Pioneers Run Over Boxers In Their Return To NWC Play
PORTLAND – Pacific's return to the Northwest Conference football scene did not go as planned as Lewis & Clark used their fly offense to run over the Boxers in a 48-0 shutout Saturday at Fred Wilson Field at Griswold Stadium.
The much-improved Pioneers (2-2, 1-1 NWC) ran for 356 yards and netted 507 yards of total offense, led by 141 yards and two touchdowns by tailback Jovente Mayes. Quarterback Keith Welch ran for 97 yards and a touchdown and passed for 92 yards and two more touchdowns.
Lewis & Clark's defense, meanwhile, did their part to keep Pacific (0-3, 0-1 NWC) from getting anywhere close to the endzone. The Pioneers limited Pacific to -9 yards rushing and allowed the Boxers inside the red zone just once. Lewis & Clark forced four fumbles, recovering three, and picked off Pacific quarterbacks twice.
Pacific passed for 170 yards of offense, led by 91 yards by Trevor Okamoto (Fr., Windsor, Colo.). London Amorin (Fr., Waipahu, Hawaii) had three catches for 84 yards to lead the Boxers in receptions and all-purpose yards. Kelson Kawai (Fr., North Kohala, Hawaii) finished with 69 all-purpose yards, 65 of those coming on kick returns.
Lewis & Clark thrilled their homecoming crowd by getting on the board off of the opening kickoff, going 86 yards in just six minutes. Welch found Shawn Evans for a 17-yard touchdown pass to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead. Pacific had a glimmer of hope when Simon Manley missed a 25-yard field goal on their next series.
The Boxers, however, saw part of their competitive soul taken out in the same series when linebacker Marc Moody (Jr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii) suffered an ankle injury. Moody did not return to the game, but led the Boxers with five tackles in just one quarter of action.
With Moody gone, the Pioneers seem to run at will on the Boxers. Welch found Evans again for a three-yard touchdown pass to go up 13-0 with 8:17 left in the second quarter. An interception of a T.C. Campbell (Fr., Kaimuki, Hawaii) pass two plays into the next series led by the first of Mayes' two scores, a four-yard run for a 20-0 lead. The Pioneers then turned a fumble into their third touchdown of the period with Welch rushing three yards himself with 10 seconds left to give Lewis & Clark a 26-0 halftime lead.
The Pioneers struck pay dirt again on their first series of the second half, needing just four plays to drive 80 yards. Mayes opened the drive with a 55-yard run and capped the series with a 16-yard scoring run just 40 seconds into the third quarter. Peter Lovincy made it a 41-0 lead on his 20-yard reception from Tucker Lawrence with 4:29 left in the quarter. Disan Suarez scored what would be the final touchdown three plays later, recovering Okamoto's fumble at the goal line to make the lead 48-0.
Pacific's best chance to score came late in the game as the Boxers drove deep into Pioneers' territory on a seven-play, 91-yard drive. The drive ended badly when Suarez forced Amorin to fumble at the 13-yard line. Kelly recovered at the five-yard line, which allowed the Pioneers to run out the clock.
Spencer Bell (Fr., Gresham, Ore.) had another strong day in the kicking department, punting five times for 178 yards. Tim Hastie (Fr., Auberry, Calif.) and Chris Santiago (Fr., Waipahu, Hawaii) each had 4.5 tackles. John Berkoff finished with 5.5 tackles to lead the Pioneers, including four tackles for loss for 13 yards.
Pacific trades one fly offense for another next week, returning home on Saturday to face Willamette. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Lewis & Clark will host Menlo.
