BOXSCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Lewis & Clark football team faced off against the Pacific Boxers for the first time since Pacific re-instituted their football program. In their homecoming game, Lewis & Clark welcomed back the boxers with a 48-0 shutout, the Pioneer's first shutout since 1997.

Lewis & Clark took the ball to start the game and never looked back. In their first drive, the Pioneers drove 86 yards in twelve plays ending with a 17 yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Keith Welch to Shawn Evans. A blocked extra point by Pacific's defensive lineman Landon Aano made the score 6-0. After a defensive stand by the Pioneers, Welch took his team down the field to score once again on a pass to Evans in the back of the end zone, his second of the day.

There was a scary moment for Pacific fans in the first quarter as a key part of their defense went down with what looked like a serious injury to his ankle. Linebacker, and defensive leader, Marc Moody was injured while making a tackle and would not return to the game. The lack of his presence seemed to affect the Pacific defense throughout the afternoon.

With Pacific down 13-0, they took to the air only to have Pioneer defensive back Logan Kotzian intercept the second pass of the drive. Lewis & Clark took advantage of the turnover. A 37 yard pass to Kevin Carpenter followed by an 11 yard rush by Harrison Keller found  the Pioneers knocking at the door again. This time Lewis & Clark running back Joevonte Mayes found paydirt on a four yard run, his third touchdown of the season.

The game slowed down for a few minutes in the second quarter as no team could put together a solid drive. With only 37 seconds left in the half the Boxers looked to score some quick points before the half. Starting at their own two yard line Boxer QB P.J. Minaya connected with Cameron Yip for 11 yards. As he turned up field for more yards Lamar Curry created a fumble which the Pioneer's Chris Kelly recovered. With the Pio drive starting on Pacific's nine yard line it didn't take long for Lewis & Clark to score on a three yard rush by Welch just before the end of the half.

At the half the Pioneers led 27-0 and at the start of the third quarter Pacific could not get a drive going. A three and out by the Boxers gave the ball to the Pioneers only 25 second into the half. The Pios gave the ball to Mayes who broke off a 55 yard run and then another 16 yard run for the touchdown, his second of the day. With Pacific still searching for some points, the Boxers drove down the field and were forced into a fourth down situation. The Boxers took a chance going for it on fourth down only to be stopped by a Justin Fabrick sack. Fabrick recorded two sacks on the day. Tucker Laurence, filling in for Welch at QB, found Peter Lovincey for a 20 yard TD just under four minutes later making the score 41-0.

After the kickoff, the Pacific offense once again sputtered out as a backwards pass fell incomplete. Disan Suarez fell on the live ball that was in the endzone for the final score of the game. The 48-0 victory for Lewis & Clark is the first shutout for the Pioneers in 13 years dating back to a 34-0 victory in 1997 against Puget Sound.

The Pioneer defense had five sacks on the game, recovered three fumbles, intercepted a pass, and held the Boxer's offense to 161 total yards. John Berokoff and Matthew Lettunich led the team in tackles and Berokoff had four tackles for loss in the game. Suarez also had a huge day for the Pioneers with four tackles, one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. For Pacific, Moody led the defense with seven tackles even though he went out with an injury.

The Pioneer offense was once again led by Welch and Mayes. Welch was 10 of 13 passing for 92 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 97 yards and one touchdown. Mayes rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and Evans led the team in receiving with five catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns.

The next game for the Pioneers is Saturday, Oct. 9th at noon against Menlo College.