Pirates host PLU for third place in NWC

Sat., Nov. 13, 2004

The Spokesman-Review

Whitworth wraps up its football season in the Pine Bowl today with a 12:30 p.m. showdown against Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran.

Both teams come in 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the NWC. Both lost to No. 2-ranked Linfield (8-0, 4-0) and Willamette (7-2, 4-0), who play today at Linfield to decide the conference title.

Whitworth and PLU will play for third place in the highly competitive NWC, which finished 20-5 against non-league opponents. The Pirates are coming off a 28-17 road loss to Willamette, which rallied from a 10-7 deficit late in the third quarter to post its comeback win.

PLU, in its first season under Scott Westering, a veteran assistant and son of former Lutes coach Frosty Westering, has been getting it done with a strong ground game and stingy defense. Running backs Matt Steiner and Ryan Simpson have combined for 1,165 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Whitworth continues to rely on the ability of sophomore quarterback Joel Clark, who threw for 228 yards and ran for 67 more in last Saturday’s loss to Willamette.

“It should be another nail-biter,” Pirates coach John Tully said. “But it seems like all are games are that way.”

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Pirates host PLU for third place in NWC

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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