By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jared Paredes (Jr., WR, West Covina, CA/Northview HS) scored two touchdowns on catches of 48 and 21 yards, and place-kicker Camdin Dirnberger (So., Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) connected on a 43-yard field goal as Willamette University built a 17-11 led over Lewis & Clark College, but the Pioneers rallied for a 39-17 victory on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Griswold Stadium. L&C improved to 3-2 overall, 1-2 in the Northwest Conference, while Willamette dropped to 2-4 on the season, 0-3 in the NWC.
Lewis & Clark opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal by Alex Koga with 6:12 left in the first quarter. The Pioneers drove 23 yards on six plays to set up the field goal after taking over on a punt return at the midfield stripe.
Willamette answered with two touchdown passes from Aidan Kuykendall (Sr., QB, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College) to Paredes. The first was a 48-yard toss with 3:46 left in the opening quarter that completed a quick 4-play, 75-yard drive. Dirnberger kicked the extra point to give WU a 7-3 lead.
The Bearcats got the ball back later in the quarter and kept possession for 11 plays. The 80-yard drive ended with a 21-yard scoring strike from Kuykendall to Paredes with 11:38 remaining in the second period. Dirnberger's PAT increased Willamette's lead to 14-3.
L&C took over at its own 39-yard line after a 24-yard kickoff return by Jonathan Newsome. The Pioneers scored 10 plays later on a 1-yard run by Cruz Montoya and then added a two-point conversion pass to pull within 14-11.
Another drive with double-digit plays followed, as Willamette retained possession for 10 plays, including a 21-yard pass to Joseph Castillo (So., RB, Alta Loma, CA/Northview HS). The pass to Castillo was on 3rd-and-8 at the WU 48 and moved the Bearcats to the L&C 31. On 4th-and-5 at the 26-yard line, Dirnberger kicked a career-long, 43-yard field goal to give Willamette a 17-11 edge.
The Pioneers went 73 yards on eight plays to score with 32 seconds left in the half. The drive began with a 38-yard pass from Montana to Devon Guest that brought the ball to the Bearcats' 35. Later, on 3rd-and-15 at the WU 25, Montana connected with Ben Burnham on a 23-yard pass to the 2-yard line. The Pioneers scored on second down on a 1-yard run by Krause. Koga kicked the extra point, allowing L&C to take an 18-17 lead into the halftime break.
Willamette put together two strong drives in the third quarter but did not score. The first drive began when the Bearcats received the kickoff to start the second half. WU advanced from its own 24-yard line to the L&C 32 before a bad snap led to a 21-yard loss on 4th-and-6. The drive included a 35-yard pass from Kuykendall to Justin Genovia (Sr., WR, Aiea, HI/Iolani School).
Prior to Willamette's second drive of the half, L&C went 47 yards on nine plays, ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Montana to Sean Bodi. Koga kicked the extra point, as the Pioneers grabbed a 25-17 lead with 6:28 on the clock.
The second strong drive in the third quarter for WU began at the Bearcats' 28-yard line. Four plays later, L&C accepted a penalty against Willamette on a punt. WU kicked again from the 14-yard line. L&C's Tomas Veliz muffed the ball on the return and Jacob Schrier (So., LS, Monrovia, CA/Monrovia HS) recovered the ball for the Bearcats at the WU 45. Nine plays later, on 3rd-and-goal at the L&C 8, Kuykendall was tackled and fumbled three yards behind the line of scrimmage and Jay'Den Dock gained possession for the Pioneers.
Lewis & Clark added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Montana hit Burnham with a 47-yard touchdown pass with 12:15 to go in the game. Montana scored the final touchdown on a 23-yard pass from Dyontae Navarrete with 8:02 remaining. WU defender Landon Waters (So., DB, Martinez, CA/Alhambra HS) blocked an L&C punt with 3:01 left, and the Bearcats drove to the L&C 17, but Kuykendall was intercepted by Isaac Cordova at the 5-yard line with 1:48 on the clock.
During the game, L&C gained 391 total yards, with 113 yards on the ground and 279 yards through the air. Willamette accumulated 372 total yards, as the Bearcats rushed for 84 yards and Kuykendall passed for 288 yards. Kuykendall was 16 of 27 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Steven Wright (So., RB, Hesperia, CA/Apple Valley HS) rushed 11 times for 60 yards for Willamette, while Castillo carried the ball 13 times for 39 yards. Genovia caught seven passes for 121 yards. Paredes hauled in four passes for 94 yards and two scores, while Catillo caught four passes for 59 yards.
Cruz Montana was 21 of 28 passing for L&C as he threw for three scores (1, 13, and 47 yards). Montana also scored on a 1-yard run and a 23-yard catch. Navarrete grabbed six pases for 30 yards. Guest caught four passes for 79 yards and Burnham was credited with three receptions for 85 yards. Elijah Washington ran 15 times for 58 yards.
Keaton Adams (Gr., DE, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) led the WU defense with eight total tackles, while Christopher Brown (Sr., LB, Ketchikan, AK/Ketchikan HS) produced seven total tackles. Hogan Smith (So., DB, Prineville, OR/Crook County HS) and Judah Ali'fua (Fy., DB, Salem, OR/West Salem HS) each recorded six tackles. Dock was L&C's top tackler with nine total stops. Silas Ticeson added eight tackles.
Willamette will host Whitworth University at Cone Field House on Saturday, Sept. 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).
