Kuykendall Passes for Three TDs, Runs for One, in 31-20 Victory over Hilbert (N.Y.)

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

HAMBURG, N.Y. -- Aidan Kuykendall (Sr., QB, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College) completed 14 of 21 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns, and also scored one rushing touchdown, as Willamette University downed Hilbert College (N.Y.) on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Bearcats trailed 14-7 early in the game, but led 24-14 at halftime on their way to the win. The Bearcats are 2-0 on the season. Hilbert, in its first year of competition, is 0-2.

The Bearcats gained 353 yards of total offense. Willamette held the Hawks to 310 yards. Hilbert was called for 13 penalties totaling 108 yards, while WU received seven penalties for 72 yards.

Tyler Epefanio (Jr., WR, Spokane, WA/Lakeside HS) caught five of Kuykendall's passes for 93 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown. Justin Genovia (Sr., WR, Aiea, HI/Iolani School) grabbed four passes totaling 84 yards with a 34-yard touchdown strike. Thomas Wirth (Sr., RB, Basalt, CO/Basalt HS) crossed the goal line on a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Steven Wright (So., RB, Hesperia, CA/Apple Valley HS) topped the Bearcats' rushing attack with 16 carries for 51 yards. Joseph Castillo (So., RB, Alta Loma, CA/Northview HS) ran five times for 44 yards.

WU scored first with 11:10 left in the opening quarter on an 8-yard run by Kuykendall. The touchdown finished a 5-play, 32-yard drive following a 30-yard punt return. Camdin Dirnberger (So., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Hawks recorded the next two touchdowns to move in front. Joseph Stovar hauled in an 18-yard pass from Andre Augustiniak with 7:39 to go in the first quarter, and Eric Cline kicked the PAT to tie the score. After the 74-yard drive, the Hawks chose to onside kick and Hilbert recovered the ball at the WU 36-yard line. Jeremiah Caviness hit Nicholas Rinker on a 22-yard touchdown pass four plays later. Cline's extra point kick gave the Hawks a 14-7 lead.

Willamette answered on its next possession, as the Bearcats drove 64 yards on eight plays. The drive included runs by Wright of 13 yards and eight yards. On 3rd-and-1 at the Hilbert 40, Kuykendall threw an incomplete pass, but the Bearcats gained a first down on an offside penalty against the Hawks. Three plays later, Kuykendall connected with Genovia on a 34-yard scoring toss. Dirnberger tied the game on the extra point with 3:16 to go in the first period.

The Bearcats grabbed a 17-14 lead with 10:04 remaining in the second quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Dirnberger. It was WU's first field goal since KayLyn Stirton kicked a 21-yard field goal against Occidental College (Calif.) on Sept. 15, 2018.

On HC's ensuing possession, Christopher Brown (Sr., LB, Ketchikan, AK/Ketchikan HS) of Willamette stopped running back Jonathan McCabe for a 6-yard loss on 1st and 10 at the WU 10. Caviness completed a 1-yard pass on second down. Keaton Adams (Gr., DE, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) sacked Caviness for a 10-yard loss on third down, and on 4th-and-goal from the WU 25, Brown tackled Stover after a 10-yard gain.

The Bearcats took over at their own 15 and drove 85 yards on nine plays to add seven points to the lead. A roughing the kicker penalty on 4th-and-12 at the WU 23 kept the drive going. Epefanio then caught passes of 13 yards and 37 yards to reach the HC 12. Wright ran for four yards and Hilbert jumped offside on second down. On 3rd-and-2 at the 4-yard line, Kuykendall passes to Wirth for the touchdown.

Each team scored just one touchdown during the second half. Willamette reached the end zone on the first drive of the second half, which began at the Willamette 46 after Epefanio returned the kickoff 31 yards. Kuykendall ran for 13 yards on the third play to barely pick up a first down. Four plays later, Kuykendall threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Epefanio. Dirnberger kicked the PAT for a 31-14 lead.

Hilbert registered its only points of the second half with eight seconds left in the game. Jake Dressel scored the touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Deondre Rice. Dressel was stopped about a yard short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt.

Caviness was 16 of 21 passing for 96 yards for the Hawks. Jalen Henlon rushed 12 times for 61 yards during the game. Stover caught six passes covering 61 yards for HC, while Agustiniak grabbed five passes for 49 yards.

Brown led Willamette's defense with 11 total tackles, including nine solo stops. Adams earned six total tackles (5 solo) while providing WU with 1.5 quarterback sacks for 14 yards in losses. AJ Conrad (Jr., DL, Temecula, CA/Murrieta Valley HS), Luke Lowe (Sr., DB, Fresno, CA/Clovis West HS) and Cayden Stankavich (So., DL, Wishkah, WA/Hoguiam HS) each provided four tackles. Hilbert's defensive efforts were paced by Emmanuel Land IV, who recorded nine total tackles with seven unassisted stops. Taivaughn Roach achieved eight tackles and Clifford Zeigler contributed seven tackles, all solo. Zeigler was credited with one sack and three tackles for loss.

Willamette will play at Pacific University on Oct. 1 to open Northwest Conference action. Game time in Forest Grove, Oregon, is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).