By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- The Willamette University defense was on the field for much of the game between the Bearcats and the Boxers on Saturday, Nov. 4, as Pacific University registered just over 39 minutes of possession. Willamette first-year linebacker Peyton Zampko (Redmond, OR/Ridgeview HS) stepped up and provided the Bearcats with 11 total tackles, including seven unassisted stops. He contributed one-half of a quarterback sack and recorded one tackle for loss. Orion Woods (Jr., LB, Morgan HIll, CA/Ann Sobrato HS) also excelled, earning eight total tackles, with five solo tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss.
Pacific won the game 64-6 at Hanson Stadium and improved to 2-6 on the season, 2-4 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 1-8 overall, 0-6 in the NWC.
The scores by the Boxers included a 13-play, 80-yard drive to open the game and a 12-play, 68-yard drive in the third quarter. Two other drives lasted eight plays. Pacific was 10 for 16 on third down and 2 for 3 on fourth down.
Pacific's lengthy drive at the start of the first quarter ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Kalai Pasi with 8:59 on the clock. Jackson Green kicked the extra point. Following the touchdown, Pacific held Willamette on three downs and Noah Acosta blocked a punt. Israel Rutherford recovered the ball at the WU 25 and returned it 22 yards to the 3-yard line. On the next play, Brody Bantolina crossed the goal line on a running play. At the end of the first quarter, Pacific was in front 28-0.
With 3:50 left in the second quarter, Willamette took over at its own 29-yard line and advanced the ball to the Pacific 30. The drive included a 27-yard pass from Alex Rivera IV (Fy., QB, Laveen, AZ/Trevor Browne HS) to Brandon Johnson (So., WR, Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS), plus a face mask penalty against Pacific on the play, as the Bearcats reached the Pacific 32. On 4th-and-8, Rivera IV threw an incomplete pass as Pacific stopped the drive.
Willamette's touchdown was scored by Steven Wright (So., RB, Hesperia, CA/Apple Valley HS) at the end of a 7-play, 71-yard drive with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter. Wright went into the end zone on a 6-yard run. The extra point attempt was missed.
Rivera IV was 12 of 28 passing for 152 yards. He threw two interceptions. Tyler Epefanio (Jr., WR, Spokane, WA/Lakeside HS) led the WU receivers with five catches for 50 yards, with an impressive 46 yards after making the catches (46 YAC). Elijah Romero (Fy., WR, Los Lunas, NM/Belen HS) grabbed four passes for 28 yards, while Johnson hauled in two receptions for 35 yards, and Trajan Clark (So., WR, Davis, CA/Davis HS) caught one pass for 39 yards.
Braeden Titus of Pacific was 10 for 13 through the air for 206 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Helt completed 11 of 13 passes for 119 yards and one score. Tyler Vargas topped the Boxers in receiving, as he caught five passes for 90 yards and one score. Bantolina led all players in rushing with 78 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
In addition to the defensive totals for Zampko and Woods, two other Bearcats finished with seven tackles. They were Manu Faleola (Fy., DB, Taylorsville, UT/Taylorsville HS) and Raymond Pasay (Jr., LB, Turner, OR/Cascade HS), each with six solo tackles. For Pacific, Tatum Tausaga and Loudyn Reese each registered five total tackles.
Willamette will conclude the season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at McCulloch Stadium when they host Lewis & Clark College. Game time for the Northwest Conference match-up is set for 1 p.m. PST.
