The Whitworth College football team finally gets to suit up in it's home uniforms on Saturday when the Pirates host Eastern Oregon University in a non-conference contest in the Whitworth Pine Bowl. In addition to the game being the home-opener, Saturday is also the centerpiece of Homecoming Weekend and will also include the induction of a new class of members in the Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame.

Whitworth is 2-0 and coming off of a bye after picking up back to back victories in California. Eastern Oregon dropped to 2-1 after losing 24-14 to Montana Tech on Saturday.

The Pirates: Whitworth has a chance to start 3-0, matching 2002 when the Pirates finished 7-3 overall. To say that the Pirates have been effective offensively would be putting it modestly. Whitworth has averaged 47.5 points and 455 yards per game in the first two contests. They have been equally effective on the ground as in the air, averaging 225.5 yards rushing and 229.5 yards passing. The Pirates have converted 60% (18/30) of their third downs and all four of their fourth down plays for first downs. The Bucs have held the ball an average of almost 36 minutes (35:53) per game. And finally, Whitworth has yet to turn the ball over this year, while the Pirates have gained a fumble and three interceptions in two games.

Joel Clark (So., QB, Spokane, Wash. - Mt. Spokane HS) has completed 62.7% of his passes for 459 yards. He has thrown three touchdowns and no interceptions. Clark has also run for 49 yards (11 carries) and two scores. The Pirates have sported a two-headed running attack in Kyle Havercroft (RS Fr., Rathdrum, Idaho - Lakeland HS), who has 181 yards and five touchdowns, and Chris Ahsing (RS Fr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii - Campbell HS), who has 155 yards and two scores. Wide receivers Kyle Snell (RS Jr., Issaquah, Wash. - Univ. of Ariz.) and Jared Thomas (RS So., Newberg, Ore. - Newberg HS) have combined for 22 receptions, 326 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Michael Allan (RS So., Bellevue, Wash. - Interlake HS) has five catches for 52 yards and a score.

Whitworth's offensive line has been outstanding. The Pirates have allowed only one sack in two games. The Bucs have yet to commit a holding penalty.

The Pirate defense has shown improvement. After giving up 49 points and 503 yards to a veteran Redlands offense, the Pirates held La Verne in check for most of the game (372 yards, 139 of which came on three big pass plays). Daniel Jones (RS Jr., LB, Coos Bay, Ore. - Marshfield HS) leads the team with 19 tackles. Jeremy Scroggins (Sr., LB, Royal City, Wash. - Royal City HS) has 16 stops, including three for loss, and has recovered a fumble.

Special teams play has been solid as well. Cameron Collings (Jr., P/PK, Spokane, Wash. - Mead HS) has made both of his field goal attempts and 11 of 12 points after touchdown. He has averaged 35.6 yards per punt. After allowing 29.5 yards per kick return in the opener, Whitworth held La Verne to 20.1 yards per return the following week.

NWC Poll: Whitworth finished fourth in the NWC preseason coaches poll with 18 points. Defending champion Linfield finished first with all six first place votes. Link to NWC Football Coaches Poll.

National Polls: With a 2-0 start, the Pirates have picked up eight points in D3football.com poll this week, getting listed with "others receiving votes". The poll can be found on the D3football.com website here:
http://www.d3football.com/top25.php?year=2004&week=4

The Opponents: Eastern Oregon University fell to 2-1 this season with a 24-14 loss at home to Montana Tech over the weekend. The Mountaineers went into the game ranked #23 in the NAIA after opening the season with wins over Menlo (45-14) and Willamette (20-13).

On Saturday Eastern spotted Tech a 24-0 lead in the third quarter before rallying with a pair of touchdowns. However, Tech managed to run out the final 7:42 of the game with a long, 15-play drive to prevent the Mountaineers from getting any closer. EOU QB Scott Jensen completed 18 of 33 passes for 307 yards. He did not throw a touchdown or interception, but did score his team's first touchdown on a six-yard run at the end of the third quarter. Tailback Justin Alsterlund caught seven of those passes for 124 yards and also ran 10 times for 46 yards and a touchdown.

So far this season Jensen has completed 53.7% of his passes for 515 yards and one score. Alsterlund has carried 56 times for 257 yards and three scores. The Mountaineers average 140 yards per game on the ground and 172 yards in the air.

The Mountaineers have four starters on defense who have transferred from NCAA Division I or I-AA schools. Linebacker Nick Hannah already has 44 tackles in three games. Corner back Vernon Smith (transfer from Montana) has three interceptions this season, two of which he has returned for touchdowns (both against Menlo). Free safety Joshua Johnson is also a transfer from Montana. Defensive end Jason Flowers came from Idaho, while defensive tackle Rand Gold came from Weber State.

The Series: Eastern leads the overall series 15-14-2. The Mountaineers defeated the Pirates 21-14 last season to retake the lead in the series and break a five-game Pirate winning streak. Whitworth's last win, and the last game played in the Pine Bowl, came in 2002 (28-3). The biggest Whitworth win in the series was 42-6 in 1987. The biggest Eastern win was 63-20 in 1991.

On the Road to California: The Pirates have played 13 games in California in its football history with a record of 5-8. Since 1998 Whitworth is 4-4 in games played in the Golden State, winning the last four. Including this season's wins at Redlands and La Verne, Whitworth also has 2001's season-opening 21-10 win at Chapman and 2002's 30-7 win at Menlo. The only other win in California was a 10-0 victory over Humboldt State in 1961. The Pirates have one more game in California this year, October 23 at Menlo College.

Coach Tully's Quotes:

On the Week Off: "Hopefully we will have healed by this Saturday. We have a couple of guys who are questionable and this gives them an extra week to get ready."

"After five hard weeks it is nice to get a breather and give the guys a chance to catch up and come back refreshed."

On Eastern Oregon: "From what we have seen on film, Eastern looks very solid on both offense and defense. They have a few transfers who have made a tremendous impact. We will have to control the ball, and control their quarterback, who scrambles very well, by keeping him in the pocket. They are the best team we have played so far."

The Coaches: John Tully is in his tenth season as head coach of the Pirates. He has a 40-47 record at Whitworth. However, he led the Pirates to a 35-24 record over the past six years and was named the 2001 NWC Coach of the Year. Tully is the second winningest coach in school history, trailing only Sam Adams (47-17-1 from 1958-64). Overall he is 71-69-1 in his 14th season as a head coach.

Defensive coordinator Travis Baker is serving as the interim head coach for Eastern Oregon this season while head coach Jim Fenwick has taken a leave to battle leukemia. Baker is in his second season as defensive coordinator with the Mounties after coaching for three years at Utah State.

2004 Statistics

2004 Roster

Other Division III Football Links:

Northwest Conference On-line

D3football.com

American Football Coaches Association

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