The Pacific football team held a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter. But visiting Whitworth surged late, scoring 22 straight points to hand the Boxers a 28–14 Northwest Conference loss Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium.
Pacific took its first lead of the game midway through the third quarter when quarterback
Keaton Smith found
Riley Camarillo for a 7-yard touchdown pass, capping a 72-yard drive to put the Boxers on top 7-6 with 5:06 remaining.
But the Pirates responded with a dominant fourth quarter, scoring on three straight possessions to take a 28-7 lead with 4:42 left to play.
Pacific's special teams stepped up big in the second quarter, blocking a field goal and punt.
After
Byson Vasquez returned the blocked field goal 35 yards to the Whitworth 30-yard line, the Boxer offense drove to the Pirate 5. But Smith was intercepted on first-and-goal in the end zone.
Pacific also had a 36-yard field goal attempt blocked with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter.
After Smith connected with
Micah Warren for a 20-yard touchdown, the Boxers recovered an onside kick with 2:06 remaining in the game.
But Pacific turned the ball over on downs at the Whitworth 31-yard line with 38 seconds to go and the Pirates were able to take a knee to run out the clock.
Smith completed 16 of 34 pass attempts for 189 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Pacific running back
Brody Bantolina had 87 yards on 19 carries.
Camarillo had seven receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Whitworth outgained the Boxers 372 yards to 294.
Vasquez recorded 10 total tackles to lead the Pacific defense.
Nehemiah Faleulu added eight tackles and a sack.
Next: The Boxers play at Linfield on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 1 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
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