PORTLAND, OR. -- Milton Nelson and Sean Scott ran for two touchdowns each to lift visiting Whitworth University to a season-ending 34-7 win at Lewis & Clark College in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday at Griswold Stadium.
The Pirates finish the season 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the NWC. The Pioneers dropped to 1-7, 0-5 with one game left.
Nelson ran for 85 yards and the first two Pirate scores, while Scott picked up 87 yards and rushed for the second two Whitworth scores.
Whitworth outgained L&C 284-161, holding the Pioneers to 11 total first downs. L&C quarterback Tucker Laurence was harassed into 3 of 22 passing for 22 yards with one interception. Laurence did finish with 92 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The Pirates scored on the first possession of the game when Nelson broke loose from 22 yards away.
In the second quarter Whitworth pinned L&C deep in its own territory, forcing a punt from within the 10-yard line. The Bucs took over on the Pioneers' 38-yard line and scored five plays later on Nelson's nine yard run.
After Zack Clow pinned L&C deep again later in the quarter, Whitworth was able to take over at the L&C 17 after a short punt and a 17 yard return by Nick Ashley. Scott scored two plays later from nine yards away. The snap attempt on the extra point got away and Whitworth led 20-0 at halftime.
Early in the fourth quarter the Pirates converted on third and eight near midfield when Taylor Eglet passed 12 yards to Scott. On the next play Scott broke free for a 40 yard touchdown run to give Whitworth a 27-0 lead.
L&C put together its only sustained drive of the game midway through the fourth quarter. Laurence ran in from nine yards away to cap a 60-yard drive, pulling the Pioneers within 27-7 with 4:31 to play.
After a short kickoff and a 15-yard return, Whitworth got the ball at the L&C 30 yard line and scored one final time on a 30-yard touchdown pass.
The Whitworth defense was strong, holding its opponent to season-lows in total points and total yards. Cailen Thomason picked off his third pass of the season and Paul Werhane led Whitworth with six tackles.
Clow averaged 42.2 yards on four punts, with all four punts going inside the L&C 20-yard line, helping the Pirates win the field position battle.
The Pirates have now won 11 straight against the Pioneers.
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