SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University opened the 2023 football campaign with a 52-0 exhibition win over visiting Pacific Northwest Christian College on Saturday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.
The Pirates will play their first counting game of the season next Saturday at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande, Oregon.
Whitworth limited PNCC, a private two-year school located in Kennewick, to 65 yards of total offense. The Gladiators finished with -9 rushing yards, which included three sacks for 27 yards and two bad snaps on fumbles. PNCC advanced the ball into Whitworth territory only once, on a possession that spanned the third and fourth quarters. But a holding penalty and sack moved the ball back to the Gladiator's 40 before they had to punt.
The Pirates started slowly offensively, but finished with 410 total yards, split nearly evenly between rushing (233) and passing (177). After scoring a touchdown on their first drive, the Pirates lost the ball on downs and were limited to a field goal on their next two possessions.
But Whitworth broke away by scoring touchdowns on all three possessions in the second quarter for a 31-0 halftime lead.
Eleven different players carried the ball on offense for the Bucs and six of them scored touchdowns. Luis Salgado carried only once and scored Whitworth's first touchdown from 24 yards out. Isaiah Jones ran eight times for 50 yards, while Kurt Solano carried eight times for 45 yards. Both had a touchdown. Luke Roberts, Manuel Parada and Nathan Owens also scored rushing touchdowns. The Pirates averaged 5.7 yards per carry.
Five players got snaps at quarterback and four threw passes. Ryan Blair, the second Pirate who lined up under center, completed 7 of 10 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown, a 45-yard strike to Evan Liggett in the second quarter. Starter Austin Ewing completed 2 of 8 passes for 23 yards. Renat Mamikonyan Jr. (5-8, 43 yards) and Noah Stifle (1-2, 12 yards) also threw passes for the Bucs.
Liggett led 11 different Pirates to make a pass reception. He had three for 70 yards and the one score. Michael Workman (3 receptions, 28 yards) was the only other receiver with more than one catch.
Iden Bone made a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Thirty-four Pirates made tackles as Whitworth played every healthy player on that side of the ball. Lucas Reynolds led the team with four tackles, including two sacks for 22 yards.
Neither team turned the ball over.
PNCC starting quarterback Easton Wisehyde completed 10 of 18 passes for 74 yards. Levi Taylor caught four of those passes.
