By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Quarterback Aidan Kuykendall (Sr., San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College) threw for five touchdowns and the Willamette University defense forced five turnovers, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Puget Sound, 48-35, at McCulloch Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 4. Kuykendall was 20 of 36 passing for 224 yards. The WU defense intercepted three passes and recovered two fumbles. Keaton Adams (Sr., DL, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) returned one of the touchdowns for a 41-yard touchdown.
Although Willamette and Puget Sound compete in the Northwest Conference, Saturday's contest was a non-conference game. The Bearcats will take on the Loggers later in the season in NWC action. The second meeting between the teams is set for Saturday, Nov. 13 in Tacoma, Washington.
The Bearcats scored two touchdowns in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead and held a 28-0 lead just over four minutes into the second quarter. Willamette reached the end zone on the game's opening drive, as the Bearcats moved 65 yards on seven plays. Kuykendall completed 4 of 5 passes during the drive, which ended with a 21-yard scoring strike to Noah Niblett (Fy., TE/WR, Coos Bay, OR/Marshfield HS) with 12:10 on the clock. Camdin Dirnberger (Fy., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinal HS) kicked the extra point.
Niblett also scored Willamette's second touchdown with 7:12 left in the first quarter, as he reached the end zone on a 5-yard toss from Kuykendall. Dinberger kicked the PAT to finish the 7-play, 75-yard drive.
In the second quarter, Kuykendall completed scoring strikes to Jared Paredes (So., WR, West Covina, CA/Northview HS) and Max Andersen (Sr., WR, Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley HS/Butte College). The touchdown pass to Paredes was scored at the 12:43 mark and gave WU a 21-0 lead. The Bearcats scored again less than two minutes later on the second play after Preston Doyle (Sr., LB, Sacramento, CA/Inderkum HS) intercepted a pass at the Willamette 37 and returned it 52 yards to the Puget Sound 11. Dylan Sparks (Sr., RB, Beaumont, CA/Beaumont HS) rushed for 6 yards on the first play, and then Kuykendall connected with Andersen for a 5-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead with 10:50 left in the half.
Puget Sound pulled within 28-7 when quarterback Murdock Rutledge threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to AJ Johnson to finish a 10-play drive with 3:13 remaining before the break. Jonah Mendelsohn kicked the extra point.
Four plays later, Willamette punted, but the Bearcats recovered the ball at the Puget Sound 30-yard line after it bounced off a Logger at the PS 32. Willamette took over with 1:54 on the clock and drove to the Puget Sound 8-yard line, but an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the threat.
The Loggers scored the only points of the third quarter with a touchdown and an extra point at the 5:52 mark. The scoring drive covered 74 yards in nine plays, ending with a 1-yard run by Silas Washington. Mendelsohn provided the extra point, cutting the margin to 28-14. The drive began after an interception by Zerek Waters at the Puget Sound 16-yard line that kept Willamette out of the end zone.
Late in the third quarter, the Bearcats reached the Loggers' 31-yard line, but Trevino Lewis of Puget Sound intercepted a pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. He returned it 26 yards to the PS 46. The play gave the Loggers a chance to pull within one score. However, the drive ended with a turnover when Rutledge lost the ball as he scrambled on the second play. Keaton Adams recovered the ball at the Puget Sound 41 and returned it to the end zone. Dirnberger connected on the PAT, giving Willamette a 35-14 lead.
On the first play after the kickoff, WU's Raymond Pasay (So., LB, Turner, OR/Cascade HS) intercepted Rutledge at the PS 20-yard line. There plays later, Sparks reached the end zone for the Bearcats on a 15-yard run. The PAT increased Willamette's advantage to 42-14.
Touchdowns by Puget Sound with 12:32 and 9:23 left in the game reduced the margin to 42-28. Izaiah Jerenz tallied the first of the two touchdowns on a 9-yard catch, while Washington added the second score on a 34-yard run. Puget Sound took over again at their own 23-yard line with 8:30 remaining after Tauha Tupola recovered a fumble by Kuykendall. A pass interference penalty gave the Loggers a first down at the PS 43. The WU defense responded with a sack by Keaton Adams for a 9-yard loss. Adams added a 7-yard sack on fourth down, as the Bearcats ended the drive.
The Bearcats then drove 36 yards on five plays, ending with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kuykendall to Paredes. The extra point was blocked, but WU led 48-28. Puget Sound scored on an 11-yard run by Washington with 2:30 to go before Willamette ran out the clock.
For the Bearcats, Anderson caught six passes for 41 yards, while Niblett hauled in four catches for 49 yards and Justin Genovia (Jr., WR, Alea, HI/Iolani School) grabbed four passes for 48 yards. Sparks rushed 10 times for 50 yards.
Rutledge completed 14 of 36 passes for 267 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Johnson registered five catches for 54 yards. Washington gained 180 rushing yards on 25 carries.
In addition to scoring on a fumble return, Keaton Adams led the Willamette defense with eight total tackles, including six solo tackles. He recorded 2.5 sacks for 21 yards in losses on his way to earning 4.5 tackles for loss. Dylan Streett (Sr., DB, Santa Barbara, CA/Bishop Diego HS), Christian Tovar (Sr., LB, Covina, CA/South Hills HS), and Albert Ramon, Jr. (Sr., DB, Hesperia, CA/Northview HS) each provided the Bearcats with seven tackles. Jerenz topped the Puget Sound defensive chart with eight total tackles (seven solo).
The Bearcats do not play next weekend. Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 18 when they host Lincoln University at McCulloch Stadium at 1 p.m. (PDT). Lincoln, in Oakland, California, is starting its first season of intercollegiate athletics.
