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PORTLAND, Ore. - It was an exciting afternoon on Palatine Hill with the Lewis & Clark football team picking up its first Northwest Conference win in six years, taking down the Puget Sound Loggers 30-27 at Griswold Stadium. The Pioneers improve to 2-7 on the season and 1-5 in the NWC, while the Loggers finish 0-9 overall and 0-6 in conference action.

Lewis & Clark's last conference win came during the 2003 season when they defeated the Loggers at home 25-23.

"This is a great way to end the season and start our momentum for next season," said head coach Chris Sulages.

The Pioneers, who finish sitxth in the NWC, got on the scoreboard first when Tucker Laurence connected on a 40-yard pass to Brandis Piper with 9:44 left in the first quarter and the PAT by Andrew Foote was successful for a 7-0 Pioneer lead. Lewis & Clark made it 14-0 with 1:20 remaining in the opening quarter when Laurence ran in from two-yards out to cap a 12 play, 54-yard drive.

Puget Sound cut the lead to 14-7 with 16 seconds to play in the first half when Kavin Williams scampered in from one-yard out, with a good PAT by Peter Topolski.

In the third quarter, the Pioneers got on the board first, using a 30-yard field goal from Foote to make it 17-7. The Loggers answered back with 3:37 remaining in the quarter when Spencer Crace found Ross Zuhl for a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 17-14.

Lewis & Clark opened the fourth quarter with a one-yard quarterback keep by Laurence. The Loggers managed to block Foote's PAT to make the score 23-14 Pioneers.

The Loggers good fortune was short lived, as the Pioneers recovered an unforced fumble with 6:21 to play in the game. Chris Kelly picked up the fumble, returning it 91-yards for the score and then Foote ended the drive with a good PAT.

Puget Sound regrouped and managed to find its way into the end zone with 3:28 remaining, to cut the score to 30-20 on a two-yard touchdown pass to John Martino. Crace attempted the two-point conversion, but was unable to connect with his receiver.

The Logger defense put in a solid showing on the Pioneers next possession, holding the Pios to four plays for eight-yards to get the ball back. With 25 seconds left in the game, Crace and Martino hooked up once more to pull the Loggers within three points after the made PAT from Topolski.

That would be as close as the Loggers would be able to come, with the Pioneers taking a knee on their next possession to run the clock down.

The Pioneers ended with 295 total offensive yards, 191 of which came from rushing yards. Laurence finished the game nine-of-15 passing for 103 yards and a touchdown. Laurence once again led the Pioneers in rushing yards with 150 yards on 38 carries, while Harrison Keller ran five times for 48-yards. Shawn Evans led all receivers in catches with four for 33-yards, while Piper ended with 45-yards on two receptions. Defensively the Pioneers were led by 13 tackles, including one breakup, by Brooks Patterson. Riley Mitchell ended his day with two sacks.

Puget Sound was led by 390-yards passing on 25-of-43 attempts from Crace. Zuhl ended the game with 159-yards receiving on 10 catches. Casey Larson ended with 81-yards on the ground, carrying the ball 15 times.

2009 Pioneer Seniors