/seasons/2020/contrib/20210220kcmneo

Pirates Pull Away Late to Top PLU

PUYALLUP, Wash. – Whitworth University scored a pair of late touchdowns to pull away from Pacific Lutheran 28-10 in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday afternoon at Sparks Stadium. 

Jaeden Prewitt completed 18 of 28 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and ran 29 yards and another score to lead the Pirates (2-0), while Ethen Peloquin caught two more touchdown passes.  Jaylen Gonzales led the defense with 13 tackles and two pass deflections.

Whitworth (2-0) finished with 367 yards of offense while PLU (0-2) tallied 290 yards.  Each team turned the ball over one time.

The Pirates got on the board midway through the second quarter when Prewitt completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Peloquin on fourth down to complete a 59-yard drive.

Whitworth made it 14-0 with just over three minutes to play in the half when Braydon Corona scored from one yard out to cap a 56-yard possession. 

The Lutes were able to get on the scoreboard just before halftime on Pelyton Hilliard's 37-yard field goal with two seconds to go, capping a drive that started on the Lutes' own three-yard line.

Both offenses struggled to find consistency in the third quarter.  Whitworth drove to the PLU 11, but lost possession on a fumble.

After the Pirates pinned PLU at the three yard line, but Lutes went 97 yards to score their only touchdown in the final seconds of the third quarter.  On fourth and one at the Whitworth 47 yard line, quarterback Erik Bainter kept the ball and raced untouched for a touchdown.

Whitworth answered right away to shut down PLU's hopes of a comeback, going 70 yards on 11 plays.  On fourth and 10 at the PLU 30 yardline, Prewitt threw for an open Peloquin in the endzone.  The ball was slightly underthrown and deflected by a defensive back, but Peloquin was able to grab the deflection for a score.

The Pirates put the game completely out of reach with under a minute to play when Prewitt ran almost the same play the Lutes did for their touchdown, scoring on a 29-yard run.

Corona ran for 60 yards on 21 carries, while Isaiah Jones picked up 48 yards on ten attempts.  Peloquin, who now has four touchdown receptions this season, finished with five catches for 66 yards.  Jerusalem To'oto'o also had five grabs for 51 yards. 

RudyJay Keopuhiwa had Whitworth's only sack, but defensive end Mason Bertelli broke up three passes at the line of scrimmage.  Parker Shaw picked up his first career interception in the first half.

Kellen Kranc, who started at QB for PLU, complete 16 of 38 passes for 173 yards with an interception.  Bainter was 1-5 for five yards, but ran for 72 yards and a score on six carries.  Whitworth limited All-NWC running back Cody Brown to 19 yards on 12 carries. 

Whitworth will take a week off before traveling to play at Puget Sound on March 6.

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
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