TACOMA, Wash. - A late push by the visiting Pacific Lutheran
Lutes gave them a narrow 14-7 victory over the host Puget Sound
Loggers in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday
afternoon on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.
The Loggers (2-4, 0-3 NWC) got on the board first when Kavin
Williams (Ocean Shores, Wash./North Beach) connected with Darrell
Stewart (Long Beach, Calif./Loyola) on what would be the Loggers
only completion of the day. Stewart made it count however as the
Williams-to-Stewart connection went for 42 yards and a 7-0 Logger
lead with 12:03 remaining in the first half.
In the second half, the Lutes looked like they were going to
even things up at the 9:02 mark when Michael Byrne connected with
Kyle Whitford for a 65-yard touchdown but the kick by Niklas Frid
went wide left as the Loggers maintained a 7-6 lead. In the fourth
quarter, the Loggers looked to be driving for a score as they took
the ball 84 yards on 18 plays over 11:02 but the ball was stripped
out of the hands of Silas Paul (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) on the PLU
three-yard line and the Lutes ended up with the ball.
The Lutes then drove the field, going 97 yards on 18 plays
concluding with a one-yard touchdown pass from Byrne to Blake Gorle
but the two-point PAT attempt was incomplete but the Lutes took a
12-7 lead. The Lutes added their final two points on a late UPS
drive when Tony Slater sacked Williams in the endzone for a safety
and the 14-7 PLU win.
The Loggers were led in rushing by 92 yards on 25 carries from
Williams, who also completed one-of-seven passes for 42 yards, one
touchdown and two interceptions. Paul finished with 48 yards on 18
carries. Cory Dunn (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) led the way on
defense, making seven tackles. Alverno Middleton (Lakewood,
Wash./Clover Park) had five tackles on the day, including two sacks
and one other tackle-for-loss.
The Lutes were led by 26-of-42 passing for 288 yards from Byrne,
who also had the two scores. Bryce Davis led the Lutes in rushing,
taking the ball six times for 21 yards. Andy Sturza was a force
defensively, making 14 tackles, including one sack and one other
tackle-for-loss.
The Loggers will look to get back in the win column on Nov. 1
when they play host to perennial power Linfield. Kickoff with the
Wildcats is set for 1:30 p.m. on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in
Tacoma, Wash.
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