AZUSA, Calif. -- While Whitworth University won the turnover battle, Azusa Pacific University won the special teams war, and ultimately special teams was the difference in the Cougars' 38-34 non-conference football win over the Pirates on Saturday night before 3,123 Homecoming Fans at Cougar Stadium.

Anderson ran for 149 yards and 3 TDs

Whitworth (5-2), leading NCAA Division III in turnover margin coming into the contest, took away four more while giving up one. But Azusa (4-5) used a pair of long returns to set up short second-half scoring drives, and blocked a Pirate field goal and an extra point for the four-point difference in the final outcome.

It was a game of contrasts as Whitworth ran for 349 of its 407 total yards. Azusa threw for 352 of its 399 total yards. The total yardage and final point tally were the most allowed this season by the Pirate defense.

Adam Anderson led Whitworth's rushing game with 149 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. Both Chris Ahsing and Kory Kemp nearly surpassed 100 yards as well. Ahsing ran for 96 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown, while Kemp ran 12 times for 97 yards and a score. The running success allowed the Pirates to hold the ball for 38:34 of the game's 60 minutes.

However Azusa wide receiver Jon Davis set a school record for touchdown receptions in a season when he caught 7 passes for 149 yards and four scores, including the game-winning 43 yard reception with 4:39 to play. Cougar quarterback Rudy Carlson completed 22 of 34 passes for 352 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

Ahsing scored the first touchdown of the game with 4:03 left in the first quarter to cap a 76 yard drive and give Whitworth a 7-0 lead.

But Azusa scored the next 21 points in a row. Carson passed 15 yards to Todd Wilson for the Cougars' first score with 1:46 to play in the first quarter, then connected with Davis from 16 yards and four yards away in the second quarter to give APU the two-touchdown advantage.

Whitworth pulled within one touchdown with 2:03 left in the half when Anderson scored from four yards out and the Pirates appeared ready to head to the locker rooms down 21-14. But then Phil Entel intercepted Carlson at the APU 49 yard line and returned the ball to inside Azusa's 10 with 24 seconds to play in the period. Anderson scored from one yard away two plays later to tie the game 21-21.

The Cougars' first big return came on the opening kick off of the second half. Trent Sakioka returned the ball 56 yards to the Pirate 30 yard line, and two plays later Carlton passed seven yards to Davis for a touchdown to give Azusa a 28-21 lead.

Whitworth answered with a 65 yard drive and Anderson scored on a 15 yard run after converting a fourth and two earlier in the drive. But the extra point was blocked and Azusa continued to lead 28-27.

After an exchange of punts, Sakioka returned a Pirate punt 21 yards to the Whitworth 34 yard line, which set up Ben Hansen's 45 yard field goal which gave Azusa a 31-27 lead.

Azusa's two scoring drives in the third quarter totaled 35 yards combined after the returns.

Caster had 9 tackles and forced a fumble

Whitworth answered with a drive deep into APU territory, but Andy Largent's field goal from 23 yards was blocked. However Greg Caster forced a fumble on the next Azusa play and then Kemp ran in from 17 yards out on the first Whitworth play from scrimmage to give the Pirates a 34-31 lead.

Whitworth appeared to be driving for an insurance touchdown when Anderson was stripped of the ball by Brent Willard and Mike Perez recovered for the Cougars on their own 22 yard line with 7:30 to play in the game.

Carlton completed two long third down passes before threading the ball to Davis through several Pirate defenders for the touchdown from 43 yards away with 4:39 to play.

Whitworth tried to make a last drive, but Kemp's fourth down pass to Jay Tully was incomplete with 1:31 left in the game.

But after the Cougars gained a first down on their final drive, they unexpectedly continued to run the ball instead of downing it. Ryan Marshall forced a fumble and Peter Clark recovered for the Pirates with :32 to go in the game. But a miracle finish was not in the cards as Kemp's final pass from his own 49 yard line fell incomplete with :00 on the clock.

Caster finished with nine tackles and Casey Clifton added eight stops for the Pirates. Marc Grow sacked Carlson twice for 16 yards in losses.

Whitworth (3-0 in the Northwest Conference), which saw its five-game winning streak come to an end, will play at Willamette University (3-4 overall, 2-1 NWC) next Saturday in a key league match up.