Pirates steal win from Bearcats

SALEM, Ore. — Whitworth defeated Willamette 29-0 at McCulloch Stadium, as the Pirates improved their record to 7-2.

Whitworth's Jake Gaffaney initiated with a 58-yard kickoff, leading to a Willamette start at their own 11-yard line. The Bearcats struggled early, with a false start penalty and a 2-yard loss on a rush by Masen Uribe. Whitworth's Luis Salgado powered a nine-minute drive, advancing 59 yards but was halted at Willamette's 12-yard line, turning the ball over on downs. A safety by Whitworth at 2:18 on the clock put them ahead 2-0, which remained the score at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter began with a muffed punt by Tyler Schoenrock, which was recovered by Luke McCorkle at the Bearcats' 34-yard line, setting up Whitworth's scoring opportunity at 11:34. Logan Lacio connected with Chayce Gomes for a 4-yard touchdown pass, followed by Iden Bone's extra point to extend Whitworth's lead to 10-0. Whitworth capitalized on a holding penalty to keep a drive alive, culminating in a 28-yard field goal by Bone, increasing the lead to 12-0. Luis Salgado's 17-yard rushing touchdown with 41 seconds left capped Whitworth's dominating quarter, leading to a 19-0 halftime advantage.

In the third quarter, Palmer Smith sacked Logan Lacio for a 10-yard loss on the opening drive, halting Whitworth's momentum. Wyatt Hess intercepted Alex Rivera IV's pass, returning it to the Bearcats' 23-yard line. Iden Bone converted a 36-yard field goal, extending Whitworth's lead. Willamette's drive was halted by an interception in the end zone by Omari Williams and Whitworth carried a 22-0 lead into the final period.

The final quarter began with the Bearcats' Nick Beswick-Seidl missing a 37-yard field goal attempt. Whitworth then capitalized on a sustained drive, converting multiple third downs, including a 5-yard pass from Logan Lacio to Deacon Dietz. A pass interference penalty against Willamette moved Whitworth further down the field, setting up a short touchdown pass from Lacio to Dietz to extend the lead. Whitworth sealed the game with consistent rushing, and Owen Harris' 8-yard run secured a first down, ensuring possession as time expired. Whitworth won with a final score of 29-0.

Noah Reese led the defense with 11 total tackles, showcasing a strong presence on the field. Javi Rodriguez was another standout, recording 12 tackles. Palmer Smith contributed with a sack and seven tackles, adding pressure to the opponent's offensive line. On the offensive side, Rivera managed 100 passing yards, completing 12 of 23 attempts, despite throwing two interceptions.

The Bearcats stand at 1-8 overall and 0-6 in conference play. Whitworth holds a 7-2 overall record and remains unbeaten in conference play at 6-0.

Looking ahead, the Bearcats will face Linfield University on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. in McMinnville, Oregon.