Puget Sound Forces Five Turnovers, Defeats Bearcats, 27-14

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- University of Puget Sound built a 21-0 halftime lead and forced five turnovers during the game, on its way to a 27-14 victory over Willamette University at McCulloch Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15. Puget Sound quarterback Braden Foley completed 23 of 39 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Loggers.

Willamette running back Dylan Jones (Sr., Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS) carried the ball 32 times for 223 yards and one touchdown. He rushed for a school record 1,599 yards this season and finished two yards short of the WU career record. Jones gained 2,857 career rushing yards, just missing the record of 2,859 set by Stan Solomon from 1957-60.

The Loggers ended the season with a 4-5 record, 3-4 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette concluded the year at 5-4, including 3-4 in the NWC.

Jack Nelson (Sr., ILB, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) registered a game-high 17 tackles for the Bearcats. He also carried the ball for 25 yards on a fake punt early in the fourth quarter on 4th-and-4 at the Willamette 13-yard line.

Nelson completed his career with a school record 315 total tackles. He registered 191 unassisted tackles and 124 assists. He recorded 25.0 tackles for losses and 9.5 quarterback sacks.

Puget Sound defensive back Connor Savage intercepted three passes during the game. He made outstanding plays on two of the interceptions, as both prevented completions for the Bearcats.

The Loggers scored the game's first touchdown on their second possession. The drive lasted eight plays and covered 67 yards. Steve Branham caught a 22-yard pass from quarterback Braden Foley for the big play of the drive, giving the Loggers 1st-and-10 at the WU 15.

Two plays later, Dustin Harrison scored on a 7-yard run with 10:05 left in the opening quarter. Sawyer Petre kicked the extra point.

Later in the quarter, Foley hit Kevin Miller on a 55-yard touchdown pass. Petre kicked the conversion, as Puget Sound took a 14-0 lead with 6:42 on the clock.

Enrique Torres (Jr., OLB, Ventura, CA/Buena HS/Ventura College) returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to the midfield stripe. Quarterback Trent Spallas (So., QB, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) rushed for two yards, then Jones escaped on a sweep to the right side for 31 yards to the UPS 17.

A holding penalty on the next play brought the ball back to the 25-yard line. Two 4-yard carries by Jones returned the ball to the 17. On fourth down, Conner Mertens (Fr., PK. Kennewick, WA/Southridge HS) missed a 35-yard field goal.

Puget Sound kept the ball for the final 10 plays of the quarter and ended the period with fourth down at the WU 27. When the second quarter began, Petre attempted a 44-yard field goal that was blocked by Benjamin Jahn (Fr., OLB, Juneau, AK/Thunder Mountain HS). It was the second kick blocked by Jahn this season.

Daley Smith (Sr., CB, St. Paul, OR/St. Paul HS) of Willamette picked up the blocked kick and returned it 41 yards to the Puget Sound 25. On 3rd-and-8, Spallas was intercepted by Jacon Wuesthoff at the 5-yard line.

Weusthoff gained 52 yards on the interception return to the WU 43, but a personal foul moved the ball back to the UPS 42. Foley was sacked by Jimmy Roberts (Jr., ILB, Galt, CA/Galt HS) for a 7-yard loss several plays later that left UPS with a 3rd-and-14. An complete pass led to a punt on fourth down.

The punt pinned Willamette at its own 3-yard line. Four plays later, the Loggers took over at the WU 35 following a Willamette punt. The Bearcats prevent a score, as Petre missed a 40-yard field goal.

On the Bearcats' second play after the missed field goal, Savage recorded his first interception at the Willamette 41-yard line. The Loggers kept the ball for eight plays, ending with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Foley to Brennan Schon. Petre kicked the extra point, as UPS took a 21-0 lead with 3:15 remaining in the half.

Savage also intercepted a pass at the UPS 10-yard line with 1:35 on the clock to keep the Bearcats from reaching the end zone. A 33-yard pass to Derek Traeger (Sr., WR, Mount Angel, OR/John F. Kennedy HS) brought WU to the Loggers' 30-yard line two plays before the interception.

Willamette scored on the opening drive of the second half, successfully moving 80 yards in 10 plays. Jones rushed four times for 39 yards during the drive, including a 26-yard carry. Jimmy Sharpe (So., RB, Walnut Creek, CA/Northgate HS) added runs of 10 and 2 yards, before Spallas scored on a 22-yard draw play. Mertens kicked the PAT.

Puget Sound answered with an 8-play drive, as the Loggers eventually reached the WU 16. Petre completed the drive with a 33-yard field goal for a 24-7 led with 7:55 left in the third quarter.

The Loggers recovered a fumble on the kickoff and started another drive just 33 yards from the end zone. Eight plays later, on 2nd-and-goal at the 2-yard line, Foley passed to Branhan in the end zone, but the receiver was called for offensive pass interference. On fourth down, Petre kicked a 33-yard field goal.

A 39-yard kickoff return by Nathan Newby (Fr., WR, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) gave WU the ball at the UPS 48. With Jones rushing on eight of 11 plays, the Bearcats drove to the end zone. Jones scored from 5 yards out with 13:56 remaining in the game. Mertens kicked the extra point, pulling WU within 27-14.

On Willamette's next possession, Nelson gained 25 yards on a fake punt at the WU 13. A penalty at the end of the play moved the ball to the WU 23. Austin Jones (So., WR, Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) hauled in a 17-yard pass on the next play, and the Bearcats eventually reached the UPS 41 before Savage recorded his third interception.

Savage picked off the pass at 6-yard line to prevent a lengthy completion. He returned the ball 13 yards. Neither team scored during the rest of the game.

The Loggers gained 428 total yards, including 287 passing yards. Willamette limited UPS to 134 yards in the second half. The Bearcats finished the game with 382 yards, including 311 yards on the ground. WU achieved 260 yards in the final two quarters.

Miller caught 10 passes for 114 yards for Puget Sound. Noah Frazier led the Loggers in rushing, with 12 carries for 62 yards. Puget Sound committed just one turnover, a fumble by Frazier that was recovered by Adam Morton (So., WR, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro HS).

Nelson's 17 tackles led both teams. Brendan Manion (Sr., OLB, Los Altos, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS) added eight tackles for the Bearcats. For UPS, Chris Beaulaurier registered 14 tackles, while William Geary earned 13 and Matt Gilbert achieve 11.