TACOMA, Wash. -- Puget Sound picked up their first win of the season, taking down the Bearcats 45-28 for their fifth straight win against Willamette. 

How it Happened
The Loggers take pride in their passing game, as Hayden Teeter and the Puget Sound offense have one of the best passing offenses in all of Division III. Today, Dre Dukes and the run game proved that they can win in multiple ways. 

Both squads started out their day with short possessions, as the Logger defense forced a three-and-out early on. They took that momentum, marching 49 yards down the field for the games' first score. Dukes picked up a nine-yard touchdown run, putting the Loggers up 7-0. 

The Defense held Willamette again, forcing yet another punt. Dre Dukes put his head down and punched his way down the field, picking up several solid gains on a drive that started at the Loggers' 26-yard line. While Dukes got the team down the field, it was a Teeter pass to Isaac Tran for the first passing touchdown of the day. 

Traevon Phifer then made a great stop on fourth down for the Loggers, giving the offense the ball at their own 32. Teeter pieced together a couple of solid throws, leading the team down the field yet again. On a quarterback scramble, Teeter found an opening on the left side, taking the ball in himself for a nine-yard touchdown run. This opened up the game, as the Loggers took a 21-0 lead all the way to halftime. 

The Bearcats came out fast in the second half, utilizing their second drive of the second half to punch in a score. They needed just three plays to make it 21-7, and then a pick-six two plays later made it 21-14. All of a sudden, the team had a ball game. 

Teeter helped lead his team down the field yet again, but a field goal that missed just left gave Willamette a chance to tie it up. Puget Sound's defense held strong, forcing a quick three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense. Another Dre Dukes touchdown gave the Loggers a 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, putting them 15 minutes away from their first win of the season. 

Following a great defensive play by Joseph Earl and a punt by the Bearcats, the Loggers got the ball back at their own 19. Dukes took control, pounding down the field and putting the ball on the Willamette 13-yard line. On 3rd and 10, Teeter found Khaleel Robinson in the end zone, making the score 35-14. 

The Bearcats started to make their way back into the game, but the Loggers prevailed. Following a Charlie Reisman 33-yard field goal, the Bearcats marched down the field, scoring a touchdown and converting a two-point conversion. They converted the onside kick and scored again just four plays later. This time, the loggers made a big stop, forcing a failed two-point conversion. A touchdown as time expired capped off the Loggers' victory, taking down the Bearcats 45-28. 

Top Performers
Dre Dukes rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Joe Gallagher had nine receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown - one of three Logger receivers to reach the end zone. On defense, Gregory Wallace finished with 7 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a 10-yard sack. 

Coach's Thoughts
"At the end of the day, it's great to come away with a win," said Logger head coach Jeff Thomas. "I'm so proud of how hard we worked and how we found ways to make big plays in all three phases. It was a full team effort, and it's rewarding to see that work pay off."

What Happens Next
The Loggers travel down to Newberg, Oregon to face the George Fox Bruins on Saturday, October 25th. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.