Sophomore Ian Kolste will start at QB for Whitworth

When Whitworth travels to California this weekend to take on the Whittier Poets, the Pirates will start the game with a new quarterback: Ian Kolste.

Kolste, a sophomore from Oak Harbor, Washington, gets the starting nod for the game at 1 p.m. Saturday in place of senior Bryan Peterson (West Valley) who has started almost all of the games since 2011.

Kolste played just over a quarter in Saturday’s 63-10 win over Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns. Peterson completed 10 of 15 passes for 86 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

After the game, coach Rod Sandberg downplayed any quarterback controversy, saying the Pirates (1-0, 1-0 NWC) would need both quarterbacks to succeed this year. Saturday’s game is Whittier’s season opener.

Thomas Clouse