Lutes overcome slow start for NWC victory

Pacific Lutheran got its offense clicking after a sluggish start and the 15th-ranked Lutes raced past Lewis & Clark 42-21 in a Northwest Conference football game Saturday afternoon in Puyallup, Wash.

Niko Madison ran for 188 yards and PLU’s first touchdown, which came halfway through the second quarter.

The Lutes’ (4-1, 1-1) first five drives resulted in three turnovers and two punts.

Keith Welch threw two touchdowns for the Pioneers (1-4, 1-1).

Pacific 56, Puget Sound 14: P.J. Minaya threw for three first-half touchdowns and the Boxers (5-0, 2-0) clobbered the Loggers (1-3, 0-2) in an NWC game in Forest Grove, Ore.

Central Wash. 27, Dixie State 24: Sean McDonald capped a fourth-quarter rally with a 44-yard field goal with 1 second left and the Wildcats (4-2, 4-1) clipped the Red Storm (2-4, 2-3) in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game in Ellensburg.

Carroll 42, Dickinson State 7: The NAIA seventh-ranked Fighting Saints (5-1, 4-1) dominated the Blue Hawks (1-6, 0-6) in a Frontier Conference game in Helena.