from Mountlake Terrace High School and sophomore Shane Swan from University High School in Spokane.

“It’s moving puzzle pieces to see what the best combination of guys is going to be for us to take care of the quarterback, reestablish the line of scrimmage, and establish the run.”

Under center the Lutes return Anthony Mahaffey while bringing in several promising new recruits to the quarterback room.

“Stepping in midseason and going 5-2 is a very good first year performance by Anthony. Through the offseason we’ve continued to challenge him and brought in a quarterback class to create competition.”

Mahaffey was a backup before getting the start in the NWC opener last October. After slinging six TDs in the win over Willamette he closed the year with 1,685 passing yards with 17 touchdowns.

Anthony Mahaffey drops back against Pacific on a day he threw 6 TDs

Among the newcomers is the imposing AJ Tuifua from Damien Memorial High School in Hawaii. At six foot, three inches, the first-year comes after helping the Lions win three ILH D1 titles and tying a single game record with eight touchdowns in a game.

“AJ’s coming from a good program in Hawaii. He had a couple of teammates here, so he had an inside scoop on what our program’s about and the competition level. He’s a guy that has elevated the competition level from day one in that quarterback room.”

Replacing NWC Offensive Player of the Year Jacob Schuh and his 1,105 rushing yards and nine touchdowns won’t be easy but Washtucnia, Washington junior Brock Kinch is up to the task. Kinch made the most of his opportunities last fall, carrying the ball 10 times over five games.

“It’s definitely Brock Kinch at running back. Brock is cut from the same cloth (as Schuh). Jake put in a phenomenal offseason and stacked a couple offseason’s to put in the performance that he did, and Brock has taken that torch and is running with it.”

Behind Kinch will be first-year Darius Sum from nearby Stadium High School in Tacoma.

Darius is a guy that’s made an impact in the running back room right away. He’s incredibly versatile. He’s dynamic taking the ball out of the backfield but also a good route runner. He’s pretty elusive in space, so it’s finding creative ways to find him the ball.

Also figuring into the rotation will be Lakewood, Washington junior Marcus Samia. Samia saw limited carries last year but shined on special teams, averaging 23.3 yards per kick return.

“He’s a guy who was in the backfield last year and then we moved him to slot. We had some good competition at wide receiver so we’ve moved him back into the backfield. I think those three are the frontrunners with a good group of young guys pushing and developing.”

At wide receiver the Lutes return Second Team All-Conference selection Connor Meade. Last season the Silas High School graduate was second on the team in receiving with 34 catches for 592 yards and five touchdowns. Meade was also a spark on special teams, returning both a kick and a punt for touchdowns.

Also back is Dayton Savea who had 451 receiving yards and three touchdowns last year.

Connor Meade carries the ball in PLU's win over Simpson

Connor and Dayton do a phenomenal job of getting open. They’re incredibly proficient in their route running. We also added Linfield transfer Keola Correa. He’s stepped in competitively, but also as a leader. The guys have embraced him and he’s taken that and his college football veteran experience seriously.

The Lutes also expect big things from sophomores Sam Tracy and Keola Correa at the wide receiver position.

“Sam’s a guy that didn’t get any stats last year but he’s a guy that’s probably grown the most. Not just physically, but mentally. He’s changing how he looks at the game and that’s freed him up to play faster and more confidently.”

Back at tight end will be Eatonville, Washington senior Jake Wood. Last year, Wood had nine catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

“Jake has definitely owned that spot and gives us that 11 personnel versatility. KJ Bernett is competing incredibly well. We will be in some unique formations with the benefit of having one or potentially two tight ends to mix up personnel and keep defenses from being comfortable.”

Evan Harvey headlines the special teams unit, returning for another year as the Lutes’ kicker. Last fall, Harvey was a perfect five-for-five on field goals, booting a season-long 34-yarder in the season opener at California Lutheran University. He also connected 31 extra points for the Lutes and shared kickoff duties.

As for punter, the position is wide open this fall. Early signs point to senior Joseph Carini from nearby University Place, Washington but first-years Tristan Diamond and Caleb Moberg are both battling for a chance to handle fourth downs.

We’re still battling out to see who that true No. 1 is but it’s been good having stronger legs and a little more talent in the room.

Special teams is an area you can steal momentum or steal it back. A couple of games, I mean L&C is a good football team, but a couple big special teams breaks for us early on put them in a hole they needed to dig out of.

Connor Meade is back as the Lutes’ return specialist. A Third Team All-Conference selection as a returner, Meade scored touchdowns on both kick and punt returns. He averaged an impressive 15.5 yards per return on punts and 22.7 per return on kickoffs, amassing 496 yards between the two.

“Our guys have done a really good job of embracing the importance of those roles and it’s a chance for some guys to get on a plane if they’re not on the two deep for offense or defense. If they can show some significant value on special teams then they’re traveling with us for in essence, a road non-conference playoff game.”

The Lutes get the benefit of playing two home games to open the season, something the squad hasn’t had the luxury of since playing its opening two games at Sparks Stadium to open the 2006 campaign.

Especially with our academic calendar, making sure our first years are around campus for all of the start of school sessions is great. That’s always a plus and we take a lot of pride in being a part of new student move-in, so having a home game that first weekend, making sure were here on a Friday to welcome all the new students and help them move into the residence halls.

Being at home, especially early on, to have the whole sideline with us is always a big deal.

The 2026 season gets underway on Saturday with the Lutes hosting West Coast rival California Lutheran at 1 p.m. at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

2026 PLU Football Schedule