Whitworth Blitzes, Runs Their Way Past Pacific
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. – Pacific found themselves stymied by an aggressive Whitworth defensive attack Saturday, while the Pirates put together a season-best day for their running game as they dispatched the Boxers 48-6 in Northwest Conference football action at the Pine Bowl.
Pacific (0-7, 0-4 NWC) was under pressure from a constantly blitzing Whitworth defense all afternoon. The Pirates limited the Boxers to 11 first downs and just two scores, both on Moses Villareal-Gomez (Fr., Stockton, Calif.) field goals. Whitworth (2-5, 1-2 NWC) picked off Pacific quarterbacks three times, converting two of those interceptions into touchdowns.
The Boxers were limited to a season low 193 yards of total offense, 151 of those coming in the air. P.J. Minaya (So., Wahiawa, Hawaii) completed 10 of 18 passes for 85 yards with one interception to lead Pacific at quarterback. Starter T.C. Campbell (So., Kaimuki, Hawaii) completed just 5 of 14 passes for 66 yards and was picked twice.
Jordan Fukumoto (So., Mililani, Hawaii) led seven Pacific receivers with 44 yards on four catches. Gunther Schultze (So., Bellflower, Calif.) had two catches for 33 yards and rushed for 17 more yards. Davis Jacobs (So., Tigard, Ore.) rushed eight times for 18 yards to lead six Pacific ball carriers.
Zac Hill went the distance for Whitworth at quarterback, completing 10 of 16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns as the Pirates racked up a season high 464 yards of total offense, which included a season best 313 yards rushing. Ronnie Thomas came alive for 159 of those rushing yards, including three touchdowns. Wade Meyer caught three balls for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Pacific saw their opening drive stunted four plays in with Whitworth's Kainoa Raguindin intercepting Campbell at midfield. The Pirates converted the turnover into a score when Thomas rushed in from two-yards out to go ahead 7-0 just five minutes into the game.
The Boxers opened their next drive in Whitworth territory with Deven McKinney (Fr., Spanaway, Wash.) running the kickoff back 41 yards to the Pirates' 45-yard line. Whitworth's defense held the Boxers to a field goal, with Villareal-Gomez scoring on a 38-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game.
Whitworth made it 13-3 on their first possession of the second quarter. Thomas once again did the honors, rushing in from 13 yards with 10:36 left in the half. The Pirates' defense held Pacific on each of their next two possessions before Hill found Jake DeGooyer for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds to go, which gave the home team a 19-3 halftime lead.
The Pirates opened the second half in much the way they ended the first. Thomas did most of the duty in the six-play, 73-yard drive, which included a 46-yard sprint for the score. Austin Ehlo then connected on the two-point conversion attempt that put Whitworth up 27-3 four minutes into the quarter.
Minaya marched the Boxers down 40 yards in what became their final scoring drive of the game, which was buoyed by a pair of 15-yard Whitworth penalties. Villareal-Gomez connected on the 37-yard field goal to bring the Boxers within 27-6 with 9:11 left in the third.
Raguindin grabbed his second interception of the game on Pacific's next drive, picking up Minaya in Whitworth territory and running the ball back to midfield. The Pirates needed two plays make it a 34-6 game with Sean Scott rushing in from 12 yards out for the touchdown.
Whitworth scored two mote touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the rout. Meyer made it a 41-6 game when Hill found him for a 51-yard scoring strike on the first play of the period. Scott finished off scoring when he rushed in three yards to cap an 11-play, six-minute drive.
Bryan Mills (So., Imbler, Ore.) finished with a Pacific season high 12 tackles, which included a half tackle for loss. Tim Hastie (So., Auberry, Calif.) finished with eight tackles. Paul Miller, Ryan Loutsis and Jonathan Allan each had six tackles to lead the Pirates.
Pacific plays their final home game of the 2011 season next weekend, hosting Puget Sound for homecoming. Kickoff at Lincoln Park Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m. Whitworth comes south to face Willamette.
