Whitworth football breezes past Puget Sound to remain undefeated for season

TACOMA – Few major hurdles remain in Whitworth’s pursuit of regular-season perfection.

Leif Ericksen threw for three touchdown passes and Mason Elms rushed for 167 yards and two scores Saturday, powering the 18th-ranked Pirates’ 47-13 Northwest Conference victory over Puget Sound (4-3, 3-1) at Baker Stadium.

Whitworth (6-0, 4-0) has defeated three of the other four teams among the top five in NWC standings. The only exception is Pacific (4-3, 3-1), next week’s opponent.

Ericksen completed 13 of 29 passes for 262 yards with no interceptions. His third TD pass came seconds into the second quarter and gave the Pirates a 28-6 lead.

Elms, who averaged 9.3 yards on 18 carries, had a 2-yard TD run in the first quarter and 34-yard TD run in the third quarter for a 37-6 lead.

Nick McGill, Bryce Powers and Andrew Meredith had TD receptions for the Pirates.

Meredith’s 18-yard TD reception came from backup Cole Hinrichs for the Pirates’ final score.

Whitworth’s Cody McDonald added field goals of 34 and 24 yards.

The Loggers, who lead the NWC in passing yardage, finished with 290. Murdock Rutledge completed 16 of 42 passes for 192 yards and two interceptions, and Nick Bernhardt was 12 of 18 for 76 yards, one TD and one interception.

Iain Black, Colten Chelin and Jayden Jira had interceptions for the Pirates.

Jaylen Gonzales led Whitworth’s defense with seven solo tackles and one assisted. Chad Wilburg had two of the Pirates’ five sacks.