Defense lifts Pirates

Whitworth held Puget Sound to three first-half points and freshman quarterback Taylor Eglet engineered three scoring drives in the second quarter, hitting three different receivers for TDs to highlight a 24-15 win in Tacoma.

Before allowing two touchdowns in the final five minutes, the Pirates (3-4, 1-2 NWC) held UPS (0-5, 0-2) scoreless from the 5:59 mark in the first quarter to the halfway point in the final frame.

Brandon Martin led the Pirates defensive unit with 10 tackles.

Carroll College 23, Montana Tech 3: Gary Wagner threw for 236 yards on 21 of 31 passing to lead the Saints (8-0, 7-0 Frontier Conference) past the Orediggers (4-4, 4-3) at Helena.

Carroll took the opening kickoff and drove 82 yards, cashing in on a 1-yard TD run by Gabe Le. Montana Tech answered with a field goal on their next drive, but it was all Saints from there.

Central Washington 23, Western Oregon 21: Garrett Rolsma kicked three second-half field goals, including a 44-yarder with 32 seconds left, to lift the Wildcats (8-0, 3-0 GNAC) over the Wolves (3-4, 2-2) at the Battle in Seattle.

D.J. Jackson had touchdown runs of 15 and 10 yards as the Wolves opened a 21-0 halftime lead. After Central drew within 21-10, Western Oregon was driving, but a 100-yard interception return by Jerome Williams shifted the momentum further in the Wildcats direction. Rolsma kicked a 22-yard field goal after a 17-play drive to make it 21-20 with 7:26 left in the fourth.

Willamette 35, Pacific Lutheran 17: Sophomore Jamiere Abney rushed for three second-half touchdowns to lead the Bearcats (6-1, 3-0 NWC) past the Lutes (1-4, 1-1).