Pacific (OR) vs Lewis
& Clark
(2-4) (4-3)
Last Week: Pacific is coming off of a bye week. Lewis & Clark is coming off a 63-0 loss
to third-ranked Linfield. The Pios
offense was held to 207 yards, including 42 yards rushing on 44 carries. QB Keith Welch went 4-16 for 50 yards with no
touchdowns and no interceptions. The
L&C defense also got shredded on Saturday, giving up 513 yards of offense,
including 381 through the air, to the ‘Cat Attack.
Thoughts entering the
game: These two teams are headed in
opposite directions going into Saturday.
Pacific, who went 1-17 in 2010 and 2011 combined, are 2-4 on the season,
and were competitive with both Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran, two of the
better teams in the NWC. Lewis &
Clark started out the season 4-0 and playing as well as could be on both sides
of the ball, but have had their world rocked in their past three games, getting
outscored 150-34 by PLU, Willamette, and Linfield. Statistically, the two teams look similar;
Lewis & Clark’s offense s averaging 26.9 points (sixth in the NWC) and
381.9 yards (sixth in the NWC). The
Boxers offense is averaging 28 points and 390.3 yards per game, both ranking
fifth in the conference. The Pio defense
gives up 35.1 points and 411.6 yards, ranking sixth and fifth in the conference
respectively; the Pacific defense gives up 33 points and 411 yards of offense
per game, which ranks fifth and fourth in the conference respectively. A win for Pacific would please their fan base
tremendously, while Lewis & Clark desperately needs a win to not only secure
a winning season, but to regain some of the mojo that they’ve lost in their
three-game losing streak. This game can go either way.
Winner: Lewis & Clark
Pacific Lutheran vs
Pudget Sound
(4-2) (0-6)
Last Week: Pudget Sound is coming off another devastating
loss, this one 70-11 to a Whitworth team that needed a real pick-me-up after
losing to Willamette and Linfield back to back.
The Logger defense gave up 494 yards and 8.0 yards per play to
Whitworth, allowing Ronnie Thomas to rush the ball 23 times for 122 yards and
two touchdowns. Quarterback Bryan
Peterson went 11-13 for 183 yards and four touchdowns with no
interceptions. The Pudget Sound offense
was held to 315 yards on the day, and turned the ball over six times, including
five interceptions. Pacific Lutheran is
coming off a 41-27 victory over previously undefeated and then-ranked #22 Willamette. On defense, the Lutes gave up 440 yards, but
they held Willamette running back Dylan Jones to 20 yards on 11 carries, and
they forced three turnovers, including an 80-yard pick six to open the second
half. On offense, Richey Dalton had a
monster game, going 16-28 for 197 yards with one touchdown and one
interception, and rushed 14 times for 65 yards and three touchdowns. The Lutes controlled the ball for 37 minutes
in the game, boosted by their legendary 18 play, 99 yard touchdown drive in the
fourth quarter that took 9:47 off the clock to seal the deal.
Thoughts entering the
game: After winning in impressive
fashion against Willamette last week, it’s beginning to look like Pacific
Lutheran may be the second-best team in the NWC in 2012, just like the coaches
predicted in the pre-season poll. Granted,
they still have tough games against Whitworth and Menlo after this, but Pudget
Sound should end up getting their rear handed to them again this week as the
Lutes come into town. Pacific Lutheran’s
defense once again ranks second in the conference, but it’s their improved
offense that has allowed them to assert themselves in 2012. Pacific Lutheran was the second-worst offensive team in the NWC in 2011; so far this season, the Lutes have averaged 31.3 points and 395
yards of offense per game, both ranking fourth in the NWC. Look for Pacific Lutheran to win big.
Winner: Pacific Lutheran
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