Pacific Defeats Willamette, 29-24, after Bearcats Rally from 20-Point Deficit

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Pacific University let a 23-3 halftime lead slip away, but the Boxers scored their only points of the second half on a touchdown with 4:03 left in the game for a 29-24 victory over Willamette University on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The Boxers upped their overall record to 5-2, while improving to 3-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-5 overall, 1-3 in the NWC.

Pacific took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Alex Beekman at the 4:40 mark. Beekman's kick followed a 5-play, 51-yard drive.

It looked like Willamette might claim the lead after a fair catch on a punt was fumbled by Pacific late in the first quarter. A WU player picked up the loose ball and ran into the end zone, but a fair catch interference penalty was called and Pacific took over at its own 47-yard line.

The Boxers increased the margin to 9-0 three plays later -- early in the second period -- when Bronson Barretto scored on a 2-yard run. The drive also included a 22-yard run by Barretto and a 29-yard catch by Nathan Suyematsu. Zak Porche was stopped short of the goal line on the two-point conversion.

A 12-yard touchdown pass from Warner Shaw to Kamana Pimental gave Pacific a 16-0 lead. Pimental scored with 8:26 to go in the second quarter.

Willamette pulled within 16-3 on a 37-yard field goal Cameron Coe (Fr., PK, La Puente, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial HS) just over two minutes later. It was Coe's longest field goal of the season.

The Boxers added a 3-yard touchdown run by Baretto with 1:23 remaining in the half. The extra point kick by Beekman gave Pacific a 23-3 edge.

In the final minute of the half, Willamette avoided trouble despite a fumlbe. A Pacific player grabbed the loose ball, but he fumbled at the WU 3-yard line and the Bearcats recovered at the 1-yard line. The Bearcats ran out the clock.

On Willamette's first drive of the second half, the Bearcats went on a lengthy drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Knowlton (So., QB, Puyallup, WA/Emerald Ridge HS) to Erik Baker (Sr., WR, Moraga, CA/Campolindo HS/Whitworth Univ.). The catch by Baker was a nice grab near the right edge of the end zone. Coe kicked the extra point to cut the Boxers' lead to 23-10.

Beekman of Pacific missed a 28-yard field goal with 3:25 remaining in the third quarter. Beekman's kick hit the left upright.

The ensuing possession for the Bearcats included a 75-yard run by Bryan Toles (Sr./Jr., WR, Clovis, CA/Clovis North HS) that brought the ball to the Pacific 5-yard line. Two plays later, Jacob Swilley (Jr., RB, Olympia, WA/Yelm HS/Central Washington Univ.) scored on a 4-yard run to the right side. With 2:25 to go in the third period, Pacific's lead was 23-17.

Toles added a 16-yard touchdown run with 13:59 left in the fourth quarter and Coe kicked the extra point for a 24-23 lead. The touchdown was set up by a 57-yard run by Knowlton.

Pacific surged back in front 29-24 on a 3-yard run by Pimental with 4:03 to go. Shaw was tackled near the 3-yard line on the two-point conversion.

Neither team scored the rest of the way. Willamette's final two possessions began on their own side of the field.

Pacific, which had 260 yards at halftime, finished with 428 yards. Willamette, after earning only 87 yards in the first half, gained 372 yards overall.

Toles rushed for 103 yards on seven carries for the Bearcats. WU achieved 225 rushing yards. Knowlton completed 13 of 28 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Suyematsu of Pacific caught 10 passes for 175 yards. Shaw was 15 of 25 passing for 218 yards and one touchdown. Barretto rushed 17 times for 73 yards and two scores.

Damian Jackson (Jr., FS, Puyallup, WA/Rogers HS) topped the WU defense with 12 total tackles. Henry Adelman (Sr., ILB, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) provided the Bearcats with 11 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Overall, Willamette earned six tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.

Pacific's leading tackler was Trey Kodama with eight stops, including a sack and a forced fumble. Avery Richardson added seven tackles. The Boxers recorded five tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.

Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Oct. 31 at McCulloch Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).