By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Dante Chaney (So., QB, Arlington, TX/Mansfield Legacy HS) threw for a Willamette University individual season-high of 276 yards, and running back Joseph Castillo (Fy., Alta Loma, CA/Northview HS) rushed for 121 yards, but the University of Puget Sound outscored the Bearcats, 62-34, at Baker Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 13. The Loggers ended the season at 1-9 overall, 1-6 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette concluded the year with a 1-9 record, 0-7 in the NWC.
The teams split two games this season. Willamette won the first meeting, 48-35, in a non-conference matchup on Sept. 4 in Salem, Oregon. In that game, the teams combined for nine turnovers -- five by Puget Sound. Neither team committed a turnover during Saturday's rematch.
Chaney completed 17 of 33 passes to reach 276 yards, as he averaged 16.2 yards per completion. He threw two touchdown passes. Castillo carried the ball 19 times for 121 yards and one touchdown while averaging 6.5 yards per rush. Top receivers for the Bearcats were Sam Adams (Sr., WR/P, Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) with four catches for 101 yards and Noah Niblett (Fy., TE/WR, Coos Bay, OR/Marshfield HS) with three catches for 93 yards and two scores. Max Andersen (Sr., WR, Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley HS/Butte College) hauled in six passes for 42 yards.
Puget Sound running back Silas Washington gained a school record 318 yards and scored six touchdowns on 30 carries, as he averaged 10.6 yards per attempt. The Loggers rushed for 394 yards as a team, while gaining 662 yards of total offense. Quarterback Murdock Rutledge connected on 20 of 35 passes for 268 yards and one touchdown.
The Loggers scored first on an 8-yard run by Washington at the end of a 65-yard drive. Willamette's Justin Genovia (Jr., WR, Aiea, HI/Iolani School) returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Puget Sound 45, and Castillo scored on a 32-yard run two plays later. The extra point kick was unsuccessful, leaving Puget Sound with a 7-6 lead.
After the Bearcats forced the Loggers to punt, Willamette drove 82 yards to take the lead. Chaney opened the drive with an 18-yard pass to Genovia and followed up with a 44-yard pass to Niblett that brought the ball to the PS 20. Four plays later, Dylan Sparks (Sr., RB, Beaumont, CA/Beaumont HS) scored a touchdown on 1st-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Camdin Dirnberger (Fy., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) kicked the PAT for a 13-6 advantage with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter.
Rutledge crossed the goal line on a running play for the Loggers with 2:40 left in the quarter to give the home team a 14-13 lead. The Loggers took over again at the 1:15 mark and scored in two plays, as Washington rushed for 44 yards, and then Rutledge hit Simon Yim on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Puget Sound held a 21-13 edge entering the second quarter. Washington tacked on touchdown runs of 19 yards and 31 yards with 9:04 and 5:35 left, respectively in the half to increase the lead to 35-13.
Niblett grabbed a 30-yard touchdown pass from Chaney on the first drive of the third quarter to pull Willamette within 35-20 after Dirnberger added the extra point. The Loggers scored on their first possession of the third quarter with a 13-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Washington. Each team added another touchdown later in the quarter, with Chaney of WU scoring on a 1-yard carry and Rutledge reaching the goal line on a 20-yard run for the Loggers. Puget Sound missed the PAT, keeping its lead at 48-27.
Willamette moved within 14 points, 48-34, with 14:38 left in the fourth quarter when Niblett caught a 19-yard scoring pass from Chaney and Dirnberger kicked the extra point. Puget Sound registered touchdowns on carries by Washington of 12 yards and 32 yards to complete the scoring.
During the game, Sam Adams averaged 41.0 yards on three punts for the Bearcats, including a 46-yarder. Genovia had a strong day returning kickoffs, as he averaged 31.3 yards on four returns. He also returned one punt for 11 yards.
On defense, Keaton Adams (Sr., DE, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS), Albert Ramon Jr. (Sr., S, Hesperia, CA/Northview HS), and Dylan Streett (Sr., S, Santa Barbara, CA/Bishop Diego HS) each recorded seven total tackles. Adams earned three tackles for loss and one quarterback sack, while Ramon Jr. broke up a pass. WU recorded seven pass break-ups overall.
Adams finished the season with 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback sacks. Dylan Hall (So., LB, Erie, CO/Peak to Peak Charter School) who registered five tackles in Saturday's game, led the Bearcats for the season with 63 tackles.
The leading tackler for Puget Sound on Saturday was Amerian Culpepper with seven unassisted tackles and two assists. Tristan Hofmann provided seven total tackles, all solo stops, including two tackles for loss and one sack.
