SPOKANE, Wash. – Jacob Hogger intercepted a pass in the final seconds to preserve a Whitworth football victory for the second week in a row. This week he picked off Cameron Burston with 23 seconds to play at the Whitworth 27 yard line to secure a 31-29 victory over Lincoln University in front of 1,720 fans at the Pine Bowl.
The Pirates (2-0) survived a fourth quarter comeback by the Oaklanders (0-2), who rallied from a 31-9 deficit over the game's final 14 minutes. Lincoln, in its first season as a collegiate football program, outgained Whitworth 221-9 in the fourth quarter to fuel the comeback attempt.
Whitworth scored midway through the first quarter when Jaedyn Prewitt completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Peloquin to cap a 36-yard drive, set up by Mason Bertelli's interception.
Prewitt completed a pass to Peloquin later in the quarter, but Peloquin fumbled trying to stretch for extra yards and Jaquez Williams-Christ scooped up the ball and ran 30 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked.
Lincoln had its first sustained drive of the game in the second quarter, going 47 yards before Oswaldo Ochoa kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Oaklanders the first lead in the history of their program, 9-7.
That lead lasted 37 seconds. Prewitt found Isaac Fields wide-open over the middle for a short pass and Fields went 62 yards for a touchdown that gave the Pirates a 14-9 lead, which they took to halftime.
The Bucs extended their advantage to 17-9 on their second possession of the second half on Nate RaPue's 30-yard field goal. He is now 9-9 in his career on field goal attempts.
Patrick Serrano intercepted Burston at the Lincoln 42 and ran up the Pirate sideline for a touchdown on the Oaklanders' next possession, extending Whitworth's lead to 24-9.
The Pirates went 74 yards for their final touchdown. The drive started late in the third but finished up two plays into the fourth when Isaiah Jones ran in from two yards out to give Whitworth a 31-9 lead with 14:50 to play.
Lincoln fought back, getting within 31-15 on Burston's four-yard keeper around the left end to cap a 67-yard drive. The two-point attempt failed.
Kobe Jenkins intercepted Prewitt right in front of the Oaklanders' bench three plays later at the Whitworth 38-yard line. Burston took advantage, connecting with Lamar Housely for a 38-yard touchdown on the first play, getting the visitors within 31-22 after the extra point with 9:29 to go in the game.
For the second straight week the Pirates were unable to generate a first down in the fourth quarter, which prevented them from running out the clock.
Lincoln got within 31-29 with 3:54 to play when Burston threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Demond Short, capping a 69-yard drive.
After Whitworth was unable to get a first down one last time, the Oaklanders took over deep in their own territory with 2:14 to play. They got as far as their own 41 when Hogger intercepted Burston's final pass to seal the win.
Lincoln outgained Whitworth 452-302, including a 181-83 edge in rushing yards. The Oaklanders had the ball for 36:15 to 23:45 for the Pirates.
Prewitt completed 13 of 29 passes for 187 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Caleb Christensen played two series at QB for the Bucs and went 3-7 for 32 yards in the second quarter. Peloquin caught four passes for 50 yards, while Fields finished with three receptions for 71 yards. Both had touchdowns. Solomon Hines ran 12 times for 42 yards to lead the ground game.
Burston completed 11 of 27 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Faison Knight caught five balls for 62 yards. Burston also ran 18 times for 67 yards, while Damone Drew picked up 53 yards on only five carries.
BJ Mullin had eight tackles to lead the defense, while Serrano had seven stops to go with his long interception return. Bertelli had a ten-yard sack along with his interception. Colten Chelin also had a pick for Whitworth.
Emmit Gooden, a transfer from Tennessee, led Lincoln with seven tackles. Claude Allen had six stops.
Whitworth will head to Southern California to play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps next Saturday at 11:30 am.