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Loggers Fall To #10 Bearcats, 49-27
SALEM, Ore. - Taking on the leader in the Northwest Conference and the 10th-ranked team in all of Division III, the Puget Sound Loggers held their own but eventually fell to the Willamette Bearcats, 49-27, in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday afternoon in Salem, Ore.
The Bearcats got on the board first with 10:46 to go in the first quarter when Grant Leslie connected with Josh Lee for a 30-yard score and a 7-0 Willamette lead following the Mitchell Rowan PAT. The Loggers answered back near the end of the quarter when Kavin Williams (Ocean Shores, Wash./North Beach) plunged in for a one-yard rush to cap a nine-play, 73-yard drive that tied the game at 7-7 after one quarter.
Willamette struck again in the early part of the second quarter when Leslie connected with Scott Schoettgen on a 93-yard touchdown pass that gave the 'Cats the lead again, 14-7. The Loggers nearly tied it up going into the half when Williams connected with Darrell Stewart (Long Beach, Calif./Loyola) for a two-yard pass but the PAT attempt by Wyatt Evenson (Spokane, Wash./Shadle Park) as the Loggers trailed going into the half, 14-13.
In the third quarter, the Bearcats pushed their lead to eight when Merben Woo rushed three yards for a Willamette touchdown. UPS answered back yet again with 4:56 remaining when Williams again ran in for the score, this time to cap an eight-play, 66-yard drive.
The Bearcats earned the victory over the next few drives, scoring 28 unanswered points to put the Loggers behind but UPS didn't give up as Silas Paul (Portland, Ore./Oregon) rumbled 24 yards for the final Logger score as they cut the gap to 49-27 and that would be the final score.
Williams finished with 10-0f-17 passing for 161 yards and 28 carries for 111 yards. Paul carried the ball 16 yards for 78 yards and Stewart finished with seven receptions for 116 yards and the one score. On defense, the Loggers were led by 10 tackles from Eric Borton (Yakima, Wash./West Valley).
Leslie led the Willamette offense with seven-for-13 passing for 285 yards and five scores. Woo led the Bearcat receivers with four catches for 123 yards and two TDs. The Willamette defense was led by Jack Bevins, who finished with 18 tackles on the day. Tommy Grove finished with 13 tackles as well.
The Loggers conclude the 2008 regular season next Saturday when they play host to Lewis & Clark. Kickoff with the Pioneers is set for 1:00 p.m. on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in Tacoma.
