By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University played a defensive battle against Pacific Lutheran University in their Northwest Conference football game on Saturday, Oct. 30 at McCulloch Stadium. The Bearcats limited the Lutes to 255 total yards, and Pacific Lutheran held Willamette to 211 total yards. The Lutes intercepted four passes by the Bearcats and returned two for touchdowns, as PLU gained a 24-0 victory.
Pacific Lutheran also scored a touchdown on a 4-play, 25-yard drive late in the first half following a short punt by the Bearcats. In addition to the two defensive scores and the short touchdown drive, the Lutes were only able to score three points on a 31-yard field goal by Peiyton Hilliard during a 10-play, 37-yard drive on PLU's first possession of the game.
The Bearcats played exceptionally well on defense. Willamette forced the Lutes into many third-down plays while breaking up two passes and making PLU work hard on virtually every play on offense. The Bearcats allowed only 130 yards in the first half and gave up just 125 yards in the second half.
When the game ended, Christian Tovar (Sr., LB, Covina, CA/South Hills HS) had 11 total tackles, while Christopher Brown (Jr., LB, Ketchikan, AK/Ketchikan HS) added 10 tackles. Dylan Hall (So., LB, Erie, CO/Peak to Peak Charter School) registered nine tackles, Dom Torres (Sr., DT, North Salt Lake, UT/Woods Cross HS) provided seven, and Dylan Streett (Sr., S, Santa Barbara, CA/Bishop Diego HS) was credited with six to along with two pass break-ups. Keaton Adams (Sr., DE, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) earned one quarterback sack -- his ninth of the season -- and almost sacked PLU's Erik Bainter numerous additional times with consistent pressure behind the line of scrimmage.
Bainter managed to elude the Bearcats on several plays, as he ran with the ball 12 times for 45 yards. Bainter was 10 of 19 passing for 82 yards and one interception. Malik White was PLU's top rusher with 14 carries for 70 yards.
Aidan Kuykendall (Sr., QB, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College) of Willamette was 9 of 16 passing for 119 yards and two interceptions. Starting quarterback Dante Chaney (So., QB, Arlington, TX/Mansfield Legacy HS) was 7 of 14 through the air for 56 yards and one interception before missing much of the game due to injury. Max Andersen (Sr., WR, Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley HS/Butte College) caught six passes for 95 yards for the Bearcats, including a 33-yard reception. Joseph Castillo (Fy., RB, Alta Loma, CA/Northview HS) rushed 216 times for 36 yards.
After Willamette was forced to punt on the fourth play of the game, the Lutes drove from the PLU 49-yard to the WU to set up a field goal attempt. Hilliard converted the 31-yard kick to give the Lutes a 3-0 lead.
Cheyn Tam-Switzer of Pacific Lutheran intercepted Chaney three plays after Hilliard's field goal. Tam-Switzer hauled in the pass at the Willamette 22-yard line and returned it to the end zone. Hilliard kicked the extra point.
Late in the first quarter, Willamette began a 17-play drive that covered 63 yards. Twelve of the plays were in the second quarter, including a 20-yard pass from Chaney to Sam Adams (Sr., WR/P, Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) on 3rd-and-14 from the PLU 49. The Bearcats achieved another first down but were unable to reach the end zone. Place-kicker Camdin Dirnberger (Fy., Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) attempted a 32-yard field goal with plenty of distance as he barely missed wide to the right.
With 1:46 remaining in the half, the Bearcats faced 4th-and-3 at the WU 18-yard line. Willamette punted, but the kick went out of bounds at the WU 25. Michael Martinez scored for PLU four plays later on a 2-yard run following a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone. The Lutes held a 17-0 lead at halftime.
The game's only other score was on a 48-yard interception return by Colby Rhinelander of PLU with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a 3rd-and-10 play for Willamette. Hilliard kicked the extra point.
Although WU didn't score in the second half, the Bearcats did reach the PLU 17 before they were stopped on downs with 5:00 left in the third quarter. Later, Willamette advanced to the Lutes' 20-yard line before a 53-yard drive ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down with 8:06 remaining in the game.
Kord Tuttle led the Pacific Lutheran defense with nine total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. Rhinelander and Tristan Thomas each recorded six tackles. Tam-Switzer intercepted two passes.
Willamette will play at McCulloch Stadium again on Saturday, Nov. 6, when the Bearcats will take on nearby rival Linfield University. The Wildcats are ranked #7 in the D3footbal.com Top 25. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m (PDT).
