The Pacific football team will kick off Northwest Conference play Saturday at home against Whitworth.

The Pirates, picked to finish second to Linfield in the NWC preseason coaches poll, are 1-2 this season. Coming off a bye, Whitworth lost 34-17 to Redlands at home on September 20. The Pirates led 17-13 heading into the fourth quarter, but  Redlands scored 21 unanswered points – including a defensive touchdown – to pull away. 

Whitworth leads the all-time series 27-5-1, including an 11-3 record since the Boxers resumed their program in 2010. The Pirates have won three straight and eight of the last 10. Pacific won 14-7 in Spokane in 2021. 

Last season's matchup was a shootout with the Pirates winning 39-32 in Forest Grove. Whitworth running back Luis Salgado rushed for a Northwest Conference single-game record 365 yards on 25 carries (14.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. His 79-yard touchdown run in the second quarter tied the game 10-10 and is the longest run of his career. He also broke Whitworth's record for all-purpose yards in a game with 386. The Pirates finished with 537 yards, a season-best 385 on the ground. Whitworth averaged 10.7 yards per play.

Salgado, a senior, has rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries this season. Quarterback Logan Lacio has completed 68 of 106 pass attempts for 615 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Whitworth sophomore linebacker Drew Cody leads the Northwest Conference with 30 total tackles, including 19 solos. 

Pacific, also coming off a bye, dropped its home opener to Wisconsin-Stevens Point 36-13 on September 20.

The Boxers led 13-7 with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter before the Pointers scored 29 unanswered points, including outscoring Pacific 22-0 in the fourth quarter.

Pacific senior running back Brody Bantolina finished with a season-high 121 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, which included a 68-yard touchdown run.

Bantolina leads the NWC with 241 rushing yards and four touchdowns through three games. 

The Boxer defense allowed 275 rushing yards against Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Pointer offense converted 9 of 14 third downs and was 1-for-1 on fourth down. Pacific was just 2-for-9 on third down.

Junior safety Kaden Huppin leads the Pacific defense with 19 total tackles, including 13 solos. 

Saturday's game will kick off at 1 p.m. at Hanson Stadium.

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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