The Puget Sound football team mounted an unexpected comeback in the fourth quarter against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers but ultimately came up a bit short, losing 31-28. The Loggers, still looking for their first win of the season, travelled to Portland to take on the undefeated Pioneers. The game looked like a mismatch on paper, and had the potential to get out of hand early, as the Loggers’ first possession of the game ended abruptly when the Pioneer defense sacked quarterback Braden Foley (Bothell, Wash.) and forced him to fumble. Lewis & Clark recovered the fumble deep in Logger territory, and capitalized on their very next play, a nine-yard run by Pioneer quarterback Keith Welch.
The Loggers showed some resolve, however, as they fought back, holding the formidable Pioneers’ offense in check and, eventually, tying the game in the second quarter. The score came on a five-yard pass from Foley to senior Adam Kniffin (Salem, Ore.), capping off a nine-play, 51-yard drive. The Pioneers scored again with 2:04 left in the second quarter, on another run by Welch. However, the Loggers continued to show some much-needed fortitude, as they travelled 62 yards on six plays before the end of the half. The drive eventually culminated with a 10-yard touchdown run by Foley, who eluded the defense and allowed the Loggers to go into the half tied at 14.
However, the Lewis & Clark offense, held in check for much of the first half, finally broke out in the third quarter. The Loggers caught a break on the Pioneers’ first drive, as Lewis & Clark drove 64 yards, but their 40-yard field goal fell short. The Loggers gambled on their next drive, attempting to convert a 4th and 1 on their own 32 yard line, but Foley’s pass fell incomplete, and the Pioneers set up their offense with a short field. They converted five plays later, on a five-yard run by Welsh, to take a 21-14 lead. Following a Logger punt, the Pioneers continued their assault, going 68 yards on just five plays to take a 28-14 lead. Down two touchdowns with 1:38, it looked like another lost cause for Puget Sound football.
However, the Loggers refused to go quietly. The offense, led by Foley, strung together a 17-play drive that included two daring fourth-down conversions, one of which was aided by a holding penalty on Lewis & Clark. It ultimately ended with a one-yard touchdown dive by Foley that brought the Loggers within a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Loggers’ defense was unable to get the Pioneer offense off the field, letting them go drive 50 yards before eventually converting a backbreaking field goal.
Yet again, the Loggers were not fazed, putting together yet another scoring drive, as Foley marched the offense down the field, completing four passes, including a 13-yard strike to Kniffin. With over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Loggers looked to have a shot at tying the game. However, the Pioneers controlled the ball for the next four minutes, leaving the Loggers with only 56 seconds to put together a potential game-winning drive. The offense was only able to make it to their own 32-yard-line, as their last-ditch effort fell short.
Despite the loss, there were encouraging signs from the Loggers. Their last game against an undefeated opponent occurred two weeks prior, as the Loggers were blown away 73-7 by Linfield. Unlike that game, which was essentially decided before halftime, the Loggers remained competitive against Lewis & Clark right up until the final whistle. Kniffen continued to play well, with 13 receptions, including two for touchdowns. In addition, the running game, which has struggled to find a rhythm this year, finally found some success, as sophomore running back Kupono Park (Waimanalo, Hawaii) averaged 4.8 yards per carry, exceeding 50 rushing yards for only the third time this season.
Foley, playing in his third game as a Logger, had by far his best game, completing 28 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over outside of his fumble in the opening minutes, avoiding the backbreaking interceptions that have plagued Puget Sound all season. As a freshman, Foley looks to have a bright future, and his continued development is proving to be an important storyline as the season winds down.
The Loggers will attempt to get their first win of the season again next week, as they travel back to Oregon to take on Pacific University on Saturday, Oct. 29.