Pirates can’t mill around with much-improved Loggers

There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when a midseason matchup against the University of Puget Sound would have seemed like the perfect cure for a two-game losing streak.

Unfortunately for Whitworth College, that is no longer the case.

The Pirates expect to have their hands full in today’s Northwest Conference football game against the Loggers that kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Baker Stadium in Tacoma.

“UPS is one of our conference teams that I thought, entering the season, could vie for a national playoff spot,” Whitworth coach John Tully said of the Loggers (3-2, 1-1 NWC), who tripped Pacific Lutheran 23-13 last week. “I have seen nothing on film that would indicate otherwise to me at this point.

“They have nearly every key player back from last year and look improved this season.”

Whitworth (2-2, 0-1) torched the Loggers 38-21 in the Pine Bowl last season, but comes into today’s game having dropped back-to-back games to Eastern Oregon and Linfield, the No. 1-ranked NCAA Division III team in the country.

Still, Tully sees no reason to panic, especially after reviewing last Saturday’s 47-32 loss to the defending D-III national champions.

“I thought our guys played with great passion against a very formidable opponent,” Tully said. “We competed throughout, as our coaches would expect. In the end, I think Linfield is even better this year than they were last year, because they are stronger defensively.”

Whitworth’s defense is much improved, too, but still has a penchant for giving up the big play. The Pirates will be severely tested this afternoon by a Loggers rushing attack that is averaging a conference-best 301.8 yards per game. Running back Rory Lee, a first-team all-Northwest Conference selection last season, is averaging 142 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry.

The Loggers finished 5-4 last fall after going 1-17 in the previous two seasons.