Whits open season at Pine Bowl

The St. Scholastica Saints from Duluth, Minn., visit Whitworth at the Pine Bowl Saturday in the season opener for both teams. The Pirates have more experience returning on defense (nine starters) but its offense is led by three-year starter Bryan Peterson. Coach John Tully is hoping for a repeat of 2012 where his team won the first four non-conference games against the same slate of teams for 2013. The Saints finished 8-3 last year and are seeking to reach the playoffs for the third-straight season after receiving the automatic bid in 2012 for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. The Saints are led by returning starter Tyler Harper at quarterback and have all-conference players in senior wide receiver Cory Gebhard, center Pete Stanely, defensive end Blake Cedarleaf, safety Alec French and cornerback Mike LaValley.