SPOKANE, Washington – Duncan Varela continued to run well, and Anthony Ball hauled in a 45-yard touchdown reception, but the Puget Sound football team lost at Whitworth, 53-6, Saturday afternoon.

Varela, last week's Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for offense, made the best of his 10 carries against Whitworth by totaling 59 yards. In the Loggers' 28-20 win over Pacific Lutheran last week, Varela ran for 132 yards.

Ezekiel Sayavong was relentless on the defensive line, accounting for all three of Puget Sound's sacks. As a team, Whitworth recorded only two sacks. 

Puget Sound's lone score of the game against the Pirates came in the third quarter.  The seventh play of Puget Sound's touchdown drive was a 45-yard bomb from Murdock Rutledge to Ball.

Puget Sound nearly scored late in the first quarter. Austin Knight caught 50-yard pass from Rutledge, but at Whiworth's three-yard line a Pirates defender forced the ball loose into the end zone for a touchback.

Puget Sound has a bye next week before playing at Pacific Lutheran, Feb. 27.