Whitworth Overruns Sagehens

Small-college football

Off to an 0-2 start this season, without their starting quarterback and about to face undefeated Pomona-Pitzer, the Whitworth Pirates probably heard frequently this week about the need to “step up.”

And even if that is the No. 1-ranked sports cliche of the 90s, it’s exactly what the Bucs did Saturday afternoon at the Pine Bowl in a surprising 49-35 victory over the Sagehens.

Two new quarterbacks stepped up, the defense stepped up, the coaches … well, you get the picture.

The Pirates and coach John Tully were absolutely elated after Whitworth’s first win of the season, and despite yielding five touchdowns, the Pirates defenders were the unsung heroes, forcing turnovers on four straight second-half possessions.

Three of the takeaways were interceptions by Ryan Wilson, Andy Clark and Travis Torco, and Torco - one of only two senior starters on the Pirates defense - gave Whitworth a two-touchdown lead early in the fourth quarter when he scored on a 30-yard fumble return.

Spirits were sagging earlier in the week when Whitworth QB Josh Parbon suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice. But the Pirates got a sensational performance from sophomore back-up Casey Doyle, and Tim Mitrovich wasn’t bad either as the Bucs’ designated QB head-banger.

Doyle completed 15 of 20 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Mitrovich was Whitworth’s second-leading rusher, carrying 11 times for 44 yards and adding a 16-yard second-quarter touchdown pass to David Glenn.

Glenn also caught a TD from Doyle. Matt Stueckle grabbed the other two. Stueckle also kicked seven straight extra points and boomed several kickoffs into the end zone - including one into a stiff breeze.

“We made a huge leap today,” Tully said after meeting with his proud Pirates. “The guys were upbeat all week, even with Josh’s injury, and we just kept responding today against a really impressive Pomona team.

“Our quarterback play was outstanding. I’m committed to playing ‘em both for awhile - they both made great reads - and our receivers were always in the right place. We didn’t have a drop all day.”

The Pirates trailed early when Pomona’s Jack Ramirez threw the first of three touchdown passes. However, the score was tied 14-all at halftime and again at 21 in the third period before sophomore Damian Putney put Whitworth ahead for good, slamming over the left side from the 2-yard-line.

Whitworth led by 14 points after Torco’s TD, but the Sagehens didn’t fold, and both teams were prolific in the fourth quarter, scoring a total of six touchdowns.

But the last word went to Torco, who described his job as “planting a seed. This is the beginning, to show the young guys that we can come out and win ball games. We’ll be back on Monday, getting ready to do it again.”

Whitworth 49, Pomona-Pitzer 35

Pomona-Pitzer 7 7 7 14 - 35 Whitworth 0 14 7 28 - 49

PPC-Portela 7 pass from Ramirez (Regan kick) WC-Glenn 23 pass from Doyle (Stueckle kick) WC-Glenn 16 pass from Mitrovich (Stueckle kick) PPC-Ramirez 1 run (Regan kick) PPC-Portela 20 pass from Ramirez (Regan kick) WC-Stueckle 20 pass from Doyle (Stueckle kick) WC-Putney 2 run (Stueckle kick) WC-Torco 30 fumble recovery (Stueckle kick) PPC-Howard 35 pass from Ramirez (Regan kick) WC-Stueckle 32 pass from Doyle (Stueckle kick) PPC-Regan 10 run (Regan kick) WC-Putney 4 run (Stueckle kick) A-1,750.

PPC WC First downs 24 20 Rushes-yards 45-211 48-153 Passing 210 290 Punt Returns 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns 3-67 6-97 Interceptions Ret. 1-0 3-22 Comp-Att-Int 12-19-3 16-22-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-15 1-4 Punts 1-23.0 1-45.0 Fumbles-Lost 3-2 4-2 Penalties-Yards 3-15 3-43 Time of Possession 26:34 33:26 RUSHING-Pomona-Pitzer: Regan 29-153, Ramirez 14-54, Mims 2-4. Whitworth: Putney 26-70, Mitrovich 11-44, Vaday 6-32, Doyle 3-5, Ashley 2-2.

PASSING-Pomona-Pitzer: Ramirez 12-19-3-210. Whitworth: Doyle 15-20-1-274, Mitrovich 1-2-0-16.

RECEIVING-Pomona-Pitzer: Howard 8-155, Portela 2-27, Jinkerson 1-17, Schultz 1-11. Whitworth: Gustafson 5-135, Stueckle 4-79, Glenn 4-54, Stanley 2-13, McGregor 1-9.

WWU 28, Linfield 17

At McMinnville, Ore., quarterback Darren Erath threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Vikings (2-1) past the Wildcats (1-2).

Willamette 34, CWU 21

At Ellensburg, Danny Osborne ran for two touchdowns and Chuck Pinkerton passed for 238 yards and two scores to lead the Bearcats (3-0) past the Wildcats (2-1).

PLU 27, Simon Fraser 20

At Burnaby, British Columbia, Simon Fraser’s furious fourth-quarter rally ended with a fourth-down incomplete pass in the end zone as the Lutes (3-0) held on against the Clansmen (0-3).

, DataTimes