By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Max Andersen (Jr., WR, Chico, CA/Moreau Catholic HS/Butte College) and Jordan Jenkins (Gr., WR, Placentia, CA/Valencia HS) each scored a touchdown, and the Willamette University receiving duo combined for 241 receiving yards, but the Bearcats fell to Pacific University, 59-14, on Saturday, Oct. 12 at McCulloch Stadium. Andersen hauled in five passes for 127 yards and scored on a 68-yard catch. Jenkins caught eight passes for 114 yards and crossed the goal line on an 8-yard reception.
Willamette fell to 2-3 on the season, 0-2 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific moved to 1-4 overall, 1-1 in the NWC.
The touchdown by Jenkins pulled Willamette within 17-7 on the first play of the second quarter. Andersen's long touchdown occurred with 27 seconds left in the third quarter, cutting Pacific's lead to 43-14.
Pacific scored the game's first points 20 seconds into the contest. Ty Hargis returned the opening kickoff 84 yards to the Willamette 1-yard line, and Josh Harris rushed into the end zone on first down. Charles Criscenti kicked the extra point to give the Boxers a 7-0 lead.
On the Boxers' next possession, Pacific kept the ball for 10 plays and scored on a 3-yard run by Kash Taylor. A 22-yard field goal by Criscenti with 2:50 left in the opening quarter, increased Pacific's advantage to 17-0.
Willamette responded with an 8-play, 87-yard drive to cut the margin to 10 points. Quarterback Mathew Castaneda (Sr., Salinas, CA/Salinas HS) opened the drive with a 22-yard run and followed-up with a 26-yard pass to Jenkins that advanced the ball to the Pacific 39-yard line. A bit later, the Bearcats faced 2nd-and-25 at the WU 46, but Castaneda hit Jenkins on a 13-yard pass to set up 3rd-and-12. After an incomplete pass, Castaneda scrambled, nearly fell down, and then threw a 22-yard pass to Andersen to pick up the first down at the Boxers' 19.
Castaneda added another pass to Andersen, this time for 11 yards, and then sent a pass to Jenkins for an 8-yard touchdwon. Kyla Gordon (Fy., PK, Salem, OR/West Salem HS) kicked the extra point to reduce Pacific's lead to 17-7 with 14:55 left in the half.
The Boxers tacked on three touchdowns before halftime. Kobe Williams earned the first score on an 18-yard pass from Kenyon Harris at the 12:18 mark. Kenyon Harris tacked on a 9-yard touchdown run at 7:26. WU took over at it's own 33-yard line after the kickoff, and drove all the way to the Pacific 18 before turning the ball over on downs with 2:08 on the clock. The drive included a 16-yard pass to Andersen and a 17-yard run by Castaneda.
Pacific went 82 yards on eight plays to score with 13 seconds remaining in the second quarter. On the second play of the drive Kenyon Harris completed a 29-yard pass to Jason Burton. The drive also included a 13-yard run by Kenyon Harris and a 15-yard pass to Williams. Jack Lopez scored on a 19-yard pass from Kenyon Harris on a 3rd-and-4 play to complete the drive. Pacific led 37-7 at halftime.
Each team added a touchdown late in the third quarter. The Boxers scored on a 10-yard run by Taylor with 1:18 on the clock to complete a 4-play drive that started at the Willamette 40 following a fumble recovery by Carter Atkins. The extra point kick was blocked by Dom Torres (So., DL, North Salt Lake, UT/Woods Cross HS).
Willamette kept the ball for just two plays before the Bearcats answered with a touchdown pass. On the first play, Miles Bryant (Jr., RB/TE, Pasadena, CA/Bishop Alemany HS) rushed for seven yards. Castaneda completed a 68-yard scoring pass to Andersen on the next play, and Gordon converted the extra point.
The Boxers scored two touchdowns and a safety in the fourth quarter. After the first touchdown, a 17-yard run by Josh Harris, the Bearcats drove 60 yards from the WU 25 to the Pacific 15, but had to give up possession on downs.
For Willamette, Jenkins and Andersen led the offense with their 241 combined yards on pass receptions. Castaneda was 15 of 34 through the air for 254 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Bryant rushed 16 times for 56 yards, while Castaneda contributed 38 yards on eight carries.
Pacific gained 561 yards on offense, including 307 passing yards. Kenyon Harris was 24 of 32 passing for 278 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Williams grabbed seven passes for 81 yards. Josh Harris rushed for 106 yards and two scores.
Andrew Allen (Fy., DB, Oxnard, CA/Calabasas HS) of WU registered 10 total tackles (7 unassisted) to lead all players on both teams. Ryan Morgan (So., DB, Big Timber, MT/Sweet Grass County HS) and Zach McLellan (Fy., DB, Vacaville, CA/Will C. Wood HS) each provided the Bearcat with eight tackles. Morgan also intercepted a pass. Kolby Nikolaisen and Chase Hofmann topped Pacific's defense with seven tackles each. Hoffman also broke up two passes.
Willamette will play archrival Linfield College on Saturday, Oct. 19 in McMinnville, Oregon. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. (PDT).
