NEWBERG -- Pacific's final football game of the 2023 season, a 45-42 loss at George Fox, got off to a rough start, but wasn't ultimately decided until the final minute.
Trailing 45-28, the Boxers rallied with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance at the comeback. After
Brody Bantolina reached the end zone on a 7-yard run with 7:05 remaining,
Braeden Titus connected with
Tyler Vargas for a 35-yard touchdown with 4:22 to go.
Pacific's defense then forced a Bruins punt to give the Boxer offense the ball with 56 seconds remaining. However, a George Fox interception with 24 seconds remaining ended any hopes of a Pacific comeback.
The Boxers never led in the game as George Fox jumped out to a 21-0 lead. The Boxers got on the scoreboard with 3:50 remaining in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by
Kalai Pasi.
After the Bruins added another touchdown to extend their lead to 28-7, Christian Carmichael caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Titus with 2 seconds remaining in the first half. Titus then connected with
Isaiah Pitre for a 68-yard touchdown to begin the third quarter to get the Boxers within a touchdown, 28-21.
But George Fox answered with 10 straight points on a 29-yard field goal and 25-yard touchdown pass to enter the fourth quarter with a 38-21 lead.
Titus completed 16 of 30 passes for 395 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Pitre had three receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown. Vargas caught five passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. Bantolina rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Hunter Brown recorded 13 tackles to lead Pacific's defense.
Anthony Lopez and
Tatum Tausaga each finished with 12 tackles.
Zion Booker had an interception in the loss.
Jackson Green was 6-for-6 on extra points but missed a 34-yard field goal with 5:57 remaining in the first quarter.
The Boxers finished the 2023 season 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the Northwest Conference.
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on
Instagram and
Twitter.
#GoBoxers
