By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Gabriel Herrera (Jr., RB, San Jose, CA/Adrian C. Wilcox HS/Foothill College) of Willamette University rushed for 107 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries against Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Nov. 11 during Senior Day at McClulloch Stadium. It was Herrera's third 100-yard rushing day of the season. He previously rushed for 132 yard at the University of La Verne on Sept. 2 and ran for 110 yards at George Fox University on Oct. 21. Prior to Saturday's game, the Bearcats honored the 14 seniors on the team.
Willamette trailed by a slim 14-6 margin at the end of the first quarter, but Lewis & Clark went on to win the Northwest Conference game 63-13. The Pioneers finished the season with a 5-5 overall record, including 4-3 in the NWC. Willamette ended the season at 1-9 overall, 0-7 in the NWC.
None of Herrera's carries on Saturday were stopped behind the line of scrimmage. He provided the key play in Willamette's first touchdown drive, a 44-yard run from the L&C 45-yard line to the 1-yard line. Herrera scored on the next play with a short run up the middle with 11:29 left in the first quarter. The extra point kick failed, leaving WU in a 7-6 deficit behind the Pioneers.
L&C extended its lead to 35-6 at halftime. In the first half, quarterback Cruz Montana threw three touchdown passes, a 44-yarder to Devon Quest with 12:40 to go in the first quarter, a 14-yard toss to Julius Walker at the 3:19 mark in the second quarter, and a 69-yard throw to Desmon Holton with 1:40 to go in the half. Also in the first half, Elijah Washington scored twice, on runs of 12-yard and 2-yards.
Washington was L&C's top ground gainer, as he finished with 78 yards on 16 carries. ontana was 23 of 30 passing for 370 yards and four touchdowns. Holton caught seven passes for 151 yards and Ben Burnham hauled in seven passes for 138 yards.
For Willamette, Alex Rivera IV (Fy., QB, Laveen, AZ/Trevor Browne HS) was 10 of 19 passing for 105 yards. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Epefanio (Jr., WR, Spokane, WA/Lakeside HS) with 11:37 left in the third quarter. Camdin Dirnberger (Jr., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) kicked the extra point.
Peyton Zampko (Fy., LB, Redmond, OR/Ridgeview HS) and Hogan Smith (Jr., DB, Prineville, OR/Crook County HS) each topped the WU defense with nine total tackles. Orion Woods (Jr., LB, Morgan Hill, CA/Ann Sobrato HS) added eight tackles and a quarterback sack.
Wil Powell and Solomon McDaniel tied at the top of L&C's defensive chart. They each recorded five tackles, including three solo tackles. McDaniel earned 2.5 tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack.
Seniors honored by Willamette and the Bearcats were: Matthew Fiesta, wide receiver; Camdin Dirnberger, place-kicker; Seth Beach, quarterback; Justin Genovia, wide receiver; Luke Seymour, tight end; Avinash Naidu, wide receiver; Nik Goff, wide receiver; La'akea Like, linebacker; Dylan Hall, tight end; DJ Smith, defensive lineman; Michael Valtierra, defensive lineman; Ronald Florentino, offensive lineman; Ryan Johns, offensive lineman; and Gio Gallardo, offensive lineman.
