The combination of its quick-strike offense and the powerful running from its backfield propelled visiting Pacific University to a 21-12 win over host Willamette on Saturday afternoon in Salem.
The Boxers (3-4, 2-2 NWC) scored all 21 of its points on drives under 3:00 and have scored 69 of its last 76 points in an expeditious manner. Pacific running back Brandon Boyd (Gilroy, California) had his third two-touchdown game of the season in the win. Boyd led a Pacific offense that outgained the Bearcats, 236 to 108 on the ground. Boyd had his second-straight, 100-yard game in the win with 133 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.
The Bearcats (2-5, 1-3 NWC) outgained the Boxers by a 437 to 397 margin in the defeat. Willamette quarterback Ryan Knowlton completed 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target on the day was Jeremiah James, who caught seven passes for 170 yards and a touchdown in the loss. 70 of the yards for Knowlton and James came on a pass late in the fourth quarter.
Late in the first quarter, Boyd put Pacific ahead after each of the two teams had a turnover and punted the ball twice. The junior running back found a hole to his liking from his offensive line teammates for an early Boxers' 7-0 lead. For the season, Pacific has outscored its opponents by a 56-51 margin in the opening quarter with 28 of the 56 coming in the last two games. Earlier in the quarter, a penalty kept points off the scoreboard when Campbell Summerfield (Sandy, Ore.) connected with Kobe Williams on a 49-yard pass reception.
Also, earlier in the quarter, the Boxers' defense kept the Wildcats from going ahead early when Nikolaisen forced and recovered a fumble to end a drive. In the second quarter, a missed field goal midway through the quarter by Willamette kept it a 7-0 game. At halftime, the game was dominated by the defense as the Boxers had been held to 223 yards of total offense and the Bearcats were limited to 163.
Midway through the third quarter, the quick-strike offense of Pacific struck again with Summerfield finding Williams for a 64-yard touchdown pass to stretch the lead to 14-0. For Williams, it is his seventh touchdown of the season and five of the seven touchdown pass receptions have been for over 40 yards.
The Bearcats answered the Pacific score with an eight play, 82-yard drive that ended with a one-yard plunge by Jimmy Sharpe on third and goal to cut the deficit to 14-6.
With 2:24 to play, the Bearcats' Knowlton connected with James for a 70-yard touchdown strike that made it 21-12 but a stingy Pacific defense denied the two-point attempt. After a failed onside kick attempt by Willamette, the Boxers' sealed the win with three-straight rushes to end the game.
The Boxers will come back home for Family Weekend when they will host Whitworth at Hanson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.