Whitworth Looking For Home Win
This one is in reach for the Whitworth College football team.
This one, one year ago at Eastern Oregon State College, was the only one the Pirates managed to win during their forgettable 1-8 season.
This one, says Whitworth coach John Tully, “will be two pretty equal teams.”
And equality should bring opportunity.
The Pirates enter their home opener today at the Pine Bowl coming off a 35-7 loss to NAIA No. 4-ranked Central Washington. The Mountaineers, also 1-8 last season, lost their season opener 24-6 at NCAA Division III Chapman (Calif.) College.
Last year, Whitworth defeated Eastern Oregon 21-17 the first week of the season before losing eight straight.
“The big difference is they have a veteran group coming back. They’re about one or two years older than us,” Tully said.
The Mountaineers, who lost four games last year by nine or fewer points, return eight offensive starters and 15 overall. Their top running back, Chris Vogt of Monroe, Wash., stands to give the Pirates the most fits. Last year, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound back carried 18 times for 83 yards and one touchdown against Whitworth. In three seasons, the Columbia Football Association’s top returning rusher had 12 touchdowns on 1,728 yards. He added another TD against Chapman.
Vogt suffered a hip pointer in the first quarter last week and is listed as questionable. Prior to the injury, Vogt was off to a fast start, scoring EOSC’s only touchdown on a 36-yard run.
Freshman Justin Marshall of La Grande, Ore., stepped in to replace Vogt and answered by rushing for 85 yards on 16 carries.
“Vogt’s a very good football player,” said Tully, who said he expects to see Vogt play.
On offense, Whitworth must withstand the growing pains of freshman redshirt QB Rob Leslie, who was 9 of 19 for 107 yards for one touchdown last week.
Sophomore running back Ben Vaday blew out a knee in practice this week and is out for the season.
Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. Prior to the game, five people will be inducted into the Whitworth College Heritage Gallery athletic hall of fame.
, DataTimes