McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Whitworth quarterback Logan Lacio passed for two touchdowns and ran for another score, and tailback Luis Salgado ran for 119 yards on 27 carries, leading the unranked Pirates to a 30-20 upset of the No. 24 Linfield Wildcats Saturday in Northwest Conference football action at Maxwell Field.
Whitworth (4-2, 3-0 NWC) held tight to a share of first place in the NWC standings, handing Linfield (3-2, 2-1 NWC) its second home defeat of the season and first in league play.
The Pirates logged the game's first points, getting a 26-yard field goal by Iden Bone with 7:01 to play in the opening quarter.
The game saw three lead changes and was tied entering the fourth quarter. It featured an exciting duel between Lacio and Linfield quarterback
Luke McNabb, who rushed for two touchdowns and a team-high 74 yards while also passing for a season-best 303 yards and one TD.
Linfield moved to the Whitworth 22 on its opening drive but a jarring tackle by Trey Rose forced
Dane Meddaugh to fumble and the loose ball was recovered the Pirates' Hunter Leetter, thwarting a Linfield scoring chance.
With 2:05 left in the first quarter, McNabb gave the Wildcats the lead with his third rushing touchdown of the season, scooting 16 yards to the end zone. The extra point by
Gavin Dalziel put the Wildcats in front 7-3.
Iden added a 27-yard field goal five minutes into the second period, cutting the Linfield lead to a single point, 7-6.
The Pirates recaptured the lead minutes later, as Locio passed six yards Caleb Northcroft for the go-ahead score.
After a Linfield drive stalled, the Wildcats executed a quick kick on third down, hoping their defense could hold off the Pirates until halftime. Undeterred, Lacio drove Whitworth down the field, finding a wide-open Tyson Hoke for Whitworth's second TD in a six-minute span to open up a 20-7 advantage with 52 seconds remaining before intermission.
Following the kickoff, McNabb and the Wildcats marched to the Pirates' 22 but could advance no furter. Dalziel's attempt at a 40-yard field goal attempt as time expired was no good, keeping the score at 20-7 in favor of the visitors.
Whitworth outgained Linfield 242-160 in the first half, including a 195-106 edge through the air.
Linfield evened the score at 20 in the closing minutes of the third quarter. McNabb capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 7-yard jaunt to the end zone. The extra point was blocked by Letteer, thwarting the Wildcats' opportunity to retake the lead with 3:37 left in the quarter.
In the fourth, Lacio and the Pirates snatched the lead for good when the junior quarterback swept around the right side of the line for a 3-yard touchdown, putting Whitworth in front 27-20 with 13:30 to play.
A time-consuming 7½-minute drive by the Pirates culminated with Bone hitting his third field goal of the game with 2:24 left from 37 yards away, giving Whitworth an insurmountable two-score lead.
Lacio completed 24 of 38 passes without an interception. McNabb made 22 of 37 throws but was sacked twice and picked off on the Wildcats' next-to-last drive, sealing the game's outcome.
Jackson Pfeifer caught seven passes for a season-high 93 yards. Laukkanen made six receptions for a season-best 110 yards.
Defensively,
Iloa Kaio and
Max Kirsch each recorded seven tackles for Linfield.
Brady Crenshaw and
Hudson Reink both had six stops for the Wildcats.
Whitworth held a slight edge in total yards, 410 to 405, but the Pirates played a turnover-free game and held a decisive 36:03 to 23:57 edge in time of possession.
AHEAD
Linfield heads out of state for the first time this season next Saturday when the Wildcats visit Pacific Lutheran for a 1 p.m. game at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
The Linfield Alumni and Parent Relations office is organizing a Tailgate Event prior to the game in the parking lot across the street from the stadium. All are welcome to join in for beverages, hot dogs, chips, cookis and more starting at 11 a.m. Cost is $12 for adults and $10 for children.
