LA VERNE, Calif. -- The Whitworth University defense posted its first shutout since 2003, helping the visiting Pirates roll past University of La Verne 34-0 in a non-conference football game on Saturday afternoon at Ortmayer Stadium.

Anderson (left) and Mattair each ran for more than 100 yards to lead the Pirate offense.

Whitworth (1-1) outgained the Leopards (0-2) 461-215, including an advantage of 284-1 on the ground. Tyler Mattair (Jr., RB, Kennewick, Wash.) and Adam Anderson (So., RB, Elk, Wash.) each ran for over 100 yards to lead the Pirate ground attack.

The defense put the Pirates on the board first when Justin Rundle (Sr., DE, Spokane, Wash.) forced La Verne QB Troy Doolittle into an intentional grounding penalty from the Leopards' endzone on La Verne's first possession. Zack Clow's (Fr., P, Blanchard, Idaho) had pinned ULV on its own eight yard line.

Later in the first, the defense forced the Leopards to punt from deep in their own territory, allowing Whitworth to take over on the ULV 35 yard line. Six plays later Chris Ahsing (Sr., RB, Ewa Beach, Hawaii) scored from three yards out to give the Bucs a 9-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter Andy Largent (So., WR/PK, Spokane, Wash.) kicked a 34 yard field goal that capped a 40 yard drive to give Whitworth a 12-0 lead that the Pirates would take into the locker room.

The Pirate defense added more points in the third quarter when Greg Caster (Sr., LB, Sherwood, Ore.) sacked Doolittle for a seven yard loss and forced a fumble inside the Leopards' 20 yard line. Marc Grow (Sr., LB, Warden, Wash.) scooped up the ball at the ten and scored to give the Pirates a 19-0 lead after the extra point.

Grow had a fumble return for a TD, a sack and an interception.

Whitworth's offensive line took control on the Pirates next drive. The Bucs went 64 yards on six plays, all running plays, to score on Milton Nelson's (So., RB, Spokane, Wash.) six yard carry. Anderson set up the touchdown with a 41 yard run to the Leopards' 17 yard line.

The final Whitworth touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter when back up QB Jon Luke (Jr., Enumclaw, Wash.), on in relief of starter Kory Kemp (Jr., Redmond, Wash.) hit Steve Silva (Sr., WR, Goleta, Calif.) from 35 yards out with 13:21 to play. Even when things went wrong for the Pirates, they worked out right as the snap on the extra point was mishandled, but Luke was able to scramble away and find Justin Wimberly (Fr., TE, Tumwater, Wash.) open in the endzone for a two-point conversion and a lead of 34-0.

Mattair carried 13 times for 102 yards, while Anderson ran 14 times for 102 yards. Ahsing, making his first start of the season after a hamstring injury held him out of the opener, finished with 16 carries for 79 yards. Kemp, making his second career start, finished 10 of 18 for 91 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He was sacked twice. Luke was 3 of 3 for 86 yards and the one score to Silva, who led Pirate receivers with five catches for 71 yards.

Doolittle finished 22 of 44 for 214 yards for La Verne, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Pirates sacked Doolittle four times for 39 yards, which ultimately led to the team total of one rushing yard for the Leopards. David Merlos carried nine times for 41 yards and Grady Thomas and Phi Van Le each caught six passes.

Whitworth finished with a 35:01 - 24:59 edge in time of possession.

Grow finished as the Pirates' leading tackler with six. He had the fumble return for a touchdown and also killed a Leopard drive at the Whitworth goal line with an interception. Jay Tully (Sr., SS, Spokane, Wash.) intercepted his first pass of the season and the 11th of his career, while Phil Entel (Sr., FS, Clarkston, Wash.) came up with his first pick off of the season.

Whitworth will return to Spokane for the first of three straight home games next weekend when the Pirates host Wisconsin-Stout in the Pine Bowl at 1:00 p.m.