SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Pacific Lutheran University football team wrapped up its rugged non-conference slate on Saturday evening, holding steady with 12th-ranked Trinity University through the opening 22 minutes before succumbing 24-6 on the road at Trinity Multipurpose Stadium.
Saturday's contest was the second consecutive ranked opponent for the Lutes (1-2) who hosted then No. 19 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) last weekend at Sparks Stadium. Both games the Lutes proved to be more than up for the task but ultimately ran out of gas.
The Lutes and Tigers (3-0) battled to a scoreless opening quarter. Host Trinity got on the board with eight minutes left before halftime, mounting a 19-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard touchdown run. The Tigers mounted another long drive later in the half, marching 71-yards on seven plays to make it 14-0 with just under two minutes before halftime.
Trinity booted a 37-yard field goal midway through the third and added a touchdown later in the third quarter.Â
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The Lutes got on the board with 48 ticks left in the third, covering 67 yards on just two plays. Quarterback
Anthony Mahaffey scrambled 20 yards to the Trinity 47 yard line before throwing the ball to
Darius Sum. Sum scurried down the sidelines before fumbling at the three only to have
Sam Tracy pick it up and score to make it 24-6.Â
Must like the first quarter, neither team was able to score in the fourth as the score held 24-6 in favor of the nationally ranked hosts.  Â
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Mahaffey finished the day with 193 passing yards, hitting six different receivers.
Dayton Savea led the way with five catches, accumulating 55-yards receiving.Â
Mason Taylor-Wells led the Lutes with 15 tackles while
Connor Nauta had 10 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks.
Will Frank had 10 tackles with nine being solo takedowns.Â
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PLU has a bye week next Saturday before opening Northwest Conference action on Oct. 3 in Salem, Oregon against Willamette University. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.Â
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