PORTLAND, Ore.--Despite a career-best performance through the air from graduate student quarterback Sam Simril, Lewis & Clark College football came up just short in a 46-36 shootout against Pacific Lutheran on Saturday afternoon at Griswold Stadium.
 
Lewis & Clark celebrated their 15 seniors prior to the contest: Jordan Lahusky, Isaac Glover, Tomas Veliz, Daryl Scott, Thomas Reagan, Andrew Baum, Clash Orsborn, Dez Holton, Charlie Valencia, Garrett Lee, Josh Arcayena, Mitchell Sarmento, Joziah Perdido, Jack Warren and Nik Dupont. The group had led Lewis & Clark to 19 wins over the past four seasons and three-straight years of five wins or more. 
 
The loss drops the Pioneers to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in Northwest Conference play, with one game remaining in the 2025 regular season. Pacific Lutheran improved to 5-4 (4-2 NWC).
 
Pacific Lutheran jumped out to a 17-0 lead behind a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a punt-return score, and a first-quarter safety. Lewis & Clark's offense finally broke through midway through the second quarter, when quarterback Simril found Logan March on an 11-yard touchdown pass to cap a 42-yard drive.
 
After another Lute score, Sytyn Lasconia's 13-yard touchdown reception and Rio Cruz's two-point conversion cut the deficit to 30-15 at halftime.
 
Lewis & Clark exploded in the second half behind Simril's precision and the team's no-huddle tempo. The Pioneers opened the half with a surprise onside kick and capitalized from there. Simril connected with Dante Washington from nine yards out early in the third quarter, then found Cruz on a deep 47-yard strike to start the fourth, trimming the lead to 36-29. Lasconia's second touchdown with 4:45 left in the game pulled the Pioneers within one score, but Pacific Lutheran added a late field goal to put the game out of reach.
 
Pacific Lutheran capitalized on several key momentum shifts, returning two punts for touchdowns and adding a pick-six in the second quarter. Lewis & Clark's defensive unit stiffened after halftime forcing a third-quarter interception by Charlie Murrin.
 
Lewis & Clark produced one of their most balanced and explosive performance of the season, recording 527 total yards and averaging 7.5 yards per play. The Pioneers outgained Pacific Lutheran by more than 200 yards and nearly doubled the Lutes in first downs (24-16).
 
Simril turned in one of the best passing efforts in Division III this season — completing 32 of 54 passes for 430 yards and five touchdowns. Backup Mateo Maehara added 52 yards on two completions, bringing the team total to 482 passing yards.
 
Cruz led all receivers with 8 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown, including a 47-yard score in the fourth quarter. Sytyn Lasconia continued his breakout season with 9 receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns, displaying consistent separation in the red zone.
 
Garrett Lee hauled in 5 passes for 96 yards, while Lahusky and March added key third-down receptions throughout the contest.
 
Lewis & Clark will close out their season next Saturday, when they travel to take on Pacific University at 1 p.m.