SPOKANE, Wash. -- Joel Clark passed for 271 yards and four touchdowns, while Chris Ahsing ran for 150 yards and two other scores to lead Whitworth College to a 43-28 win over visiting University of La Verne in a non-conference college football game on Saturday afternoon in the Whitworth Pine Bowl.

It was the second week in a row the Pirates (2-0) built a comfortable early lead and cruised to victory over a Southern California opponent. The visiting Leopards (1-1) closed the gap in the fourth quarter with a pair of late touchdowns.

Michael Allan Caught 3 TDs

Clark completed 17 of 25 pass attempts without an interception. Three of the touchdowns went to tight end Michael Allan. Allan finished with five catches for 94 yards. Wide receiver Kyle Snell had another big receiving day, finishing with nine grabs for 139 yards and a score.

Ahsing carried 25 times to lead a Pirate ground game that totaled 205 yards. His two second quarter touchdowns gave Whitworth a 29-7 lead heading to the locker rooms.

Whitworth outgained La Verne 506-390, including a 205-70 edge in rushing yards. The Pirates controlled the clock as well, holding on to the ball for 37:27 compared to 22:33 for the Leopards.

Brian Guerrero was 23 of 38 for 320 yards and four touchdowns for ULV. He threw one interception. Dustin Elliot caught seven of the passes for 105 yards and a score. Roger Logan caught a touchdown and Leandre Allen grabbed both of the Leopards' fourth quarter touchdowns.

Whitworth led 15-0 after the first quarter. Clark hit Allan on TD passes of 19 and 31 yards. The Pirates converted a two-point conversion after the first score when Zach Henningsen completed a pass to Nick Kuntz.

After Guerrero found Elloit from 24 yards out early in the second quarter to pull ULV within 15-7, Whitworth completed two long scoring drives to take the 29-7 halftime lead. Ahsing scored on runs of one and two yards.

Peter Clark's 8 yard QB sack

Snell took a swing pass from Clark and scored from 20 yards out to give the Pirates a 36-7 lead early in the third quarter, completing a 77 yard drive that only took four plays.

Guerrero hit Logan for a 32-yard score to pull La Verne within 36-14. The Leopards' 77 yard drive also only took four plays.

Whitworth completed its scoring when Clark hit Allan for a 28 yard score over the middle with three minutes to go in the third quarter. The play came on fourth and one. With the score 43-14, Whitworth substituted liberally the rest of the game.

Guerrero's fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Allen covered 32 and 31 yards, respectively.

Deandre Valencia led La Verne and all players with 14 tackles, including three for losses of 10 yards. Gabe Segovia added 12 stops, all solo efforts. Jay Tully had seven tackles to lead Whitworth. Phil Entel intercepted his first pass of the season. Peter Clark and Justin Rundle each had a quarterback sack for the Bucs.

Whitworth will take next week off with a bye before playing at Eastern Oregon on October 1st. La Verne, which had last weekend off, will host Puget Sound in its home opener next Saturday.