Pirates at Lutes

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Sparks Stadium, Tacoma

Records: Whitworth (4-1, 2-0), Pacific Lutheran (3-1, 2-0)

Radio: 1230-AM

Overview: The Pirates sail to Tacoma to take on the team that historically has beaten them more than any other. The Lutes stumbled last year (2-7) through a rebuilding year, but appear to have figured out a few things. Pacific Lutheran has a 30-10 win over Willamette and a 27-16 victory over Pacific (Oregon). While the Pirates are gaining huge chunks of yardage, the defense is giving up almost as much. After five games, the defense is allowing 530.2 yards a game while quarterback Ian Kolste and company are gaining 554.6 per contest. The Lutes are only averaging 315 yards per game, which could make it difficult if Pacific Lutheran has to match Whitworth score-for-score. However, the Lutes have the stronger ground game if rainy and windy weather affects Whitworth’s air attack. Kolste is completing 73.4 percent of his passes and is second in all of Division III in passing yards (397) and yards from scrimmage (411). The game has huge postseason implications as Whitworth, Pacific Lutheran and Linfield – which visits the Pine Bowl on Oct. 22 – are all tied atop the Northwest Conference.

Thomas Clouse