The Sky's the limit

By Mike Safford Jr. (posted Oct. 26)

Five sacks in a game; church planning in Albania; getting married – it’s hard to find a single "lifetime" experience for Whitworth defensive end Sky Blake. It seems like he has done it all.

Doing it all is what the Pirates did last Saturday, defeating Puget Sound 16-8 at Baker Stadium in Tacoma, Wash., creating a logjam for second place in the Northwest Conference behind front-running Linfield.

Whitworth (2-1, 4-2) led 3-0 late in the first half on a Paul Alejo field goal, but got a second chance inside the final minute after a UPS special teams bobble. "The snap over the punter’s head was huge," said the two-time NWC all-star. "It gave us momentum going into the second half."

The Bucs capitalized on the mistake by going 12 yards in three plays, capped by a Matt Henry touchdown reception to make it 10-0.

From there, the Whitworth defense held strong. "We have a great camaraderie on the defense," Blake said. "And is shows when each of us does our own individual assignments."

Assignments are something the physical education major has been blessed with his entire life. While in high school, Blake and his family traveled to Gjirokaster, Albania, on a church-planning mission. "We ministered to the people of Albania, raising up people to carry a church and spread the word of God," he said.

Being in Albania meant no football during his sophmore or junior years in high school, something Blake never regrets. "Every kid should have the opportunity to go to a third world country," Blake said. "Once you are there, you realize how lucky we are to have the gifts that God gives us here."

Once back in the United States, Blake played football and basketball at Lynnwood (Wash.) High, and it was on the hardwood where Whitworth assistant Jason Tobeck saw the future Pirate. "I know that at that time and today that I am not the best, but I go all out," he said. "I believe that God uses different people in different situations, and he has blessed me to be able to minister through athletics."

The "Minister of Defense" is a name that would fit Blake well, especially after his five-sack performance in 1998 against Montana Tech and a 23 tackle afternoon against Redlands to open the 2000 season. "I play football for the Lord. I do not have the strength to have five sacks or 23 tackles alone, but through Him, anything is possible."

Including marriage – Blake and wife Heidi have been married for almost four months. "During the offseason, I focused on what God wanted me to do – to marry Heidi," he said of his wife, a Whitworth graduate and former soccer player.

That focus was clear in the second half of Saturday’s game, as Blake and the Pirates came up big on a pair of Logger drives late in the game. After UPS (2-1, 4-2) cut the lead to 16-8, a Logger drive was snuffed deep in Whitworth territory on a interception by Ian Sanders. "That was a big momentum lift for us," Blake said. "UPS had just scored and was driving – Ian’s pick was really the play of the game."

The game of life is Blake’s true passion, however, as the 6-4, 220 pound team-leader looks for a career in personal training. "I plan to get my certification in personal training and work with people to improve their physical and spiritual well-being."

With the Pirates' victory, Puget Sound, Whitworth, and Pacific Lutheran each trail conference leader Linfield by one game. Both the Bucs and the Loggers have yet to face the Wildcats, while the Lutes, who lost to Linfield, hold claim on the only conference loss pinned on Whitworth. If the boys from McMinnville, Ore., stumble, any one of the four could raise the trophy in November.

Tie atop the SCIAC
After four weeks of the season, most people would be shocked by this statement – Redlands and Whittier are tied for the SCIAC lead. While the Bulldogs (2-0, 4-2) took the week off, Whittier (2-0, 2-4) won for the second consecutive outing, a 28-27 victory against Occidental – after breaking a double-digit losing streak a week earlier. The SCIAC crown may be up for grabs during the Nov. 4 showdown between the schools, but the teams must get through this week, each facing opponents winless in SCIAC play. The Poets face the explosive Cal Lutheran (0-2, 2-4) offense, while Redlands hooks up with Claremont (0-3, 2-4), losers of two in a row.

Around the region
No. 12 Linfield rolled up 598 yards of offense and a school record seven touchdown passes as the Wildcats ran over Lewis and Clark 61-20. Quarterbacks Curt Musser (8-for-14, 235 yards, 4 TD) and Tyler Matthews (13-for-22, 185 yards, 3 TD) took care of the offense, while the Wildcat defense held the Pios to 41 yards rushing. NWC leading receiver Jason Hill caught 11 balls for 103 yards in defeat…LaVerne jumped out to a 38-0 first half lead as the Leos routed Cal Lutheran 47-18. ULV, which had scored 22 points in its last three games, scored 24 first quarter points, the most any opponent has ever scored in the first quarter against the Kingsmen. Leos quarterback Aaron Becker was 14-of-16 for 220 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury… Kevin Gennusa rushed for 106 yards as Rhodes College defeated Colorado College 23-6 in Memphis, Tenn. Kila Wilson had two first-half touchdown receptions for the Lynx… Mark Meija hit Kenny Bohmanfor for the game-winner as Whittier defeated Occidental 28-27, handing the Tigers their first SCIAC loss…Willamette took advantage of three Eastern Oregon turnovers to beat the Mountaineers 34-25. Andy Miguel (208 yards) and Andrew Ecklund (151 yards) each went over the 100-yard mark for Willamette, while teammate Eric Thomson tied the Bearcat school record for tackles for loss in a career with 48… Zamir Amin, who leads Division III in passing yards, went 36-for-48 for 510 yards and six touchdowns as Menlo took care of Pomona-Pitzer 42-32 in a battle of independents. The Oaks jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted for the victory. Sagehen running back Ryan Hattersley had 146 yards on 36 carries for PP.

FYI: After last week’s column, the NCAA Division III announced a chance in the playoff selection process. Instead of 17 Pool A, 4 Pool C, and 7 Pool B teams, the executive board announced that only 3 Pool C berths will be allocated, while Pool B receives an extra bid. This could help out the SCIAC and NWC teams who fall in the Pool B category. For more information on the playoffs and the selection process, head to : http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/index.html.

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