Pirates face Willamette in NWC opener

It’s homecoming. Four new members will be inducted into the Whitworth Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame. Two title contenders will tangle in their Northwest Conference football opener.

Yes, Whitworth-Willamette meets the criteria of a key early-season showdown.

Whitworth (2-1), rejuvenated by a comeback win last Saturday, entertains the 23rd-ranked Bearcats (4-0) at 1 p.m. today at the Pine Bowl in the latest installment of a series that often produces thrilling finishes.

Last year, the Pirates won 20-17 in overtime, their first victory in Salem since 2001. In 2005, Willamette upended the host Pirates 40-34 in overtime. The teams have split their last 10 meetings and three of the seven overtime games in Whitworth history have come against Willamette.

“For whatever reason, it always seems to come down to the last moments of the game,” Whitworth coach John Tully said.

The Pirates enter with renewed confidence after a 41-35 road win over Chapman last Saturday. Quarterback Mike Peck stepped in for Kory Kemp, lost for the season with a broken fibula against Redlands on Sept. 20, and delivered a steady, no-turnover performance. He passed for 168 yards and one touchdown.

Tully pointed out that several units stepped up after the blowout loss to Redlands two weeks ago. The offensive line cleared the way for 218 rushing yards and Peck was sacked just once.

The defense came up with three turnovers and shut out Chapman in the fourth quarter. The group played much of the game without cornerback Derek Stottlemyer, who suffered a season-ending broken tibia, and linebacker Paul Werhane (ankle), who isn’t expected to play today.

Willamette leads the NWC in scoring offense (35.2 points), rushing offense (247 yards), scoring defense (15.2) and turnover margin (plus 7). The Bearcats routed La Verne 44-0 on the road a week ago. Whitworth opened the season with a 22-13 home victory against La Verne.

“Their defensive line and linebackers are athletic and they have a solid secondary. They run the fly offense but they spread it out with quite a few different guys carrying the ball,” Tully said. “They’re doing the little things that help create a winning team.”

Note

Whitworth football All-Americans George Elliott (1963-66) and Larry Jacobson (1966-69), basketball/baseball star Bob Mandeville (1981-84) and volleyball All-American Julie (Weatherred) Jones (2001-02) are the newest Hall of Fame members. Enshrinement is this morning and the four will be recognized at halftime.