Dependable defense

New season, same Whitworth. New season, different La Verne.

That combination produced an interesting non-conference football game Saturday. Whitworth made things a little tougher than it needed to be, but still crafted a 22-13 season-opening victory in front of 2,050 on a picturesque afternoon at the Pine Bowl behind two program staples: rushing offense and defense.

It played out much differently than last year’s contest, won by Whitworth 34-0 at La Verne (Calif.). The Leopards won just one game last season, but second-year coach Andy Ankeny has restocked the roster with 50 new players.

“We made some mistakes, those things happen sometimes,” Pirates coach John Tully said. “Each guy will get a little better, but when we needed to come up and make plays, we did, and as the game went on our offensive line stepped forward. Our defense was tenacious and that’s what we want to do.”

Whitworth did a lot of things it wanted to do and appeared poised to build a comfortable lead late in the first half after three promising first-quarter drives had stalled deep in Leopards territory.

Leading 15-0, Whitworth moved to its 45, but Kory Kemp’s deep pass over the middle hung in the air too long and was intercepted by Joe Padilla, who returned the ball to Whitworth’s 36. Phi Van Le hauled in a 5-yard TD pass from Anthony Andre to put La Verne on the board, but the point-after kick failed.

Whitworth dominated statistically (238-125 in total yards), but led just 15-6 at half. Kemp passed for 105 yards and Adam Anderson, after finding few holes early, produced 95 yards on 17 carries.

Another Kemp interception led to a short-field scoring drive as the visitors from California closed within 15-13 late in the third. The Pirates then turned the game over to their experienced offensive line, Anderson’s physical running and their stingy defense.

Whitworth drove to La Verne’s 26 but fell a yard short of converting on a fourth-and-12 pass play. The Pirates’ defense held and Whitworth marched 59 yards on nine plays – eight runs – with Anderson scoring on a nifty cutback from the 4 with 7:56 remaining.

Whitworth’s defense held again and the Pirates chewed up 4 more minutes before a botched handoff gave the Leopards one last chance. McLane Stone’s jarring tackle dislodged the ball from the hands of a La Verne receiver on fourth down with 1:05 left.

“Our front seven played amazing,” said nose guard Brandon Martin, who had 10 tackles. “Our secondary is young and they’re going to come on. We had three sacks (actually six). We hoped we could contain them, which we did. Thirteen points isn’t too bad.”

Neither are 269 yards rushing, a near 12-minute edge in time of possession and a 50-percent conversion rate on third down (6 of 12). Whitworth had the better of it on both lines as Anderson accumulated 158 yards rushing, Milton Nelson added 81 and Kemp a timely 34. La Verne gained just 6 yards on 36 attempts.

“That’s who they are and we knew that coming in,” said Ankeny, whose team had a first-half touchdown nullified by a penalty. “We talked to our guys non-stop: ‘We have to stop the run.’ But they definitely controlled the run game.”

Whitworth’s passing game clicked early, but Kemp was just 3 of 8 for 26 yards in the second half.

Kemp capped a 70-yard drive by tossing a 5-yard scoring pass to Joey VanHoomissen midway through the second quarter.

The Pirates’ defense held and La Verne punter Jason Carpenter dropped a snap and had the ball knocked away by Nick Ashley as he scrambled, giving Whitworth possession at the Leopards 27. Kemp and VanHoomissen connected again, this time covering 4 yards, to hike Whitworth’s lead to 13-0.

“The first time they weren’t ready for it,” VanHoomissen said. “The second time they were manned up on me and they didn’t even look my way. I just got right behind them.”

The Pirates visit Redlands (Calif.) on Saturday night.