SPOKANE, Wash. – Despite watching a 28-7 second-half lead disappear after visiting Lewis & Clark scored 28 straight points, Whitworth still had a chance to win before the River Otters came away with a thrilling 43-41 win in triple overtime on Saturday in the Pine Bowl.
The Pirates (3-3 overall, 2-2 NWC) will look to end their first losing skid since 2022 when they visit Pacific Lutheran (3-4, 2-2) next Saturday. L&C (6-1, 4-0 NWC) set up a Northwest Conference showdown next Saturday when the River Otters host Linfield (5-1, 4-0) with a championship on the line.
L&C came into the game with the league's most high-powered offense, but it was the Otters' defense that scored their only points of the first half. Whitworth had stopped L&C's opening possesion on fourth down at the Pirates' five-yard line. Two plays later QB Logan Lacio was pressured into a wild throw toward the flat and linebacker Owen Panu intercepted at the one-yard line and took two steps forward for the touchdown.
Whitworth was then held at L&C's two-yard line after a long drive, but the Pirates' defense forced a quick punt, allowing the offense to take over at the Otters' 39. Seven plays later Kurt Solano scored on a two-yard run to tie the game.
Whitworth linebacker Drew Cody had a huge second quarter, stopping L&C on fourth down runs on consecutive possessions. After each one the Pirates scored. First was a 69-yard bomb from Lacio to Tyson Hoke and the second was a ten-yard pass to Keagan Lime that gave the Bucs a 21-7 lead at halftime.
Whitworth took the opening possession of the second half 75 yards in ten plays, scoring on Lacio's eight-yard pass to Deacon Dietz to put the Pirates ahead by three touchdowns.
Then the L&C offense woke up. QB Sam Simril threw four touchdown passes on four consecutive possessions, two each to TE Julis Walker (19 and 10 yards) and WR Sytyn Lasconia (both 11 yards). The final TD came with only 1:48 left in the game and gave the River Otters a 35-28 lead.
Meanwhile Whitworth had gone three straight possessions without points and with only one first down. But the Pirates calmly moved down the field and scored the tying touchdown with 20 seconds left in regulation when Lacio hit Hoke with their second scoring connection of the game.
Neither team scored on its opening possession of overtime. Lacio was strip sacked by Jordan Perez, who recovered the fumble. Then the first snap to Simril went over his head for a 13-yard loss and L&C was held on downs.
In the second OT, the River Otters scored first when Simril found Rio Cruz for a touchdown on third and goal from the ten. Required to go for two, Wyatt Hess broke up the conversion attempt.
Lacio then directed a score for the Pirates, tossing a two-yard pass to Chris Gustafson that tied the game. Lacio's run attempt on the conversion try was stopped short, keeping the game tied.
By the third OT, both teams were required to set up for two-point conversions at the three. Whitworth was called for a false start before the play and moved back to the eight-yard line. A pass over the middle was broken up. Simril then hit tight end Dante Washington with the winning conversion, setting off a celebration for L&C in the endzone.
The final stats were nearly as even as the final score. The River Otters had slight advantages in total offense (513-498) and first downs (25-24). The difference may have been two turnovers by the Pirates and none by L&C.
Lacio completed 40 of 51 passes for 475 yards, a career-high. He had five touchdowns with the one interception and was sacked twice. Lime caught nine passes for 151 yards, both career-bests. Dietz had eight catches for 91 yards, while Hoke made seven grabs for 115 yards. Whitworth was held to a net of 23 rushing yards. Solano finished with 20 yards on nine carries.
Simril went 34 of 51 for 437 yards with five touchdowns. Lasconia, last week's NWC Offensive Player of the Week, caught 11 passes for 194 yards, while Walker caught eight for 140 yards.
Cody, the NWC's leading tackler, had ten stops, including two for loss. Ryen Borchers and Collin Campbell made six stops each.
