Pirates, Bearcats both need a win

The Whitworth Pirates will be coming off their second bye week of the season today as they try to keep their NCAA Division III football playoff hopes alive against Willamette in a Northwest Conference game at the Pine Bowl.

Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m., with the Bucs (4-2 overall, 1-1 in the NWC) and visiting Bearcats (4-3, 2-0) needing to win out to have any realistic chance of playing past the regular season.

Lewis & Clark’s decision to cancel the NWC portion of its season created the Pirates’ second bye and also an opportunity to add another win to their playoff resume. Whitworth coach John Tully likes heading into today’s crucial showdown with a healed and well-rested team.

“It was good for our kids, health-wise,” he said of the bye week.

In Willamette, the Bucs face a run-oriented offense that is averaging 247 rushing yards per game. The Bearcats come in on roll, having won their last four games after starting the season 0-3 with losses to Division-II Western Oregon, last year’s D-III national runner-up Mary Hardin-Baylor and perennial NAIA power Azusa Pacific.

“They are obviously playing very well right now,” Tully said. “They are finding ways to win football games in the last moments, and that is a credit to the coaching staff and the character of the players.

Whitworth will counter with a prolific offense that is averaging 477.3 yards per game and ranks 15th nationally in total offense.

Pirates junior quarterback Joel Clark has thrown for an average of 293.2 yards per game and ranks No. 6 in the country in total offense, with an average of 341.8 yards per game.