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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Whits hope to return to winning vs. UPS

The Spokesman-Review

The Whitworth Pirates will attempt to bounce back from last weekend’s emotionally draining 48-37 loss to No. 2-ranked Linfield and secure their first Northwest Conference win of the season this afternoon when the University of Puget Sound travels to the Pine Bowl.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The Bucs (3-1 overall, 0-1 NWC) will likely have their hands full again in trying to deal with a vastly improved UPS team (3-2, 0-2) that lost its first two conference games by a total of eight points.

“Puget Sound is a good football team,” Whitworth coach John Tully said of the Loggers, who lost to Willamette 21-19 and dropped a 33-27 overtime decision to Pacific Lutheran. “They’re doing all the things a good team should, like control the clock, get turnovers and avoid giving up big plays.”

Whitworth will test the Loggers’ stingy defense with a spread passing game that produced 366 yards against Linfield. Sophomore quarterback Joel Clark remains the Pirates’ offensive catalyst, having accounted for 502 yards – the second most in school history – and two passing touchdowns in last Saturday’s loss.

Whitworth has won the last eight meetings in the series, including a 13-7 decision last season.

The Pirates lead the series 29-25-1.