Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers (1-3, 0-2) saw an incredible comeback in the second half of Saturday's contest against the Pacific Lutheran Lutes (2-2, 1-1) at Griswold Stadium but couldn't connect to passes in their final scoring drive, losing 38-37. The Pioneers were plagued by penalties in the first half of the game, with a particularly troublesome second quarter. The Pioneers went into the half at a 28-7 disadvantage.
Cruz Montana completed 15 of 25 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Elijah McGee, Isaac Cordova and Logan Herman. McGee ran for 102 yards, while Cordova and Herman combined for 61. Tharien Sivongsa completed 8 of 14 for 90 yards.
Defensively, Alex Hensley and Cameron Chang combined for the Pioneers' one sack, while Anakin Mares and Josef Gonzalez logged an interception each. Hensely and Nicolas Lang led the team with six solo tackles each.
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Key Moments
The Pioneers' offense found some momentum in the third quarter and were the first team to put points on the board when Alex Koga made a 35-yard field goal. The Lutes responded with a touchdown from Michael Martinez, but the Pioneers quickly shifted momentum their way when freshman Desmon Holton ran 84-yards for a touchdown off the kick-return. The Pioneers' two-point conversion attempt was smothered by the Lutes, but they brought the score up to 24-35 after Gonzalez intercepted a pass from Lutes quarterback Erik Bainter for a 47-yard return. Cruz Montana connected with Logan Herman for the touchdown and connected with Adrian Daffy on their second two-point attempt.
The fourth quarter started on a field goal from the Lutes' Peiyton Hilliard but the Pioneers found the endzone again halfway through the quarter when a string of first down plays saw Montana hit Cordova for 31-yards, making it a single score game with 3:14 left on the clock. The Pioneers' defense made quick work of the Lutes on a four-and-out to give Lewis & Clark possession with 1:38 on the clock. Montana found McGee for 69 yards to bring the score to 37-38 but the Pioneers' rushing attempt for two points was again smothered by the Lutes only to see the ball recovered by Lewis & Clark on the kick-return. A chop-block penalty, plus a Lutes defensive rally clinched the win for Pacific Lutheran
Deeper Look
- This is McGee's third consecutive game scoring a touchdown
- He sits third overall in the conference for receiving yards
- Gonzalez caught his second interception of the season while Mares established a new career-high of three
- This is Montana's second consecutive game throwing over 200 yards
- Hensley, Chang and Justin Hope played a big defensive role against the Lutes
- Sean Bodi ran a season-high 48 yards while Cordova ran a season-high 57
- Lewis & Clark is third in the conference with 17 touchdowns
- Dyontae Navarette is second in the conference for rushing yards with 390
- Anakin Mares 31 total tackles put him at the top of the conference leaderboard
Looking Ahead
The Pioneers hit the road for their next game, taking on the Willamette Bearcats in Salem on Sat., Oct. 16. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
