Rested Whitworth plays first road game

Well-rested and reasonably healthy following an early-season bye week, the Whitworth College Pirates play their first football road game of season this afternoon against Eastern Oregon University.

Kickoff is set for 2 at Community Stadium in La Grande, Ore., and Whitworth coach John Tully expects his unbeaten NCAA Division III Pirates (2-0) to have their hands full against the NAIA Mountaineers (2-1), who are coming off a 24-10 road win over Montana Tech, then the nation’s No. 7-ranked NAIA team, last Saturday.

“Their skill people are very gifted,” Tully said of the Mountaineers, whose 6-4 record in 2004 included a 31-28 road loss to the Pirates. “They are coming off a big win at Tech, and their only loss is to top-ranked Carroll.”

But Whitworth has put up some good numbers, too, in beating California schools Redlands and La Verne.

“Last week gave us a chance to step away and catch up with school, as well as a chance to heal,” Tully said. “I don’t think we should lose our edge since we’ve been at it five straight weeks (including preseason camp).”

Steve Bergum, staff writer