Freeman’s Kicks Sink Whitworth

Small colleges

Sophomore John Freeman kicked three field goals as the Western Oregon Wolves spoiled Whitworth’s season opener 15-14 Saturday at Monmouth, Ore.

Freeman’s 37-yarder with 10:45 left in the game was the difference for the Wolves (1-0). Freeman also made field goals of 21 and 39 yards.

Whitworth quarterback Josh Parbon scored on a 1-yard run, capping a 90-yard drive, and later scored on a 5-yard run as the Pirates built a 14-3 halftime lead.

After Freeman’s last kick, Whitworth drove to its own 49-yard line with 25 seconds left, but the Wolves’ Steve Ott recovered a fumble to preserve the win.

Parbon threw for 111 yards and ran for 66 more. Damian Putney added 82 rushing yards for the Pirates.

Western Oregon 15, Whitworth 14

Whitworth 7 7 0 0 - 14

Western Oregon 3 3 6 3 - 15

WOSC - Freeman 21 field goal WC - Parbon 1 run (Stueckle kick) WC - Putney 5 run (Stueckle kick) WOSC - Freeman 39 field goal WOSC - Millbrooke 74 pass from Davis (pass failed) WOSC - Freeman 37 field goal

A - 2,517.

WC WOSC First downs 15 19 Rushes-yards 44-155 30-69 Passing yards 117 223 Return yards 67 20 Passes 14-22-1 19-39-1 Punts-Avg. 8-35.3 7-35.7 Fumbles-lost 3-3 2-1 Penalties-yards 4-44 10-105

Individual statistics

Rushing - Whitworth, Putney 26-82, Parbon 15-66, Vaday 1-5. Western Oregon, Espiau 11-46, Godin 5-23, Bickler 4-13, Chapin 1-(minus 1), Davis 9-(minus 12).

Passing - Whitworth, Parbon 13-21-1-111. Western Oregon, Davis 16-31-1-195, Bickler 3-8-0-28.

Receiving - Whitworth, Simmons 5-34, Stueckle 3-45, Torgo 3-15, Glenn 2-9, Gustafson 1-14. Western Oregon, Doran 6-61, Millbrooke 3-95, Miles 3-28, Neil 3-14, Frankus 2-14, Espiau 1-8, Chapin 1-3.

W. Washington 35, Chapman 0

Defensive end Chad Rorabaugh returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns to lift the Vikings over the visiting Panthers.

The Vikings, the NAIA Division II runners-up last season and ranked No. 2 in this week’s NAIA national poll, started the game with a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped by Darren Erath’s 5-yard TD pass to Erik Moran.

Puget Sound 20, Claremont 3

John Weaver caught nine passes for 114 yards and one touchdown as Puget Sound, winless in 1996, started the 1997 season with a victory over visiting Claremont.

The Loggers were 0-9 last season. Their last win was Nov. 4, 1995, against Whitworth.

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