SALEM, Ore. – Whitworth scored three defensive touchdowns and one special teams touchdown on the way to a 59-7 win over Willamette in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday at Ted McCulloch Stadium.

The Pirates (4-0 overall, 2-0 NWC) stayed unbeaten while the Bearcats dropped to 1-4, 0-2.

Austin Ewing completed 15 of 19 passes for 298 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.  Dillon Kuk caught four passes for 190 yards and two scores. 

The Pirates scored on their first drive of the game, going 80 yards in only five plays, including a 75-yard completion from Ewing to Kuk that set up the Bucs with a first down at the two-yard line.  Luis Salgado punched in from there on third down.

Whitworth made it 14-0 on a 34-yard completion from Ewing to Kuk to cap a 67-yard drive. 

Willamette scored its only touchdown of the game when quarterback Micah Ho'Omanawanui ran in from six yards away early in the second quarter to finish off a 12-play, 72-yard drive, the Bearcats' only extended drive of the game

Iden Bone's 22-yard field goal was set up by a Lucas Reynolds strip sack that was recovered by Dillon Owen at the Willamette 18-yard line.  On the very next possession, JT Munoz sacked Ho'Omanawanui at the Bearcats' 14-yard line and Dylan Ventress scooped and scored for a 24-7 lead at halftime.  Whitworth scored on a defensive fumble return for the second game in a row.

But the Pirate defense wasn't done.  On Willamette's first drive of the second half, Atticus Templeton forced a fumble by Bearcat ball carrier Gabriel Herrera, picked up the ball and raced 42 yards for a score.

Whitworth scored two more-conventional touchdowns later in the third.  Ewing completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Sheley for a 38-7 lead.  Then Ewing connected with Kuk for another score, this time for 68 yards to finish off a 90-yard drive.

On Willamette's first drive of the fourth quarter, Nathan Owens blocked a punt and recovered the block, going 30 yards for a touchdown.  Only 20 seconds later, Omari Williams picked off a pass and went 25 yards to the endzone for the final Pirate score.

The Pirates outgained the Bearcats 409-208 and had a 4-1 edge in turnovers, all of which turned into points.  With so many turnovers, Willamette actually had the ball for ten more minutes of possession than Whitworth.

The Bucs struggled somewhat on the ground as Salgado and Solo Hines were limited to a combined 51 yards on 14 carries.

Ho'Omanawanui completed 8 of 19 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns for the Bearcats.  Max Grizzell threw the lone interception.  Herrera ran for 72 yards on 24 carries.

Zach Loveless led the defense with 11 tackles, while Zach Brooks had seven stops.  Ryan Kinney had six tackles and two pass break ups.  Templeton had six tackles to go with his fumble return.

Whitworth will return home to host Puget Sound next Saturday during Homecoming weekend.