Pirates’ playoff path passes through Salem

Armed with its highest ranking in the AFCA Division III football poll, Whitworth College puts its playoff hopes on the line today in a critical Northwest Conference game against Willamette.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at McCulloch Stadium in Salem, Ore. If the 17th-ranked Pirates (6-1, 2-1) want to play on past next weekend’s regular-season finale against Pacific Lutheran University, they will have find a way past the surging Bearcats (6-2, 3-0).

Willamette, with a five-game winning streak since falling to Eastern Oregon 20-13 on Sept. 18, is tied with Linfield (7-0, 3-0) atop the NWC standings.

“They were one of the preseason (NWC) favorites, and they have definitely played to that level,” Whitworth coach John Tully said of Willamette.

Willamette is coming off last weekend’s 26-21 win over PLU. The Bearcats scored twice in the final 3 1/2 minutes to pull off the great escape.

Whitworth dusted off Lewis & Clark 69-12 last Saturday for its third consecutive win and could make a dramatic statement to the D-III playoff selection committee with a road win over Willamette. The Pirates were ranked in the top 10 nationally on several occasions when they were an NAIA school, but have never been rated higher than 22nd since becoming an NCAA Division III affiliate in 1998.