Willamette Pursues Perfection

Sat., Nov. 15, 1997

By Hilary Kraus hilaryk@spokesman.com

Liz Heaston, the Willamette soccer star who made history this year when she became the first woman to play college football, won’t be here today when Whitworth College plays host to the Bearcats.

Heaston, a sweeper, and her seventh-ranked Willamette soccer team are off to the regional playoffs.

The school’s No. 3-ranked football team - doing fine without Heaston, thank you - is one game away from the postseason. The only thing that stands in the way of its first perfect regular season since 1968 is Whitworth. The Pirates enter their final game of the season with a 2-6, 1-3 Northwest Conference record. Willamette is 9-0, 4-0 and last week wrapped up the title for the third straight season.

Last year, Whitworth played Willamette tough, leading 26-23 in the fourth quarter at Willamette before the Bearcats scored two late TDs for a 37-26 win. The Pirates haven’t beaten the Bearcats since 1992.

This year, Whitworth faces the top-ranked defense in the NAIA as the Bearcats are giving up just 191.8 yards per game in total offense. Whitworth is allowing 422.4 yards per game.

Willamette’s offense averages 407 yards per game, first in the NCIC. Quarterback Chuck Pinkerton, last season’s NCIC offensive player of the year, has thrown for a conference-leading 897 yards and seven scores in eight games. He’s rushed for 455 yards and six TDs.

Whitworth running back Damian Putney leads the Pirates offense, rushing for 418 yards and scoring four TDs. Receiver Matt Stueckle leads the team in receptions and has 339 yards and five touchdowns.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TODAY’S GAME Willamette (9-0, 4-0) plays at Whitworth (2-6, 1-3) 1 p.m. Pine Bowl Radio: KSBN 1230 AM

This sidebar appeared with the story: TODAY’S GAME Willamette (9-0, 4-0) plays at Whitworth (2-6, 1-3) 1 p.m. Pine Bowl Radio: KSBN 1230 AM

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Willamette Pursues Perfection

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Where Eastern Washington, Idaho landed in Big Sky preseason polls

How former Whitworth QB Noah Riley, brother of WSU basketball coach, turned self-published book into unlikely NFL career

Updated: Despite some irritating flaws, 2026 World Cup a rousing success for FIFA, US and fans | Commentary