Pirates Ready To Win Again, Coach Claims
As its football season comes to an end, the future is now for Whitworth College.
“The foundation is there. Now we have to build on it,” said Pirates coach John Tully, whose team plays on the road Saturday at McMinnville, Ore., against Linfield College.
“I truly believe success is going to come to them. We’ve got the nucleus. We have to fill in the final parts.”
The Pirates achieved their first victory of the season last Saturday when they defeat the University of Puget Sound. The 39-7 triumph improved their record to 1-7 overall and 1-3 in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges and stopped a 15-game losing streak that began last season.
Despite the newness of winning, Tully said this week’s practice was “pretty much the same.”
From the start of the season, the second-year coach has praised his team for its positive attitude and excellent work habits. Nothing has caused him to stray from his standard compliments.
“The biggest thing about this year is that it’s been exciting for us to see this group of players get better every week,” he said. “Sometimes it sounds like a lie, but we really love this group of players.”
Linfield has a 4-4, 2-2 record and must win to keep its streak of 41 consecutive winning seasons alive. The Wildcats own the longest active streak in the country at any level.
Whitworth, on the other hand, has the most modest of streaks.
“We’d like to keep the streak going,” Tully said. “We’ve put ourselves in a position to win all season long. And we plan on it happening again.”
Linfield’s strength has been in defense. The Wildcats have given up a conference-low 18 touchdowns and rank second in fewest yards allowed (328 per game). Whitworth’s defense ranks last, having allowed 36 touchdowns and 454 yards per game.
Linfield’s top running backs are junior Tramaine Payne and sophomore Brandon Flood. Payne has gained more yards, 550-540, but Flood leads in touchdowns, 9-5.
Whitworth will continue to rely on running backs Damian Putney (483 yards, two TDs) and Brian Bratonia (315 yards, no TDs).
Six Whitworth seniors will play in their final game. The rest of the team could be back in 1997 with a foundation that includes many players who have three more years of eligibility.
, DataTimes