Jones Runs for School Record 350 yards, but Pirates Defeat Bearcats

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University senior running back Dylan Jones (Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS) rushed 30 times for a school record 350 yards and scored three touchdowns, but Whitworth University defeated the Bearcats in a high-scoring battle, 61-45, at the Pine Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 11.

With the victory, Whitworth improved to 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the NWC.

Jones broke the old Willamette single game rushing record of 275 yards, set by Dan Mahle against Whitman College on Nov. 14, 1970. The record fell to Jones on a 6-yard carry on 2nd-and-10 at the Whitworth 40-yard line late in the third quarter. That run gave him 280 yards on his first 21 carries of the game.

He ran for an additional 50 yards before the game ended. Jones has rushed for 776 yards this season and has gained 2,034 rushing yards in his career.

"Dylan had a huge game for us today," Willamette Head Coach Glen Fowles said. "His 350 yards set a school record, and I couldn't be happier for him. He is one of our offensive leaders, and today, when his opportunity came, he took full advantage of it."

The first two touchdowns by Jones were earned in the first half on a 67-yard run on the Bearcats' second possession of the game and on a 75-yard run with 11:36 left in the second quarter. Jones registered his final touchdown on a 4-yard run with 14:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Willamette rushed for 398 yards overall and finished the game with 669 yards of offense. Whitworth passed for 395 yards and gained 556 yards overall.

The Pirates' quarterback, Bryan Peterson, was 43 of 68 passing for 389 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. Connor Williams caught 15 passes for 163 yards and scored three touchdowns for Whitworth on catches of 4 yards, 7 yards and 23 yards. Running back Duke Degaetano rushed 27 times for 141 yards and three scores.

Whitworth answered quickly after Jones scored the game's first touchdown. On the kickoff following the extra point, Brett Moser returned the ball 94 yards for a touchdown. Michael Zeng kicked the conversion to tie the game, 7-7.

The Bearcats moved back in front just over a minute later when Ryan Foote (Jr., WR, Sherwood, OR/Valley Catholic HS/Allan Hancock JC) hauled in a 14-yard pass from Trent Spallas (So., QB, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) to complete a 5-play, 55-yard drive with 11:19 left in the quarter. Conner Mertens (Fr., PK/P, Kennewick, WA/Southridge HS) kicked the PAT.

Whitworth scored the next three touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead into the second quarter. Drew Clausen allowed the Pirates to tie the score with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Peterson at the 6:26 mark. On Whitworth's next possession, Peterson was picked off by Damian Jackson (So., DB, Puyallup, WA/Rogers HS) at the Bearcats' 9-yard line.

Daniel Portillo of the Pirates forced a fumble by Zack Moore (So., WR/QB, Atherton, CA/Menlo-Atherton HS) on the next play. Danny Welstad recovered the ball for Whitworth at the 4-yard line. The Pirates scored two plays later on a 2-yard run by Degaetano.

The final touchdown of the opening period was scored by Degaetano on a 1-yard run with 28 seconds on the clock.

Willamette rallied to tie the game at 28-28 in the second quarter. Beau Smith (Sr., WR, Roseville, CA/Roseville HS) caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Spallas with 13:21 remaining in the half, and Jones scored on his 75-yard run less than two minutes later with 11:36 on the clock. Mertens kicked both extra points to tie the score.

The Pirates drove 65 yards on 12 plays after Jones scored, but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Zeng for a 31-28 lead. When Whitworth got the ball again, the Pirates drove from their own 44-yard line and eventually scored on a 4-yard pass to Williams.

A fumble on the kickoff returned the ball to Whitworth, but Wendell Galvan (Sr., CB, Bothell, WA/Bothell HS) of Willamette picked off Peterson two plays later at the Bearcats' 11-yard line.

Four plays after the turnover, the Pirates took over at the Willamette 14-yard line. A holding penalty hurt Whitworth on 3rd-and-12 and the Pirates ultimately settled for another field goal by Zeng, who put the ball through the uprights from 33 yards with 1:24 left in the half.

It took Willamette just three plays to respond with a touchdown. Foote recorded the score on a 64-yard pass from Spallas. WU trailed 41-35 at halftime.

The Pirates drove 75 yards in 10 plays to open the second half. Williams brought in a 7-yard pass from Peterson on 3rd-and-goal to complete the drive. Zeng's extra point attempt was blocked by Galvan, leaving Whitworth with a 47-35 lead.

Willamette cut the margin to 47-38 when Mertens tacked on a 23-yard field goal to complete a 14-play, 54-yard drive with 9:24 left in the third quarter.

Late in the quarter, with 2:51 on the clock, Willamette started a scoring drive at its own 18-yard line. Jones crossed the goal line on a 4-yard run 12 plays later and Mertens kicked the PAT to cut the Pirates' advantage to 47-45. A key play on the drive was a 9-yard carry by Spallas on 4th-and-2 at the Whitworth 32.

The Bearcats never scored again, while Whitworth added two more touchdowns. Williams grabbed a 23-yard scoring strike with 7:41 left, and Degaetano scored on a 20-yard run with 3:13 to go.

Spallas completed 18 of 38 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns for Willamette. Foote caught seven passes for 131 yards, while Smith hauled in four passes for 83 yards.

Galvan led the Willamette defense by earning 14 tackles -- all unassisted -- while also intercepting a pass, blocking an extra point and breaking up two passes. Jack Nelson (Sr., ILB, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) recorded 12 total tackles, while Corey Walsh (Sr., DB, San Pedro, CA/San Pedro HS/Western New Mexico University) achieved eight tackles.

Paul Miller and Alex Myrick topped Whitworth with nine tackles each. Portillo added seven tackles to go along with his forced fumble. Jacob Sturtevant provided the Pirates with their only interception of the game.

Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Oct. 18 in a Northwest Conference game at McCulloch Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (PDT)