Whitworth Runs Into More Bad Luck With Loss Of Qb

It’s not like the Whitworth College football team doesn’t have enough adversity to fight. But this one really hurts.

Pirates quarterback John Parbon, off to a good start, injured his left knee in practice Tuesday and could miss the rest of the season.

“There was no contact, no nothing. He just made a cut.” Whitworth coach John Tully said.

The injury comes during the week the Pirates are preparing for their home opener, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Pomona-Pitzer of Claremont, Calif. The meeting will be the first between the two teams. The Sagehens, an NCAA Division III team, are off to a 2-0 start after beating Grinnell (Iowa) College 55-20 and Colorado College 31-7.

Whitworth lost its first two games, 15-14 to Western Oregon and 31-7 to Montana Tech.

However, the Pirates, winners of just two games the past two seasons, have been showing signs of improvement behind Parbon. Oddly enough, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound quarterback out of Aberdeen (Wash.) High, was redshirted last season because he was recuperating from shoulder surgery. Two years ago, he started in six games as a freshman and completed 55 percent of his attempts for 534 yards and three touchdowns.

In two games this year, Parbon threw for 220 yards (21 of 37). On the ground, he was a key player, rushing for 113 yards and one of the team’s three touchdowns.

Tully said he’s planning to use sophomore Casey Doyle (6-2, 185) and Carroll College sophomore transfer Tim Mitrovich (6-0, 200) of Kennewick.

Doyle, who played high school ball at Tumwater, shared the starting role last year, completing 41 of 91 passes for 501 yards and four touchdowns.

“Mitrovich is an outstanding runner and ball handler. Doyle has great awareness out there,” Tully said.

The Pirates will also have to rely on sophomore running back Damian Putney. In two games, the 5-11, 175-pound athlete out of Sprague-Harrington is leading the team with 176 yards on 55 carries and two touchdowns. Sophomore Matt Stueckle, a Lewis and Clark High product, leads the team with six pass receptions for 59 yards.

The Pirates offense is averaging 245 yards per game. Their defense is allowing 454. Tully said the team has addressed the problem and he’s confident it will respond.

“This was the best week of practice we’ve had. I expect them to play well Saturday,” the third-year coach said.

Pomona-Pitzer, 6-2 last season, is led by 6-2, 195-pound quarterback Jack Ramirez. In two victories, Ramirez has passed for 492 yards and six touchdowns, three to wide receiver Jake Howard.

Tailback James Regan leads the team in rushing, amassing 258 yards and three touchdowns.

, DataTimes