SPOKANE, Wash. -- After racing to a 21-0 halftime lead, Whitworth College ground out a 35-21 win over visiting University of Redlands in a non-conference football game on Saturday afternoon in the Whitworth Pine Bowl. It was the season opener for both schools.

Junior quarterback Joel Clark accounted for 313 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to lead the Pirates. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran 15 times for 103 yards and two scores.

Whitworth looked like it might make the game a runaway in the first half, leading 21-0 at halftime. The Pirates drove 72 yards on their second offensive possession, scoring on Clark's three yard pass to Nick Kuntz. On the Pirates' next possession, Clark scored on a nine yard draw with 2:20 to play in the first quarter.

Whitworth made it 21-0 with 5:46 to play in the second when Clark found tight end Michael Allan on a slant from 11 yards out, completing a 71-yard, 11-play drive. Chris Ahsing opened the drive with a 29-yard run.

The halftime stats mirrored Whitworth's scoreboard domination. The Pirates out gained the Bulldogs 264-100 and had a 17:32-12:28 edge in time of possession. Redlands QB Nick Brown was five of nine for 49 yards. Chester McCullough was the leading rusher with 23 yards.

But the Bulldogs found their game in the locker room. Brown drove the team 77 yards in 10 plays on the first possession of the second half, connecting with Dan Selway for a touchdown on second and 15 at the 24 yard line. After forcing Whitworth into a quick three and out, Redlands scored again only two plays later. Brown hit Selway over the middle from 26 yards to complete a 42-yard drive. The lead was down to 21-13 with 7:38 to play in the third quarter after Sean Conway's kick was wide left.

But Whitworth responded with a 14-play, 76-yard drive that ate up 5:21 of the clock. Kyle Havercroft, who scored four touchdowns in last season's meeting between the two teams, scored his only touchdown of this day when he muscled in from three yards away. The extra point extended Whitworth's lead back to 28-13.

Trailing again by two scores, Brown led the Bulldogs back into Whitworth territory. But on first down at the Whitworth 26 yard line, he fumbled while scrambling out of pressure and the Bucs' Ryan Marshall recovered at the 20 yard line. Whitworth then drove to the Redlands' four yard line, using 16 plays and 8:28 of the clock. Steven Quinlan intercepted Clark in the Bulldogs' endzone, but by that time only 5:15 was left in the game.

After Redlands gained 24 yards, Nick Portrey sacked Brown for a loss of nine and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Whitworth's Casey Clifton and returned to the Redlands' nine yard line. Clark scored on a five yard run three plays later to extend the lead to 35-13 with 2:47 to play.

Redlands added one more touchdown on a four yard pass from Brown to Alex Ballard with 1:11 to go. The Bulldogs got two when the same two players connected on the conversion, cutting the final margin to 35-21.

Whitworth finished with 433 yards of total offense. Kyle Snell caught 10 passes for 133 yards. Ahsing carried 13 times for 68 yards. Redlands totaled 337 yards of offense. Brown was 22 of 29 for 226 yards and three scores. He was also their leading rusher, gaining 54 yards on 14 carries. He was sacked five times. Ballard caught 12 passes for 103 yards and a score.

Jay Tully led Whitworth with 12 tackles. Justin Rundle had two sacks for 18 yards. Brad Smith was the Bulldogs' leader on defense with 11 stops, while Gary LaRussa had 10 tackles.

Redlands returns home to play Trinity University (Texas) next Saturday in the home opener.

Whitworth will host University of La Verne next Saturday during Homecoming 2005 in the Pine Bowl.