BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark football team was unable to keep its unbeaten streak alive as the Willamette Bearcats earned a 57-28 win on Saturday afternoon in the battle of the Wagon Wheel.
The loss is the Pioneers first of the season as the team falls to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Northwest Conference action. The Bearcats improve to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
Sophomore Keith Welch led the Pioneers in rushing with 111 yards on 27 carries, while senior Joevonte Mayes finished the day with 62 yards on 20 carries. Andrew Frisina led all Pio receivers with 101 yards on seven receptions. Senior Brandis Piper had 92 yards on eight catches, while Mayes collected nine passes for 66 yards. Welch finished the day 31-49 from under center for 329 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively for the Pioneers senior Dan Curtin had 12 tackles, including one for a loss. Senior Chris Kelly collected 11 tackles, while Louis Baltazar came up with six tackles and a tackle for loss. John Berokoff had a strong defensive showing for the Pios, collecting five tackles, two of which were for a loss, and a sack.
Jamiere Abney led the Bearcats with 98 yards rushing, while Taylor Wyman ran for 48 yards on five carries. Jake Knecht led all receivers in yards with 199 on six receptions, scoring four times. Quarterback Brian Widing finished the day 8-10 with 219 yards for four touchdowns.
Jaden Rosselli led the Bearcat defense with 13 tackles, including one for a loss, while also picking off the Pio quarterback. Ryan Bourke, Dominic David, and Reed Warner each had 10 tackles for Willamette, while Bourke also finished with two sacks, a forced fumble and three tackles for loss.
The game got off to a quick start for the Pioneers, who opened the game with a 26-yard return off the kick-off by freshman Curtis Shirey. Five minutes later the Pioneers would put the ball in the end zone on a three-yard rush by Mayes.
Willamette would be unable to get anything going on its first drive, running just five plays for 17 yards before being forced to punt the ball away. A well placed punt by Rowan pinned the Pioneers at their own three-yard line to start their next possession.
The punt worked out in the Bearcats favor with the Pioneers unable to get out of their own end, eventually resulting in a safety after a snap that sailed out of the end zone. Down 7-2, Willamette's offense found a way to score in a little over a minute to take a 9-7 advantage. Taking over on the Pioneers 46-yard line, the Bearcats ran one play before Widing connected with Knecht for a 35-yard score.
Turner added to the Bearcat lead with 6:13 remaining in the first half after back-to-back rushes that resulted in another score for Willamette. The Pioneer offense would once again come up short on its next possession after a failed field goal attempt on fourth and six.
Two minutes later the Bearcats increased their lead to 23-7 on another Widing to Knecht reception. This time Knecht would take the ball 51-yards. Lewis & Clark would be unable to take the ball out of its own half of the field in the final two minutes of the half, sending Willamette into halftime ahead 23-7.
Widing and Knecht extended the Bearcat lead right out of the locker room with a 31-yard touchdown reception.
The Pioneers were not out of the contest yet, putting together a strong 15 play, 73 yard drive. Taking over at their own 27-yard line, the Pioneers steadily moved down the field eventually crossing the goal line on a one-yard quarterback keep by Welch.
Willamette responded moments later with a score of its own to take a 37-14 lead. Widing and Knecht connected once again to close out the third quarter with a 44-14 advantage for the Bearcats.
Lewis & Clark opened the fourth quarter with a scoring drive of its own with Welch completing passes to Piper and Evans, before scrambling 15-yards into the end zone. This time though the Monley point after attempt would not be successful making the Bearcat advantage 44-20.
As they did all contest, Willamette responded immediately with another score. Wyman was the go-to-guy, carrying the ball 17-yards to put Willamette ahead 51-20.
The Pioneers final score would come on a Frisina reception, followed by a two-point conversion from Welch to Mayes.
Dean capped the scoring for Willamette with a 17-yard rush to end the contest at 57-28.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. for the Northwest Conference Championship game against the Linfield Wildcats in McMinnville.
