Pirates rough up Leopards

Linebacker Marc Grow returned a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown, reeled in an interception and added a sack to help the Whitworth Pirates post their first shutout since 2003, a 34-0 victory over the La Verne Leopards in La Verne, Calif., on Saturday.

Whitworth (1-1) outrushed La Verne (0-2) 284-1 for the game. Tyler Mattair and Adam Anderson each rushed for 102 for the Pirates, while Chris Ahsing added 79.

Whitworth led 12-0 at the half and took control in the third quarter when Greg Caster sacked Leopards quarterback Troy Doolittle and forced the fumble that Grow scooped up and ran into the end zone.

Kory Kemp – in his second career start – completed 10 of 18 passes for 91 yards. Backup QB Jon Luke connected with wide receiver Steve Silva for a 35-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Silva finished with three catches for 71. Luke was 3 for 3 for 86 yards.

Nebraska-Omaha 45, Western Washington 10: At Omaha, Neb., Zach Miller threw a pair of TD passes and ran for two scores to lead the Division-II eighth-ranked Mavericks (3-0) over the Vikings (1-1).

Pacific Lutheran 48, Wisconsin-River Falls 37: Brett Gordon completed 16 of 28 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns and also led the Lutes (2-0) in rushing with 49 yards on 11 carries in a victory over the Falcons in River Falls, Wis.

North Dakota 35, Central Washington 28: Brandon Brady scored on a 1-yard run with 2:18 left in the game and the second-ranked Fighting Sioux (3-0, 1-0) held off the Wildcats (1-1, 0-1) in a North Central Conference opener in Grand Forks, N.D.

Puget Sound 22, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 12: Silas Paul rushed for 127 yards and three TDs to lead the Loggers (2-0) over the Stags (1-1) in Claremont, Calif.