SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth Pirates opened Northwest Conference play with a 41-6 win over visiting Pacific University on Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Pine Bowl.
The Pirates (2-1 overall, 1-0 NWC), controlled the game from the opening moments, outgaining the Boxers (0-4, 0-1) 442-107 and holding a 38:26-21:34 advantage in time of possession.
Quarterback Logan Lacio completed 24 of 28 passes for 270 yards with four touchdown passes and no interceptions. Lacio spread the ball around to 10 different players.
Whitworth's offense actually started slowly, settling for a 48-yard field goal by Iden Bone on it's first possession. The Pirates finally got in the endzone on a seven-yard pass from Lacio to tight end Nate Peterson with seven seconds left in the opening quarter, capping a 58-yard drive.
The Bucs did not score again until Bone drilled a 55-yard field goal on the final play of the first half for a 13-10 lead at the break. It was the longest of his career and just short of the school record 59-yard effort set by Ric Pearson in 1982.
Pacific had 44 yards of total offense in the first half, including only two yards in the second quarter.
Whitworth took the opening drive of the second half 87 yards for its second touchdown. Lacio hit a streaking Drake Matthies for a 40-yard score.
After forcing a quick fourth down, a bobbled snap on a punt allowed the Pirates to take over at Pacific's two-yard line. One play later Kurt Solano ran for a score to increase the lead to 27-0 only six minutes into the second half.
The Boxers scored their only touchdown when Whitworth failed to convert a pass on a fake punt after the Pirates had 4th and 7 at their own 23 yard line. Five plays later Carson Mullins ran in from one yard to get Pacific on the board. A two-point pass attempt failed.
Whitworth drove right back down the field and scored on a five-yard pass from Lacio to Matthew Ehler to complete a 78-yard possession. Deacon Dietz caught a 23-yard touchdown pass with 4:40 to play to cap the scoring.
Dietz and Ehler each had four receptions. Dietz had 79 yards receiving while Ehler had 32 yards. Solano had his best day rushing as a Pirate. The senior ran for 90 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.
Because Whitworth was able to shut down Pacific's running game, the Boxers were forced to try and complete short passes to the outside. Reagan Nicanor completed 18 of 31 attempts for 119 yards with one interception. Riley Camarillo caught six passes for 50 yards.
That also meant Pirate corner backs Omari Williams and Kade Long led the team in tackles with seven and six, respectively. Maddox Suitonu had the game's only interception and Mason Toomalatai picked up his first sack of the season. The Whitworth defense held Pacific to -12 yards rushing on 20 attempts.
The Pirates will look for a 2-0 start to conference play when they go to George Fox next Saturday.
