FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Luis Salgado blew away Whitworth's single game rushing record to lead the visiting Pirates to a 39-32 win at Pacific University in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium.
Salgado ran for 354 yards on 26 carries (13.6 yards per carry) and scored three touchdowns to help #10/#14 Whitworth improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the NWC. The Boxers fell to 3-4, 1-3.
Salgado's rushing total broke the Pirates' previous school record of 303 yards set by Damion Putney in 1998. It is the highest single-game effort in Division III this season, surpassing the previous high of 258 yards by Izayah Boss of Minn.-Morris on Oct. 12 vs. Westminster. Salgado's 79-yard touchdown run in the second quarter is the longest rush of his career. Whitworth finished with 385 yards on the ground, a season-high total.
Salgado's first carry was a 63-yard run that set up the Pirates inside Pacific's five-yard line. But an ineligible player downfield penalty cost Whitworth a touchdown pass and the Bucs settled for Iden Bone's 23-yard field goal.
The Boxers answered with a 14-play, 79-yard drive, scoring on a three-yard touchdown pass from Braeden Titus to Josiah Chaffin. Then, after Whitworth was forced to punt, Pacific used another 14-play drive to go 69 yards, scoring on Jackson Green's 29-yard field goal to take a 10-3 lead over the Pirates.
Salgado tied the game one play later, bursting through the middle of the line and outraced the Pacific defense for the 79-yard touchdown run.
After the Pirates forced Pacific to punt, two more long runs by Salgado set up Whitworth for a five-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Blair to Evan Liggett that capped a 91-yard drive and gave the Bucs the lead back at 17-10.
Zach Brooks intercepted Titus at midfield and Whitworth took advantage, going 49 yards in 10 plays and scoring on Blair's 15-yard fade pass to Liggett. Liggett increased his touchdown reception total to 14 this season, one away from Michael Allen's school record total of 15 set in 2006.
Pacific answered right before halftime when Brody Bantolina scored on a 29-yard run with only 15 seconds left in the second quarter. Whitworth blocked the extra point to take a 24-16 lead into halftime.
The Boxers took the opening possession of the second half 70 yards in seven plays, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Titus to Chaffin. The two-point attempt fell incomplete and the Pirates' lead was cut to 24-22.
Late in the third quarter Salgado ran for a ten-yard touchdown to cap a 66-yard drive and give Whitworth a 31-22 lead. Pacific was able to cut the margin to 31-26 on Green's 32-yard field goal with just over nine minutes to play in the game.
On the ensuing drive, Salgado carried five times for 30 yards on tired legs. He still had enough to put the game out of reach with a nine-yard touchdown run with only 2:37 to play in the game that gave the Bucs a 39-25 lead after Cameron Sheley scored on a reverse for the two-point conversion. The clinching score was set up by Blair's 12-yard run on the previous play on third and one at the Pacific 21-yard line.
Pacific scored its final touchdown with 56 seconds left when Titus threw a 13-yard pass to Riley Camarillo. Whitworth recovered the ensuing on-sides kick to secure the game.
Blair completed 12 of 17 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. That pick was Blairs first since the first quarter of game one, ending a streak of 181 straight passes without an interception. He increased his season touchdown total to 27, only two away from tying Whitworth's single season record of 29.
Liggett caught six passes for 73 yards and the two scores.
Brooks led Whitworth with 12 tackles, in addition to his interception. Nathan Hummel added ten stops, including 1.5 for loss. The Pirates did not have a sack for the first time this season.
Titus completed 22 of 31 passes for 261 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for Pacific. Chaffin caught 10 of those for 117 yards and two scores. Bantolina, who is the NWC's leading rusher this season, ran for 163 yards on 29 carries with one score.
Whitworth outgained Pacific 537-455, averaging 10.7 yards per play. The Boxers had a 33:48 – 26:12 advantage in time of possession.
Whitworth returns home for the first time in three weeks next Saturday to host Lewis & Clark in the Pine Bowl at 1:00 pm.