College football: Whitworth whips Chapman as Duke DeGaetano scores three TDs

Duke DeGaetano and the Whitworth Pirates were sharp Saturday night in their final test before beginning their Northwest Conference schedule.

DeGaetano ran for 159 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns to guide Whitworth to a 37-7 win over Chapman (0-2) at Ernie Chapman Stadium in Orange, California.

After a slow first quarter, the Pirates (3-0) got their offense humming in the second. DeGaetano scored the game’s first touchdown from 2 yards out early in the quarter, and then Whitworth tacked on two more right before halftime to blow it open.

Ian Kolste scored from 4 yards out with 1:51 left before halftime and then, following a Chapman turnover, DeGaetano scored from 18 yards out to give the Pirates a 23-0 lead.

Whitworth’s Dalin McDonnell opened the scoring in the second half with a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown and DeGaetano ran in his third touchdown later in the third from 4 yards out.

Pirates’ quarterback Kolste completed 33 of 50 passes for 262 yards. Kevin Thomas had 11 receptions for 115 yards.

Whitworth, which didn’t commit a turnover, came away with three interceptions. The Pirates racked up 486 yards of total offense, including 224 on the ground.

Next up is the Northwest Conference opener next Saturday at home against George Fox.

Trinity (Texas) 23, Pacific Lutheran 13: Austin Grauer threw for two touchdowns and the Tigers (4-0) forced five turnovers in a nonconference win over the Lutes (0-2) in Puyallup, Washington.

Central Washington 40, Simon Fraser 7: Justin Lane threw for two touchdowns, Jordan Todd ran for a pair of scores and the Wildcats (2-2) dumped the Clan (0-3) in a nonconference game in Ellensburg.

Carroll 10, Montana-Western 9: Mac Roche’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Connor Fohn in the fourth sent the Fighting Saints (3-1, 3-1) past the Bulldogs (3-1, 3-1) in a Frontier Conference game in Dillon, Montana.