SPOKANE, Wash. – Visiting George Fox got big plays and did little things well to knock off Whitworth 28-14 in the Northwest Conference football season finale for both schools on a biting cold Saturday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.
Brothers Haden and Kiegan Schaan both had big games to help the Bruins finish 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the NWC, tied for second place in the standings with PLU. They won eight games for the first time in school history. The Pirates finish 6-4, 4-3 and tied for fourth place with Pacific (Ore.).
George Fox outscored Whitworth 14-7 in each half, in part because the Bruins converted key third downs and held the Pirates to 2-12 on third down attempts.
The first quarter was scoreless, despite the fact that the Pirates recovered a fumbled punt at the Bruins' 24-yard line. Whitworth could not gain a first down and a 34-yard field goal attempt missed just to the left.
GFU scored early in the second when Taylor Saben ran in from three yards away for the game's first touchdown. Haden Schaan set up that score with a 70-yard completion to Logan Klopfenstein on third and ten two plays earlier.
Kiegan Schaan intercepted Whitworth QB Jaedyn Prewitt on the Pirates' next play at the 30 and returned the ball to the Whitworth four-yard line. One play later Haden Schaan hit Leon Johnson III for a four-yard touchdown pass and a sudden 14-0 lead.
The Pirate offense finally found rhythm at the end of the first half. Taking over on its own nine-yard line, Whitworth went 91 yards in 11 plays, scoring on Logan Kitselman's two-yard run with 12 seconds to play in the second quarter.
The Pirates appeared poised to tie the game at the start of the second half after forcing a fumble at midfield. Derrick Platt forced and recovered the fumble for the Bucs. Whitworth had first and ten at the GFU 12 before a sack and penalty moved the Pirates back 12 yards. Kiegan Schaan then blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt by Alvaro Campos-Ontiveros to hold the seven-point advantage.
The Bruins used that momentum to go 85 yards in nine plays, set up by a 59-yard connection from Haden Schaan to Dillan Dobbins to the Whitworth 18. Three plays later Schaan connected with Gabe Johnson for 12 yards on third and ten. Saban scored his second touchdown of the game on fourth and goal at the Whitworth two-yard line to increase the lead to 21-7.
Whitworth responded on its next possession, set up by a 39-yard kickoff return from Jarvis Natividad. On third and nine at the GFU 24, Prewitt rolled left away from pressure and found Evan Liggett in the endzone for a touchdown.
The Bruins answered immediately to rebuild a two-touchdown lead. On third and four at the Whitworth 42-yard line Schaan threw short to Saben on a screen pass after eluding pressure and Saben weaved his way for a touchdown to cap an 81-yard drive.
Whitworth's next two possessions ended with unconverted fourth down attempts in George Fox territory, the first at the Bruins' 18 with 9:06 left and the second at the 36 with 5:51 to go. Whitworth's final possession started on its own one-yard line with 2:53 to play and the Bucs got to their 12 before four straight incomplete passes led to another turnover on downs with 1:45 to go in the game.
Prewitt completed 33 of 54 passes for 316 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Isaac Fields caught nine passes for 100 yards, while Riley Morrison had eight grabs for 51 yards. Whitworth's running game never got untracked, finishing with 32 yards on 18 carries.
Patrick Serrano, Jacob Hogger and Colton Chelin each had seven tackles to lead the defense. Whitworth did not get an interception, but recovered three fumbles. None led to points.
Haden Schaan completed 25 of 32 passed for 334 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Johnson III caught six passes for 23 yards. Dobbins had four for 98. Saban finished with 165 all-purpose yards (63 rushing, 61 receiving, 41 returns) and three touchdowns.
Kiegan Schaan had six tackles, an interception, two other passes defended and a blocked field goal for the GFU defense.
George Fox won two in a row over the Pirates for the second time in school history.
