Whitworth rides QB Ian Kolste’s arm to drub Pacific

Whitworth quarterback Ian Kolste threw for 490 yards and a season-high five touchdowns, connecting with Nick Kiourkas for two scores, and the Pirates drubbed Pacific on Saturday in Forest Grove, Oregon.

The Pirates posted 617 yards of total offense in the rout, including 514 through the air.

It marked the third time this season Kolste eclipsed 450 yards passing. His season high came at La Verne on Sept. 17.

Kolste helped the Pirates (6-2, 4-1 Northwest Conference) build a 13-point lead to start the game with touchdown passes to Brett Moser and Nick Kiourkas of 2 and 33 yards.

Pacific (3-5, 2-3) kept within striking distance, scoring on a 25-yard passing touchdown from Campbell Summerfield to Brandon Boyd, cutting the lead to six.

Whitworth’s Duke DeGaetano punched it in from 5 yards with four minutes left in the first half and Kolste caught a 24-yard pass from wide receiver Kevin Thomas with 5:25 to go in the third quarter.

Whitworth opened up its biggest lead of 27 points in the third quarter when Kolste linked with Garrett McKay for a 13-yard score.

McKay caught 13 passes for 171 yards and Kiourkas posted 113 yards receiving. DeGaetano ran for 106 yards and four touchdowns.

Kobe Williams caught 20 passes for 23 yards and two touchdowns for the Boxers.

Pacific Lutheran 31, Puget Sound 20: The Lutes (4-3, 3-2 NWC) scored 21 points to end the fourth quarter to prevail over the Loggers (3-4, 1-4) at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Washington.

Carroll 49, Montana-State-Northern 14: The Saints (4-4 Frontier) established a 35-0 lead at halftime and cruised past the Polar Bears (1-7) in Helena, Montana.

Azusa Pacific 44, Central Washington 7: Andrew Elffers completed 21 of 32 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns as the Cougars (8-1, 7-0 GNAC) defeated the Wildcats (5-3, 4-2) in Azusa, California.