SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth built a 35-0 halftime lead and posted its first shutout in two seasons on Saturday, defeating visiting Willamette 48-0 in a Northwest Conference contest at the Pine Bowl.
The #14/#18 Pirates won on Homecoming to improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats dropped to 3-2, 0-2 and have not scored in either of their conference contests.
Ryan Blair completed 17 of 22 passes for 304 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in just over one half of play.
After punting on its first possession of the game, Whitworth scored touchdowns on the next six possessions to blow the game open. The Pirate defense preserved the shutout by blocking a field goal and forcing a fumble at its own goal line on the final play of the game.
The shutout is Whitworth's first since a 59-0 win over Puget Sound on Oct. 29, 2022.
Blair found tight end James Lee running free down the middle of the field for a 49-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. He then hit a streaking Evan Liggett for a 44-yard score on the first play of the second quarter.
After a quick three-and-out by Willamette, Blair threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Tobeck to make it 21-0. After a short punt from the Bearcats, Whitworth took over at the Willamette 43 and scored six plays later on a seven-yard run from Luis Salgado.
Liggett scored the final touchdown of the half with the play of the game. On second down at the Willamette six, he reached high for a six-yard touchdown reception with 1:54 to play.
Liggett now has ten touchdown receptions through five games this season. Whitworth's record for touchdown catches in one season is 15.
After getting the opening kickoff of the second half, Whitworth went 70 yards in nine plays to make it 42-0. Salgado scored his second touchdown of the game, from six yards out. He and Blair did not play again after that possession.
Whitworth's final points of the game came on a pair of Iden Bone field goals, both from 29 yards away. The first came with 1:29 left in the third and the second with 2:29 left in the game.
Daniel McKiernan blocked Willamette's 32-yard field goal attempt with 9:51 left in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats' final possession started at their own 24 and they went 75 yards in nine plays. On third down at the Whitworth seven, Trajan Clark caught a pass and was headed toward the right corner of the endzone when Pirate DB Caden Keithly knocked the ball from his possession at the one-yard line and it rolled out of the endzone for a touchback.
Whitworth came into the game leading NCAA Division III in turnover margin and the Pirates finished the game with a 2-0 advantage.
Whitworth outgained Willamette 543-237. At halftime the Bucs had outgained the Bearcats 355-75.
Tobeck and Liggett finished with five catches apiece, for 98 and 97 yards, respectively. Tobeck caught a touchdown for the third game in a row. Logan Lacio went 5-10 for 55 yards in relief of Blair in the second half.
Luis Salgado ran 10 times for 75 yards and two scores, while Kurt Solano picked up 68 yards on only six carries. Whitworth finished with 184 yards on the ground, a season-high total.
Zach Brooks led the Pirate defense with ten tackles, the fifth straight game he's led the squad. Macajah Weisner, making his first career start at outside linebacker, finished with eight tackles and a half sack. Trevor Gravelle made four tackles and forced and recovered a fumble in the second half.
Alex Rivera IV went 13 of 20 passing for 103 yards for Willamette and also ran 12 times for 24 net yards. He was sacked three times. Clark caught five of his passes for 28 yards.
Whitworth will return to action next Saturday at Puget Sound.