Defense, Luck, Helps Loggers Nip Bearcats, 13-7

Willamette was led by 96 yards on 13 carries from C.J. Washinton.

Logger fans enjoy a 14-7 victory over Willamette Saturday at Baker Stadium. Photo courtesy: ups.edu

TACOMA, Wash. - Using a handful of big defensive plays and couple lucky breaks, the Puget Sound Loggers picked up their first conference win of the season, defeating the Willamette Bearcats, 13-7, in a Northwest Conference football game in front of 3,712 fans on Saturday afternoon on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.

The Bearcats (2-4, 1-1 NWC) got on the scoreboard first when Skylar Swinford hustled the ball 17 yards to cap a seven-play, 60-yard drive and the Matt Bicocca PAT was good as Willamette took a 7-0 lead.

Neither offense could find a spark the rest of the half as the teams went into the half with the Bearcats up 7-0.

In the third quarter, the Loggers wasted little time driving down the field.

Highlighted by a 52-yard pass from Spencer Crace to Mike Griffith, the Loggers used a two-yard rush by Silas Paul to cap a seven-play, 63-yard drive to even up the score at seven points each.

On Willamette's next drive, linebacker Phillip Thomas blocked the Willamette punt to give the Loggers momentum and the ball on the Bearcat 39-yard line.

While the Loggers were unable to get the ball into the endzone following the block, the play gave the Loggers momentum that they carried into the fourth quarter.

The winning score came with 2:20 remaining on the clock after James Olcott fumbled the ball on the one-yard line and senior offensive lineman Cody Dean recovered the ball in the endzone for the first touchdown of his career.

The PAT by Griffith was wide but the Loggers held the 13-7 lead with just minutes left on the clock.

On Willamette's first play of the next drive, Jake Parks forced a fumble by Ryan Whitcomb and Cole Hawes recovered the ball on the Logger 47.

Puget Sound went three-and-out on their next drive but an interception in the endzone by Demetri Huffman with no time left on the clock sealed the 13-7 win for the Loggers.

The Loggers were led by the passing of Crace, who finished the game 13-of-24 for 204 yards.

Eddie Behringer brought down three balls for 63 yards to lead the Loggers in receiving. Defensively, freshman Tyler Vlasak had a game-high 17 tackles, including eight unassisted.

Willamette was led by 96 yards on 13 carries from C.J. Washinton. Whitcomb finished 10-of-17 passes for 78 yards with one interception. Defensively, Taylor Hermes led the Bearcats with 13 tackles.

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