Complete stats and play by play

Redlands, Calif. - Sophomore quarterback Joel Clark passed for a career high 323 yards and redshirt freshman running back Kyle Havercroft scored four touchdowns to lead Whitworth College to a wild season opening 52-49 at the University of Redlands in a non-conference college football game on Saturday afternoon at a hot Ted Runner Stadium.

Clark directed a Pirate offense that put up 526 total yards. In addition to combining for 102 points, the teams also combined for 1,029 total yards. The contest was not settled until Whitworth's Mathew Johnson held on to the Bulldogs' last-ditch on-sides kick attempt with 36 seconds to play.

After neither team scored on its opening possession Whitworth went on to score on eight of its next nine possessions, while Redlands scored on seven of nine.

The Pirates opened the scoring when Cam Collings kicked a 29-yard field goal with 5:20 left in the first period. The field goal would ultimately prove to be the final margin of victory.

Redlands scored on its next possession when Les Simon carried in from three yards to give the Bulldogs a 7-3 edge. The score was set up by a 68 yard kick off return by Alex Ballard to the Whitworth 27 yard line.

Whitworth then drove 73 yards, capped by Havercroft's first touchdown of the game, a six-yard carry. The Pirates then forced Redlands to punt on its next possession and Nick Kuntz blocked the kick, give Whitworth a first down at the Bulldogs' five yard line. Havecroft scored two plays later to give the Bucs a 17-7 lead.

But Redlands went to work on its next two possessions, scoring on runs by Simon and David Beaudry to retake a 21-17 lead.

Whitworth looked like it might take a 24-21 lead into halftime when Clark scored on a five-yard draw play with 3:41 to play in the half, giving the Pirates back the edge. But Redlands went down the field and scored on an 11-yard pass from Brian Sapp to Jason Lee with only 49 seconds left. However, the Bulldogs would not enjoy their 28-24 lead for long. Clark directed the Pirates 77 yards in six plays and found Jared Thomas on a 40-yard touchdown with only eight seconds to play in the half to ultimately give Whitworth a 31-28 halftime lead.

Redlands retook the lead on its first possession of the second half, scoring on a 14-yard run by Sapp. Whitworth answered with a six-yard touchdown from Clark to tight end Michael Allen, give the Pirates the lead back at 38-35.

The turning point came at the end of the next Redlands drive. The Bulldogs went 75 yards to the Whitworth five-yard line. On third and goal Whitworth freshman Mike Johnston intercepted Sapp at the goal line and returned the ball out to the seven on the final play of the third quarter. Whitworth then drove 93 yards in 12 plays, using 5:45 of the clock. On second and goal, Havercroft scored from five yards out to give Whitworth a 45-35 lead with 9:15 left in the game.

It took Redlands less than two minutes to pull back within three when Beaudry scored on a three yard run. But the Pirates followed with another long, time consuming drive. Havercroft capped a 91-yard drive that took 5:54 with a ten-yard touchdown run with only 1:25 left in the game. Collings' extra point gave the Bucs a seemingly insurmountable 52-42 lead.

But the Bulldogs were not done. Sapp drove Redlands 65 yards in five plays, including a 41-yard carry of his own, to set up a five-yard scoring run by Simon with 37 seconds left. But Johnson recovered the on-sides kick for Whitworth and the Pirates downed the ball three times to run out the clock.

Clark completed 25 of 34 passes (74%) for his 323 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. Thomas caught nine of the passes for 132 yards and one score. Kyle Snell had seven catches for 94 yards and Allen finished with five grabs for 52 yards.

Havercroft finished with 62 yards rushing on 19 attempts and his four touchdowns. Chris Ahsing led the Pirates in rushing yards with 104 on only 13 carries. He kept both of Whitworth's long fourth-quarter drives alive with key third-down carries.

Sapp was 14 of 25 for 243 yards and one touchdown for Redlands. He also had one interception. Ballard caught five of the passes for 91 yards to lead the Bulldogs. Simon totaled 129 yards on 26 attempts for Redlands. He had three touchdowns.

The win for Whitworth evens the all-time series between the schools 1-1. Redlands had won the first meeting 20-7 in 2000 in California.

Whitworth returns to California next Saturday when the Pirates take on University of La Verne at 1:00. Redlands will travel to Texas to battle 11th-ranked Trinity University.

Back to Athletics > Football >