The Pacific defense limited George Fox to 213 yards of total offense but it was a 93-yard kickoff return, late in the fourth quarter, that proved to be the difference as the Bruins edged the Boxers, 21-18 on Saturday in Newberg.

Pacific (2-5, 2-2 NWC) outgained the host Bruins by 203 yards, 416 to 213, in the loss. A bulk of the difference came in the ground game as Boxers' junior running back Joshua Harris (pictured below; photo by Ellie Parker) ran 36 times for 162 yards and a touchdown.  The 36 rushes are the most by a Pacific ball carrier since the return of football in 2010. His 162 yards marks his fifth time in seven games over 100 yards and third-straight for Harris. The Pacific ground game outgained George Fox, 238-99 in the loss.
 

The Bruins (3-4, 2-2) scored on a pair of explosive plays in the win, including a 71-yard pass play midway through the first quarter. Later in the game, George Fox went ahead 14-3, late in the third quarter, on a 38-yard touchdown run.
 
Facing a 14-3 deficit, the Boxers made it a one-possession game as they went on a 11 play, 65-yard drive that ended when Harris plunged in from a yard out. The Boxers cut the deficit to three, 14-11, when they successfully converted a two-point conversion with 11:44 to go.
 
The Bruins' Anthony Garcia took the ensuing kickoff back 93 yards for what proved to be the difference. Trailing by 10, Pacific went on a 16 play, 75-yard drive that saw junior Kenyon Harris find senior Gavin Hettinger for a four-yard touchdown pass reception. Ty Hargis had 12 catches for 100 yards for his second-straight game with 100+ yards receiving.
 
With a 3-point deficit and just under five minutes to play, the Boxers needed to get the ball back to possibly force overtime. Pacific eventually got the ball back with :51 to play and the ball at its own 20 yardline. However, the Boxers were unable to get into position for a game-tying field goal as the Bruins secured the victory.


Next, Pacific will host Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.