At long last, Pioneers win

By Mike Safford (posted Sept. 20)

[Editor's note: Safford joins us this week on a moment's notice and will begin full coverage next week.]

Hats off to the members of the Lewis & Clark football team. The Pioneers stopped Redlands 21-17 at home in Portland, Ore., to end an 18-game losing streak dating back to Sept. 26, 1998.  However the victory was not in easy fashion.  Despite holding the ball for nearly 40 minutes and 331-264 advantage in total yardage, the Bulldogs gave up 21 fourth-quarter points, including Jeff Scheid's 1-yard plunge with 27 seconds remaining. "Our defense did a great job in the second half to shut down a stud offense like Redlands," said second-year coach Mike Fanger, who notched his first coaching victory in 10 tries at Lewis & Clark.

Almost doesn't count
What Lewis & Clark did, the University of LaVerne almost did.  The Leopards held a 23-7 lead against NAIA No. 13 Azusa Pacific, but for the second consecutive season, allowed the Cougars to rally, this time for a 27-23 victory.  Sophomore quarterback Luke Winslow was 25-for-36 for 347 yards for the victors, as APU scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns in a four-minute span.  LaVerne scored all 23 points in the second quarter, but just like last year's 47-45 barn-burner with Azusa, the Leos could not hold on.

In other action around the West... Josh Harrison caught two touchdown passes from Curt Musser, including the game-clincher with 3:46 to play to help Linfield upset Southern Oregon 23-11.  The Raiders, ranked No. 5 in the NAIA poll, could not capitalize on three Wildcat interceptions. ... Brian Ferrette threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Pomona-Pitzer stopped Colorado College 55-36.  The Sagehens jumped out to a 42-14 lead and withstood a furious fourth-quarter Tiger rally. ... Despite jumping out to a 7-0 lead, Carroll College (Mont.) scored 34 unanswered points en route to a 41-24 win over Eastern Oregon.  Phil Nyby had nine receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Mountaineers. ... Chad Johnson threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns, breaking a 21-21 halftime tie, leading top-ranked Pacific Lutheran to a 42-28 victory against Simon Fraser.  Freshman halfback Aaron Binger had 245 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns to rally the defending NCAA Division III champions Lutes past the pesky Clan. ...Whitworth rolled up 438 yards of total offense in stopping Chapman 49-22 in Spokane, Wash.  Billy Condon rushed for 115 yards on 19 carries as the Pirates rebounded from a opening season loss to Redlands. ... David Sugihara blocked a 44-yard Claremont field goal as time expired, giving Puget Sound a 30-27 victory.  The Loggers Brian Siu had nine receptions for 113 yards, as UPS improved its all-time record against the Stags to 3-0. ... Fourth-ranked Trinity held the heralded Willamette rushing attack to 132 yards as the Tigers stopped the No. 18 Bearcats 21-0.  Roy Hampton went 13-for-26 for 212 yards and a touchdown for Trinity. ... Menlo scored early and often, as the Oaks stopped Occidental 42-20.

Games of the Week
Lewis & Clark (1-0) @ Pomona-Pitzer (2-0)
Are the Pios for real?  Can the Sagehens defeat a Northwest Conference opponent?  Pomona will try to pound the opponent from the North with Jeremy Lim up the middle, while quarterback Brian Ferrette darts the ball out of the spread formation.

LaVerne (0-1) @ Claremont (1-1)
The SCIAC regular season opens up at Zinda Field as both teams look to overcome tough last-second losses.  The last time these two teams hooked up, the Leos broke the Stags' hearts with a 24-21 overtime victory.

Pacific Lutheran (2-0) @ Whitworth (1-1)
After dominating Chapman in the Pine Bowl Saturday, the Pirates have a daunting task -- stopping the No. 1 team in the nation.  PLU leads the Northwest Conference in scoring (45.5) and total yards (588.5), but remember this fact -- the last time PLU opened conference play ranked in the top spot, they lost 10-7 to Willamette in 1994. 

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