A 32-yard field goal by
Jackson Green got Pacific within six points of the reigning Northwest Conference champs with 9 minutes remaining in the game.
But the Boxer defense could not stop Whitworth running back Luis Salgado. The junior rushed for a new single game school record 365 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a 39-32 victory Saturday at Hanson Stadium.
Salgado immediately made his presence known, opening the game with a 63-yard run.
After Pacific's defense held the Pirates to a 23-yard field goal, quarterback
Braeden Titus found
Josiah Chaffin for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Boxers a 7-3 lead. Green then added a 29-yard field goal to extend the Pacific advantage to 10-3 with 10:57 remaining in the first quarter.
But Salgado quickly answered with a 79-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 10-10. Whitworth quarterback Ryan Blair then connected with Evan Liggett for touchdown passes of 5 and 15 yards to give the Pirates a 24-10.
With 15 seconds remaining in the first half, Pacific running back
Brody Bantolina broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run and the Boxers went into halftime trailing 24-16.
The Boxers opened the second half with a 7-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 25-yard pass from Titus to Chaffin to get Pacific within 24-22.
However, Salgado added two more touchdown runs in the second half to keep the Boxers at bay.
Titus connected with
Riley Camarillo for a 13-yard touchdown with 56 seconds remaining, but Pacific failed to recover the onside kick and Whitworth was able to run out the clock.
The Pirates finished with 385 yards on the ground.
Bantolina rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. Titus completed 22 of 31 pass attempts for 261 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Chaffin had 10 catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Pacific safety
Zion Booker had six tackles and an interception to lead the Boxer defense.
Whitworth has won 11 straight conference games. Pacific dropped to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the NWC.
Next: The Boxers host Linfield on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1:05 p.m.
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.
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