Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
SPOKANE, WA – The Whittier College Football team jump started their 2015 campaign Saturday morning at the Pine Bowl but saw the offense stall in a 47-11 non-conference loss to the Pirates of Whitworth University.
The Poets struggled to find the endzone totaling 325 yards of total offense (240 Passing/85 Rushing) adding their lone touchdown with 3:52 to play in the fourth quarter.
Whitworth got on the board during its second possession, driving 80 yards in only four plays. Ian Kolste found Nick Kiourkas streaking down the middle of the field for a 49-yard touchdown, but the Pirates would be held in check the rest of the frame as they took a 7-0 lead into the second.
Kiourkas added his second touchdown early in the second quarter when Kolste hit him in the back corner of the endzone from 38 yards out before grabbing the ensuing two-point conversion that increased the lead to 15-0.
Whittier then put together its only extended drive of the first half led by junior transfer Justin Moore (Folsom, Calif.) who was 5-for-7, while also rushing for a big 17-yard gain on 3rd and four, which helped the Purple & Gold go 76 yards to the Whitworth 18-yard line. However they were forced to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.), pulling them to within twelve 15-3.
Whitworth however would take a 23-3 lead into halftime when Kolste hit Anthony Fullman on an inside screen pass who then went untouched into the endzone from 19 yards away, which completed a 71 yard drive capped off with another two-point conversion, this time from Kolste who ran it in.
After an exchange of possessions to start the second half, Whitworth took over on their own 40-yard line. This time going to the ground attack as Duke DeGaetano and Griffin Hare combined for 50 of the 60 yards. But in the end it was Kolste who found Fullman from 24 yards out that extended the lead to 30-3.
On Whittier's next series, a botched snap would give the football back to the Pirates with great field position, which set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Kolste to Kevin Thomas that extended the lead to 37-3.
Three minutes later, following a Whittier three-and-out Jonah Koski would find Fullman for the Pirates final touchdown that moved the score to 44-3 and then at the beginning of the fourth they would add their final points with a 25-yard field goal from Robert Thullen.
Whittier finally got into the endzone with 3:52 to play in the game when Moore completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Benton Bray (Kingsburg, Calif.) on third down, closing out a 76-yard drive that took 12 plays. During the drive, Justin Vlahos (Bakersfield, Calif.) had three catches for 29 yards and Josh Thomas (Compton, Calif.) had a 15-yard rush.
For Whittier, Moore completed 27 of 42 passes for all 240 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Vlahos was his favorite target, catching 14 passes for 109 yards.
Miguel Redmond (San Jose, Calif.) led the ground attack with 37 yards on 17 carries.
James Bettencourt (Downey, Calif.) led the defensive unit with nine tackles.
For Whitworth, Kolste completed 22 of 41 passes for 305 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Koski went 4-7 for 37 yards and a score.
Kiourkas led ten Whitworth receivers who had at least one catch in the game. Kiourkas finished with five receptions for 128 yards. Fullman finished with four grabs for 65 yards, three of which were touchdowns. DeGaetano caught four passes out of the backfield for 44 yards.
Taylor Roelofs and JT Phelan had Whitworth's two interceptions on defense, while Jordan Pride joined Schweiger with a fumble recovery. Dalin McDonnell was the leading tackler with eight stops. Joe Schweiger added two sacks to his fumble recovery.
Whittier returns home this Saturday, September 19 as they host Austin College in their second non-conference game beginning at 1:00pm.
