TACOMA, Wash. – Despite a slow start to the contest, Pacific football eventually found its rhythm on the offensive side of the ball to grab the 42-21 road victory over Northwest Conference foe Puget Sound.
The Boxers racked up 553 yards of total offense which is their highest mark of the season.
Ryan Helt impressed with 327 yards through the air, but Pacific's running game was solid as well, going for 226 yards on the ground.
Top Performers
- Ryan Helt led the offensive explosion, completing 12-of-17 passes for 327 yards and a season-high five touchdowns.
- Brody Bantolina enjoyed another standout performance at running back with his 95 yards on 10 carries, including a 59-yard run.
- Isaiah Pitre caught an 80-yard bomb to highlight his three-catch, 142-yard day. Two of his three grabs resulted in touchdowns.
- Rustin Williams anchored a strong Pacific defense with a team-high 10 tackles.
- Robert Wood notched six tackles with a pair of quarterback hurries.
How It Happened
Pacific received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out on its first drive. Puget Sound answered with a quick score just a few minutes later to take a one-score lead.
The Boxers' defense came up with a huge fourth-down stop on their own 14-yard line to prevent the Loggers from taking a two-touchdown advantage. Helt and the Pacific offense went to work, putting together an eight-play, 86-yard drive to even the score at 7-7.
Kai Bookland capped off the drive by hauling in a 33-yard touchdown catch on third down.
The two teams would trade punts before Helt connected with Pitre to move the ball down to the one-yard line.
Kash Taylor would punch it in to give the Boxers their first lead of the game with just over five minutes left in the half. The hosts replied yet again when they manufactured a long drive of their own on the ensuing possession when Silas Washington found the end zone to tie things up.
With just 27 seconds left before the break, Bantolina broke free for a 59-yard run to bring his team down to the five-yard line. Helt then found his tight end
Dominic Funk for the score to give his team the lead going into the locker room.
Pacific's offense settled into a rhythm in the second half and scored on their first possession of the third quarter when Helt and Pitre hooked up for a 29-yard score to make it 28-14. Another defensive stop allowed Forest Grove's team to take over yet again, and the Helt-Pitre duo took advantage with their 80-yard touchdown strike to make it a three-score lead.
Puget Sound clawed within two touchdowns by finding the end zone on its next drive but Pacific replied with a score of its own when
Tyler Penn raced for a 40-yard touchdown catch to seal the victory.
By The Numbers
- The Boxers' 553 total offense makes it their best offense performance since Oct. 12, 2019.
- Pacific was 4-of-8 on third down while UPS was 7-of-14.
- There were no turnovers in the contest.
What It Means
Pacific improves to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in NWC play. The Boxers have won the last six meetings with the Loggers.
Up Next
The Boxers will look for their fourth-straight victory Oct. 15 when they return to Hanson Stadium to host No. 7 Linfield.
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