FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Luis Salgado ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns to lead visiting Whitworth to a 28-17 win over Pacific (Ore.) to spoil Senior Day festivities for the Boxers.
By avenging last season's loss to Pacific (4-4 overall, 3-3 NWC), the Pirates (6-3, 4-2) clinched their ninth straight winning season under head coach Rod Sandberg, extending the longest streak of winning campaigns in school history.
Salgado set the tone early, taking his first carry 39 yards for a touchdown on Whitworth's third play from scrimmage. That scored capped a three-play, 58-yard drive set up by Jarvis Natividad's 39-yard kickoff return.
Pacific answered with a 13-play, 60-yard possession that took over six minutes. After the Boxers had first and goal at Whitworth's eight-yard line, the Pirate defense stiffened and forced a 23-yard field goal.
Whitworth went right back down the field on its next drive, going 75 yards in 11 plays. Logan Kitselman took a direct snap and scored from six yards away. Earlier in the drive, Jaedyn Prewitt completed a 15-yard pass to Dillon Kuk on third and 11.
Neither team scored in the second quarter. Pacific had another first and goal from the Pirate seven, but did not score. The Boxers attempted a fake field goal from the seven and Whitworth stopped kicker Caden Almer short of the goal line at the one-yard line.
Pacific turned the tables on the Pirates in the third. After Whitworth went 67 yards and had fourth and three at the Boxers' five-yard line, Pacific held on fourth down. The Boxers used the momentum to move 95 yards in 11 plays, scoring on Ryan Helt's 34-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Vargas on fourth and eight to pull the hosts to within 14-10.
Whitworth responded by moving 88 yards in eight plays, capped by Salgado's second touchdown run of the game from 18 yards away. Prewitt completed a 12-yard pass to Solo Hines and third and seven earlier in the drive.
The Pirates went ahead 28-10 midway through the fourth quarter when Prewitt hit Peloquin on an 11-yard touchdown pass to finish off a seven-play, 71-yard drive.
Whitworth's defense essentially put the game away when JT Munoz sacked Helt on third down to force a fourth and 22 from the Boxers' 38-yard line, and the next pass ended up 11 yards short of a first down.
Pacific added a final touchdown when Helt escaped pressure and hit a streaking Jaden Ramos for a 69-yard score with 2:19 to play. The ensuing on-sides kick rolled out of bounds after a scramble for the ball and Whitworth ran out the clock.
Salgado averaged 6.4 yards per carry for his career high rushing total. Thanks to three sacks of Prewitt for a total of 22 yards, Whitworth did not reach 100 yards rushing as a team and ended with 95.
Prewitt completed 21 of 30 passes for 288 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Peloquin led the team with five catches for 73 yards, including the score. Prewitt and the Pirates were effective attacking the edges with passes to the running backs. Salgado had three catches for 41 yards and Hines had three for 23 yards.
Dylan Ventress had another big game, leading the team with 12 tackles. Whitworth finished with four sacks. The Pirate defense limited Pacific's potent running game to 45 net yards after the Boxers came in averaging more than 170 per contest.
Helt completed 18 of 29 passes for 293 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Kai Bookland caught seven passes for 87 yards.
Whitworth will close its season by hosting George Fox next Saturday during the Pirates' own Senior Day celebration.
