Whitworth Rallies from a Six-Point Halftime Deficit to Defeat Bearcats, 20-16

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitworth University rallied from a 13-0 deficit after one quarter and a 16-10 deficit at halftime to edge past Willamette University, 20-16, at McCulloch Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Pirates improved to 8-1 on the season, 5-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 2-6 overall, 2-4 in the NWC.

The Bearcats created opportunities to score in the opening minutes of the game.

Whitworth took over at its own 10-yard line after mishandling the opening kickoff return. On the first play from scrimmage, Willamette defensive ends Nikk Ryan (Jr., DE, Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) and Joseph Blanc (Sr., DE, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/L.A. Pierce College) combined to sack quarterback Ian Kolste for a 9-yard loss.

Three plays later, Robert Thullen kicked a 33-yard punt and the Bearcats took over at the Whitworth 34. Willamette converted two third down plays, including a 14-yard pass from Ryan Knowlton (So., QB, Puyallup, WA/Emerald Ridge HS) to Jacob Swilley (Jr., RB, Olympia, WA/Yelm HS/Central Washington Univ.) that advanced the ball to the Whitworth 9.

Runs by Swilley, Taylor Livingston (So., RB, Ojai, CA/Nordhoff HS) and Knowlton moved the ball a total of six yards, but the Bearcats faced 4th-and-3 at the 3-yard line. Cameron Coe (Fr., PK, La Puente, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial HS) kicked a 20-yard field goal.

On Whitworth's second play following the kickoff, Kolste was intercepted by Dustin Crabtree (Sr., OLB, Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) at the Pirates' 49-yard line. Willamette took over at the 45.

A 40-yard pass by Knowlton down the left sideline to Ryan Foote (Sr., WR, Sherwood, OR/Valley Catholic HS) brought the ball to the 5-yard line. After a run for no gain and an incomplete pass, Daniel Abdie (Jr./So., WR, Beaverton, OR/Westview HS) was sacked on a reverse pass for an 11-yard loss. Coe tacked on a 33-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead.

The Pirates turned the ball over again three plays later on a fumble by Kolste. Ryan recovered the ball at the Whitworth 33, but Willamette did not score on the drive.

Willamette's Kevin Martz (Fr., WR, Salem, OR/South Salem HS/Claremont McKenna College) gave the Bearcats a 13-0 lead with 39 seconds left in the first quarter when he scored on a 71-yard pass reception. The pass from Knowlton was intended for Austin Jones (Jr., TE/WR, Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS), who tipped the ball near midfield. Martz grabbed the deflection and scored.

Whitworth used an interception to set up its first scoring drive. Taylor Roelofs picked off a pass by Knowlton at the Willamette 34 with 12:47 left in the second quarter. Seven plays later, Kolste scored on a 4-yard run. Rehn Reiley kicked the extra point, as the Pirates pulled within 13-7.

A bad punt snap for Willamette on the Bearcats' next possession resulted in a 33-yard loss, and Whitworth gained possession at the Willamette 15. The Bearcat defense forced a field goal four plays later. Reiley converted the 29-yard attempt to cut the lead to 13-10.

The Bearcats responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that went from the Willamette 20 to the Whitworth 7. Coe completed the drive with his third field goal of the game, a 24-yarder with 1:05 left in the half. Willamette took a 16-10 advantage into halftime.

Poor field position and turnovers doomed the Bearcats in the final two quarters. Seven of Willamette's eight possessions in the second half started at or inside the Bearcats' 26-yard line, including three drive inside the 10. After committing just one turnover in the first half, the Bearcats had three interceptions in the second half.

Whitworth stopped Willamette at its own 5-yard line and forced a 27-yard punt to start the third quarter. The Pirates went 32 yards on five plays to take the lead, with Kevin Thomas scoring on a 12-yard pass from Kolste. Reiley kicked the extra point, giving the Pirates a 17-16 advantage.

Roelofs intercepted Knowlton late in the third quarter to set up the game's final scoring drive. The Pirates took 10 plays to drive 31 yards before Reiley connected on a 28-yard field goal with 13:04 left in the game.

Willamette still had two chances to rally. First, Crabtree recovered a fumble by Kolste at the Whitworth 38 with 8:08 remaining. A Willamette fumble three plays later led to an 8-yard loss and forced a punt on 4th-and-14. The Bearcats' second opportunity began at their own 26 with 4:53 o the clock.

An 11-yard pass from Knowlton to Foote started the possession, and a 13-yard toss to Alex Israel (Jr., WR, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) brought the ball to the 50. Knowlton rushed 12 yards on a draw to the Pirates' 38. Three plays later, Patch Kulp intercepted a pass at the 36 and returned it 12 yards. Whitworth ran out the final 3:07 with two first downs.

Willamette gained 300 yards of total offense and limited Whitworth to 201 yards. The Bearcats earned just 65 yards in the second half, while the Pirates achieved 148 yards.

Henry Adelman (Sr., ILB, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) recorded 11 tackles for Willamette, while Donny Torres (Sr., OLB, Long Beach, CA/St. Anthony HS) tacked on 10 tackles. Kulp led Whitworth with 12 tackles.

Knowlton finished 19 of 39 passing for 265 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted four times. Martz topped the Willamette receiving chart with seven catches for 111 yards. Swilley rushed for 54 yards on 14 carries and hauled in four passes for 30 yards.

For Whitworth, Kolste went 17 of 30 passing for 109 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Duke DeGaetano caught six passes for 39 yards. DeGaetano also carried the ball 28 times for 74 yards.

It was Senior Day for the Willamette football team. The Bearcats honored the team's 15 seniors prior to the game.

The Bearcats will conclude the season at George Fox University on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff in Newberg, Oregon, is slated for 1:30 p.m. (PST).