SPOKANE, Wash. – Luis Salgado ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns to lead Whitworth to a 40-16 win over visiting George Fox in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.
The Pirates (3-2 overall, 2-0 NWC) celebrated a Homecoming win, thanks in part to a solid performance from backup quarterback Renat Mamikonyan Jr.
After holding the Bruins (0-4, 0-2) three and out on the game's opening possession, Whitworth went 73 yards in 14 plays to score the game's first touchdown. Salgado did most of the work before Logan Lacio hit Deacon Dietz on a quick slant for a nine-yard touchdown pass.
Whitworth scored again on its second possession when Lacio found Caleb Northcroft on a similar pattern from four yards out to complete a 51-yard drive. But Lacio took a hard hit on the next possession and it took the Pirates a while to adjust offensively to Mamikanyan at QB.
Late in the second George Fox got on the board when JJ Lemon connected with Karson Denault for a 29-yard touchdown pass to complete a 91-yard drive. Drew Cody blocked the PAT and Omari Williams returned the ball 98 yards for a two-point defensive conversion, keeping the Pirates ahead by two scores (16-6).
Lacio was able to return for one more possession and directed Whitworth on a 57-yard drive that ended with Salgado's 13-yard touchdown run, giving Whitworth a 23-6 lead. But GFU answered with a 42-yard field goal by Ben Rembisz as time expired in the first half to get the Bruins within 23-9.
Whitworth scored on the opening possession of the second half when Salgado broke away for a 41-yard score after it looked like he was stopped at the line of scrimmage.
On the Bruins' next play Leman threw over the middle to Denault who caught the ball over his shoulder near midfield and outran the Pirate defense for a 75-yard touchdown pass, making the score 30-16.
The Whitworth defense shut out George Fox the rest of the way. Meanwhile Mamikanyan directed a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter. The first ended with Iden Bone's 19-yard field goal after the Pirates had first and goal. Mamikanyan recovered a fumbled handoff to preserve the scoring opportunity.
After the Bruins were stopped on fourth down at their own 30-yard line, Mamikanyan hit Dietz for a six-yard score with 4:38 to play in the game for his first career touchdown pass.
Whitworth outgained George Fox 404-315. Lacio completed 14 of 19 passes for 125 yards and two scores as the starter. Mamikanyan completed 11 of 15 for 130 yards with one score as the backup. Neither threw and interception.
Dietz had his best receiving game as a Pirate with four catches for 69 yards and two scores. Northcroft also caught four passes for 27 yards with one touchdown.
Cody led the Whitworth defense with nine tackles, while Trey Rose had eight stops. Nathan Hummel had the Pirates' only sack and Wyatt Hess picked off his second pass of the season.
Leman completed 23 of 45 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Denault caught three passes for 150 yards and two scores.
Whitworth will hit the road to play at Linfield next Saturday.
