TACOMA, Washington – The University of Puget Sound football team nearly erased a 21-point deficit on the road, but the Loggers' late comeback bid fell short as Occidental held on for a 34-32 win on Saturday afternoon. 

Puget Sound (1-1) trailed 34-13 late in the fourth quarter, but sophomore quarterback Hans Fortune rallied the Loggers for three touchdowns in the final 2:54 of regulation.

Kwame Do's five-yard rushing touchdown gave the Tigers a 34-13 lead with 4:21 on the clock in the fourth quarter, but Puget Sound wasted little time in striking back. In the Loggers' ensuing possession, Fortune hit Kevin Miller for a 17-yard completion before connecting with Dustin Harrison for 22 yards. Fortune found Harrison once more during the drive, this time connecting for an 11-yard touchdown.

Puget Sound then recovered its onsides kick at the Occidental 48-yard line, but Fortune threw his only interception of the game with 2:31 on the clock and the Loggers trailing, 34-19.

A strong defensive stand by Puget Sound and strategic use of its timeouts forced the Tigers to punt after running just one minute off the clock, and the Loggers got the ball back on their own 22-yard line. Puget Sound needed just one play to get back on the board as Fortune hit Steve Branham for a 78-yard touchdown strike. The Loggers failed to convert a two-point conversion, but they once again recovered an onsides kick, this time trailing 34-25.

Starting at the Puget Sound 46-yard line, Fortune completed a pass to Miller for 12 yards before finding Brennan Schon three different times during the drive, including an eight-yard touchdown completion that cut the deficit the 34-32 with the extra point.

Puget Sound lined up for its third-consecutive onsides kick, but the Tigers recovered the try with 18 seconds on the clock, ending the Loggers' comeback bid.  

"It has always been a hallmark of our program to play with mental toughness and extreme desire," said Puget Sound football head coach Jeff Thomas. "I am very proud of how well we came back. Unfortunately, we just ran out of time."

Occidental opened the game with a 14-0 lead, but Fortune's 15-yard touchdown pass to Branham at the end of the first half cut the Tigers' advantage to 14-7. Puget Sound opened the scoring in the second half when Kevin Miller reeled in a 40-yard touchdown reception, but the point after attempt failed and the Loggers were left trailing, 14-13. The Tigers rattled off three consecutive touchdowns until Puget Sound began its dramatic comeback bid late in the game.

Fortune completed 34 of 60 pass attempts for 533 yards and five touchdowns. Schon led all receivers with nine catches for 155 yards as the Puget Sound offense totaled 571 yards while the defense held Occidental to 437 yards.

The Loggers have consecutive bye weeks before returning home on Saturday, Oct. 4, to host Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.