By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Quarterback Dante Chaney (Jr., Arlington, TX/Mansfield Legacy HS) threw touchdown passes of 71 yards and 32 yards to wide receiver Jared Paredes (Jr., West Covina, CA/Northview HS) on Saturday, Oct. 22 at McCulloch Stadium, but Willamette University couldn't overcome the four rushing touchdowns scored by Solomon Hines of Whitworth University, as the Pirates defeated the Bearcats 42-14. Whitworth moved to 4-3 on the season, 2-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 2-5 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.
Whitworth entered the game without its top three quarterbacks, so the Pirates relied on several offensive players to serve as the quarterback or as a "wildcat" throughout the game. Hines, who is normally a running back, excelled as a "wildcat", carrying the ball 15 times for 243 yards. He scored the first four touchdowns of the game on a 58-yard run in the first quarter, a 51-yard scamper early in the second quarter, and runs of 28 yards and 48 yards in the third quarter. The Pirates led 14-0 at halftime, and held a 28-0 lead after Hines crossed the goal line at the 9:34 mark and the 5:52 mark of the third period.
Paredes caught six passes for 133 yards. He scored on the 71-yard pass with 0:55 left in the third quarter to pull Willamette within 28-7 after Camdin Dirnberger (So., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) kicked the extra point. Paredes added the 32-yard scoring play with 11:45 remaining in the game as the Bearcats reduced the lead to 28-14.
Willamette was unable to complete the rally, as Whitworth scored on a 43-yard pass from Noah Stifle to Ethan Peloquin with 9:45 left in the game. The Pirates tacked on a 1-yard pass from Dylan Ashbeck to Isaac Fields with 1:53 remaining. Place-kicker Alvaro Campos-Ontiveros kicked all six extra points for Whitworth but missed on a 30-yard field goal with 1:09 left in the first half.
Chaney completed 11 of 23 passes for the Bearcats for 171 yards and the two touchdowns. He entered the game late in the first quarter, replacing starter Aidan Kuykendall (Sr., QB, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College). In addition to the six catche by Paredes, Joseph Castillo (So., RB, Alta Loma, CA/Northview HS) caught three passes for 24 yards for the Bearcats.
Stifle was 12 of 19 passing for 160 yards and one touchdown for the Pirates. Peloquin hauled in three passes for 98 yards.
Defensive leaders for the Bearcat were La'Akea Like (Jr., LB, Littleton, CO/Columbine HS), Hogan Smith (So., DB, Prineville, OR/Crook County HS), and Michael Wong (So., LB, Apple Valley, CA/Apple Valley HS). Like recorded six total tackles, including four unassisted tackles. Smith provided five tackles -- all unassisted. Wong added five total tackles with four solo stops and one assist. Like also earned a quarterback sack for 11 yards. Luke Lowe (Sr., DB, Fresno, CA/Clovis West HS) forced a fumble, while Judah Ali-ifua (Fy., DB, Salem, OR/West Salem HS) recovered a muffed punt.
Dylan Ventress topped the Whitworth defense with 11 tackles. Jacob Hogger supplied eight tackles, while Derrick Platt and Patrick Serrano each achieved seven tackles. Hogger and Serrano each intercepted one pass.
The Bearcats will play at Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Puyallup, Washington. Kickoff at Sparks Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).
