Whitworth-Pacific football preview

Pirates at Boxers

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. at Hanson Stadium in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Records: Whitworth (5-2, 3-1 NWC), Pacific (3-4, 2-2)

Radio: 1230-AM

Overview: The Pirates hit the road again for an intriguing game against a Boxers team that seems to be the exact opposite of Whitworth. Pacific has won its last two games with the league’s best rushing attack. The Boxers are averaging 191.3 yards a game on the ground and displayed a stout defense in a 55-0 blowout on Oct. 15 of Lewis & Clark and a 21-12 win last week at Willamette. The Boxers must contain the Pirates’ Ian Kolste, who is lighting up defenses in the air. Kolste leads the nation in total offense (386.6 yards a game) and is second in passing yards (380.6) and completions per game (35.1). In Whitworth’s 45-31 loss last weekend to No. 7 Linfield, the defense surrendered 253 yards on the ground and 664 yards total. The Pirates have struggled to find consistency on defense and have allowed an average of 33.3 points and 534 yards a game. That is 12 points and 165 more yards a game than in 2015. Duke DeGaetano again leads the Pirates on the ground. The running back leads the conference and is third in the country in touchdowns (15). He also averages just more than 90 yards and is third on the team with 39 catches for 211 yards. Garrett McKay is leading the Pirates in all receiving categories. McKay has 48 catches for 702 yards (100.3 per game) and six touchdowns.