Whitworth, PLU: strength vs. strength

This should be interesting.

Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran collide today at 1 p.m. at the Pine Bowl for the Pirates’ homecoming.

Both teams harbor Northwest Conference championship aspirations. Both teams are on the verge of cracking the Division III Top 25 rankings. The Pirates (3-1, 1-0 NWC) lead the conference in scoring defense, passing defense and total defense. PLU (4-0, 1-0) boasts the highest scoring offense in the conference.

“Everybody’s strength is kind of countered by everybody’s strength,” Whitworth coach John Tully said. “This is the best team that PLU has had in probably five or six years.”

The Lutes put up an average of 41.8 points and are 4-0 for the first time since 1997. Whitworth yields an average of 11.2 points and has already posted two shutouts. The last time that happened was 1976.

PLU receiver Chase Reed scored four touchdowns – three rushing – in a 37-8 win over Puget Sound, earning NWC offensive player of the week honors. Receiver Craig Chiado, a first-team All-NWC selection last year, has 23 catches and freshman Greg Ford averages 26.3 yards per reception. Quarterback Brett Gordon, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, is listed as the starter. Michael Byrne, Gordon’s backup, has proven effective with a 177.8 passer rating.

“They run every formation you can think of and then some,” said Pirates defensive coordinator Kirk Westre, who was a freshman tight end on a PLU national championship team under coach Frosty Westering, who turned over the reigns to son, Scott, four years ago. “Most teams have a core of 20-25 plays you can count on them running consistently. They’re in the hundreds.”

Whitworth’s defense and PLU’s offense receive most of the attention, but both teams are proficient on the other side of the ball.

The Pirates lead the NWC in rushing offense (211.2 yards) with Adam Anderson first in the conference at 88.5 yards per game. Steve Silva’s 28 catches rank first in the NWC.

PLU is No. 1 in rush defense (73.5), No. 2 in scoring defense (18.8), but last in pass defense (266). Whitworth is tied for first nationally with a plus-12 turnover margin; the Lutes are plus-11.