CLAREMONT, Calif. – Ethan Peloquin caught a pair of touchdown passes to help visiting Whitworth build a 31-0 lead in the second half on the way to a 31-15 win at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a non-conference Division III football game on Saturday.
The Pirates (3-0) dominated the first 40 minutes of the game to hand the Stags (2-1) their first loss of the season.
Whitworth led 24-0 at halftime and CMS was fortunate it was that close.
The Pirates scored on their first possession when Jerusalem To'oto'o caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jaedyn Prewitt to complete a 34-yard drive, which was set up by Cameron Sheley's 59-yard kickoff return.
The Bucs made it 14-0 late in the first quarter when Prewitt found Peloquin open in the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown pass to cap a 61-yard drive.
After stopping a fake punt by CMS, the Pirates had a chance for a third touchdown of the first quarter, but lost a fumble at the Stags' two-yard line.
CMS moved out of the shadow of its own goal line before punting. The punt was downed at Whitworth's one, but the Pirates drove 76 yards in 17 plays before Nate RaPue kicked a 39-yard field goal, his longest of the season.
Whitworth converted a CMS fumble into its final touchdown of the first half when Caleb Christensen threw a 13-yard pass to Peloquin with 2:36 to go in the second. Christensen had a chance for a second TD pass in the second quarter, but he was intercepted in the Stags' endzone.
After forcing a quick three-and-out on the first CMS possession of the second half, Whitworth went 61 yards in only four plays to score on Prewitt's two-yard run. The score was set up by a 50-yard rush from Solomon Hines.
CMS scored once late in the third quarter and again late in the fourth. Anderson Cynkar caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Holden Thomas for the first score and Jacob Fenton ran in from 13 yards for the second touchdown, which was followed by a two-point conversion.
Whitworth outgained CMS 408-351, including a 140-91 edge in rushing yards.
Prewitt completed 17 of 28 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Christensen went 6 of 10 for 68 yards with one score and one interception during his work in the second quarter. Peloquin caught six passes for 74 yards and two scores. To'oto'o finished with four grabs for 50 yards and a touchdown. Hines ran for 98 yards on 15 carries (6.5 ypc).
Thomas completed 23 of 53 passes for 260 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Cynkar caught eight of those passes for 64 yards. Fenton led the Stags' ground game with 45 yards on eight carries.
Jacob Hogger picked off his third pass of the season for the Pirates, while Parker Shaw grabbed his second pick. Bryce Hornbeck intercepted a pass late in the game. Patrick Serrano led Whitworth with nine tackles, while Jaylen Gonzales had eight stops.
Whitworth will get a week off before opening its Northwest Conference schedule on October 2nd at home against Lewis & Clark College.
