Game Leaders
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Time of Poss.
SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth opened the 2025 football season with a 23-10 win over visiting Gustavus Adolphus in a non-conference Division III football game on Saturday in the Pine Bowl.
A Pirate defense that graduated 10 starters from 2024 limited the Gusties to two scores and 298 total yards of offense in the 2025 debut.
Junior quarterback Logan Lacio completed 29 of 38 passes for 331 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his Pirate starting debut. He also scored on a QB sneak for Whitworth's first touchdown. Running back Nathan Owens caught seven passes out of the backfield for 45 yards, while tight end Nate Peterson had five catches for 54 yards. Chase Gomes caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Lacio to give the Pirates a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Iden Bone was responsible for the rest of the Pirates' points, making three field goals. He connected from 38, 28 and 45 yards, the second two in the second half. His 45-yard effort was a career-long and came in the fourth quarter after the Gusties had closed within 20-10.
Jack Sieben got Gustavus on the board with a 26-yard field goal as Whitworth led 17-3 at the break. His 25-yard effort in the fourth quarter was blocked by Trey Rose.
The Gusties' lone touchdown came midway through the third quarter when quarterback Jacob Ginskey scored on a two-yard run to cap a 68-yard drive. He ran for 110 yards on 18 carries and completed 15 of 29 passes for 158 yards with one interception.
Wyatt Hess capped the Whitworth's defensive day with the interception in the final minute of the game to prevent Gustavus from narrowing the final margin.
Drew Cody had ten tackles in his first start at linebacker for the Bucs. He also forced a fumble. Hunter Letter added seven stops with two QB hurries and a pass breakup. Lane Watkins was disruptive on the defensive line, playing tackle and end. He had two of Whitworth's four sacks for 14 yards to go with three QB hurries. Watkins had six total stops.
Matthew Herzog punted four times for an average of 41 yards to help the Pirates win field position.
Whitworth has now won both meetings against Gustavus Adolphus and the Pirates have now won 10 of the 12 season openers under head coach Rod Sandberg.
Whitworth will play at Eastern Oregon in its first road game next Saturday.