FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers had two crucial, special teams miscues in the first half and fell behind by 32 at halftime in Saturday's 42-19 loss to the Pacific Boxers.

A fumble on the opening kickoff and a mishandle of a late punt gave the Boxers possessions in Lewis & Clark territory. Both times, Pacific scored on the next play to bookend five first-half touchdowns.

Thairen Sivongsa threw two second-half TDs for the Pioneers. Ben Burnham and Desmon Holton were on the receiving end for their first collegiate receiving touchdowns. 

Follow the Lewis & Clark Pioneers on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #PiosFB | #RollPios | #chamPIOns

Key Moments

Lewis & Clark (3-4, 2-3 NWC) received the opening kickoff, but Holton fumbled at the Pios 30. Pacific quarterback Kenyon Harris found Ty Hargis on the next play to give Pacific a 7-0 lead.

The Pioneers had none of their eight first-half drives last longer than five plays. Lewis & Clark punted four times. Alex Koga's career-long 38-yard field goal cut the deficit to 7-3 with 4:56 left in the first quarter. 

Pacific scored four touchdowns in the second quarter. Following a 31-yard touchdown run by Josh Harris and a 46-yard TD rush by Ethan Kameshige, the Boxers had the ball again halfway through the second quarter and faced a 3rd-and-9 at the Pacific 36. Kenyon Harris found Isiah Pitre to convert a long third down, and the Boxers continued on for a 12-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ended with Kenyon Harris' 9-yard run. With 3:00 left, Aidan Verba-Hamilton misfielded a punt that was recovered by the Boxers at the Lewis & Clark 2, and Josh Harris scored a 2-yard touchdown to make the score 35-3 at halftime.

Burnham, who finished with three catches for 55 yards, caught a 28-yard TD pass to end a 5-play, 42-yard drive in the early fourth quarter. Holton hauled in a 24-yard touchdown with 5:31 remaining in the game.

Deeper Look

• Cruz Montana started at quarterback for the Pios and went 11 for 21 for 133 yards with one interception
• Elijah McGee averaged 2.4 yards per carry on 12 rushes for 29 yards, and Carter Baggs rushed twice for 16 yards
• Devon Guest had a team-high four receptions for 57 yards to lead the Pios, and Verba-Hamilton had 48 yards on three catches
• Isaac Cordova had two receptions, both for first downs, and 40 yards, while Noah Hobbs and Jonathan Newsome brought in two receptions each
• Huxley Richardson punted eight times for an average of 41.3 per kick
• Reigning Northwest Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week Sam Meinhard had seven tackles to lead the Pioneers, as did Ari Blemur
• Jordan Fajardo had two sacks
• Pacific (4-3, 3-2 NWC) finished the game 6 of 16 on third downs, but was more efficient before the second half
• Kenyon Harris went 13 for 23 for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Harris rushed 25 times for 133 yards, and Kameshige averaged 10.9 per carry

Looking Ahead

Lewis & Clark wraps up the home schedule on Nov. 6 against George Fox for Senior Day.