LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon limited visiting Whitworth to 174 yards of total offense to defeat the Pirates 16-10 on Saturday in a non-conference football game at Community Stadium.
The NAIA-member Mountaineers (1-1) ended a three-game losing stream to the NCAA Div. III #24 Pirates (1-1). Whitworth will try to bounce back next Saturday against the University of Redlands on Military Appreciation Day at the Pine Bowl.
After holding Whitworth on 4th and 1 at the Pirates' 34 on the game's opening possession, EOU took nine plays to go those 34 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Elia Kirisimasi carried in from one yard away to cap the drive.
The Pirates got on the board late in the first when Iden Bone converted a 47-yard field goal, a new career-long, to finish off a 9-play, 53-yard possession.
Eastern's Ethan Cutler made the first of his three field goals with 2:35 left in the first half, connecting from 38 yards away.
Whitworth tried to snag momentum by converting an on-sides kick to open the second half. But an intentional grounding penalty killed the possession. The Pirates did appear to get the offense on track midway through the third, going 68 yards in 11 plays. Quarterback Logan Lacio completed three third down passes to keep the drive alive, including a 14-yard completion to Deacon Dietz that gave the Bucs first and goal at the two-yard line. Luis Salgado scored one play later to tie the game 10-10.
EOU answered with a 68-yard drive of its own that finished with Cutler's 24-yard field goal after Whitworth's defense stiffened when the Mountaineers had first down at the 11-yard line. Cutler's third field goal, from 34-yards away, came with 10:53 left to give EOU its final margin.
The Pirates had one more strong drive, converting a third and seven at their own 45 with an 11-yard pass to Dietz and eventually getting to the EOU 12-yard line thanks to a 21-yard completion to Dawson Tobeck. But a sack on third down forced a field goal attempt from 35 yards that missed wide right.
Trailing by six, Whitworth's defense forced the Mountaineers to punt from their own 41 with 1:49 to play. The punt was fumbled at the five-yard line and EOU recovered, allowing the Mountaineers to kneel down three times and seal the win.
Lacio completed 25 of 33 passes for 160 yards. He was sacked three times. Dietz caught a career-high seven passes for 77 yards. Salgado was limited to 20 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Drew Cody led the Pirates' defensive effort with 13 tackles, including one for loss. Trey Rose added nine stops and Lane Watkins got Whitworth's only sack. The Bucs were not able to force a single EOU turnover.
Kirisimasi completed 16 of 24 passes for 109 yards in a Mounties offense that attacked wide rather than downfield. He ran 16 times for 65 yards and EOU's only touchdown. EOU had 252 yards of total offense.
