FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Pacific jumped out to a quick lead and used a strong running game to ground out a 29-15 win over visiting Whitworth in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium.

The Boxers (1-2 overall, 1-0 NWC) opened up a 22-3 lead and ran for 327 yards to pick up their first win of the season.  The Pirates dropped their second straight contest to fall to 3-2, 1-1.

Bobby Ladiges ran for 138 yards and one touchdown, while Kamana Pimental rushed for 122 yards and two scores to lead Pacific's ground game, which helped the Boxers build a 41:50 – 18:10 advantage in time of possession.

Bryan Peterson completed 24 of 40 passes for 260 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.   He was sacked three times for 24 yards and committed two fumbles.  Connor Williams was one of three Pirates to catch five of Peterson's passes, for 88 yards and the only Whitworth touchdown.  Whitworth finished with a net of 19 yards rushing in the game.

"Hats off to Pacific today," said Whitworth head coach Rod Sandberg.  "They played a great game and got a off to a fast start and were very physical.  It felt like we were in a hole all game and just couldn't climb out.  It is tough to climb out when you can't run the ball and your opponent can.  And it is tough to win when you are minus two in turnover margin."

Michael Zeng was 3-3 on field goal attempts to account for nine of Whitworth's points.

The Boxers scored on their opening possession when Bobby Ladiges carried in from three yards away.  He picked up 55 yards on three runs during that drive, which was capped by a two-point conversion when Ian Escutia passed to Jack Perez on a trick PAT.

Whitworth moved efficiently on its first possession as Peterson completed all four of his passes to get the Pirates a first-and-goal on the Pacific nine yard line.  But on third down at the Boxers' four Peterson fumbled and Pacific recovered the ball.

Pimental's 13-yard run gave the Boxers a 15-0 lead early in the second quarter, capping a 92-yard drive.  Whitworth finally got on the board with Zeng's first field goal, from 31 yards away, to pull the Pirates within 15-3.

Pacific scored again with 32 seconds left in the opening half when Warner Shaw completed a ten-yard scoring pass to Caleb Roher, giving the Boxers a 22-3 lead.

But Whitworth gained a measure of momentum when back-up QB Michael McCune relieved a battered Peterson and completed 2-4 passes for 39 yard to set up Zeng's 38 yard field goal as time expired, pulling the Pirates within 22-6 at the break.

Whitworth carried that momentum out of the locker rooms.  De' Hall returned the opening kickoff 38 yards to near midfield.  Peterson then completed passes of 32 yards and 20 yards to Williams to get the Pirates into the endzone for the first time.  Whitworth trailed 22-12 after a two-point conversion failed.

But Pacific returned to its ground game to regain momentum.  The Boxers answered with a 41-yard touchdown run by Pimental on their next possession to open a 29-12 lead.

Whitworth moved the ball back down the field and had first down just inside the Pacific 20-yard line on the next drive.  But three straight incomplete passes led to Zeng's final field goal of the day, from 35 yards away late in the third quarter.

Then the Boxers' defense tightened up and did not allow the Pirates back into Pacific territory for the rest of the game.  And the Boxers continued to own the clock with the efficient ground game, using 10:55 of the fourth quarter on offense.

"It was a tough loss and we will find out a lot about ourselves this week," Sandberg concluded.  "I told our team after the game that we have two choices: we either fight or quit.  I believe they will show up Monday and get back to work."

Pacific finished with an overall edge of 532-318 in total offense.  Shaw completed 20 of 26 passes for 205 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Paul Miller had 12 tackles to lead the Whitworth defense and Kelvin Mackey had ten stops.  Nic Bockhoff and John-Robert Wolley each had nine stops.

Avery Richardson had a big game for the Pacific defense, finishing with three tackles for loss among his eight total tackles.

Whitworth returns to host Willamette University next Saturday during Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend.