SALEM, Ore. -- Andy Largent's 33 yard field goal in overtime lifted visiting Whitworth University to a 20-17 win over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday afternoon at McCulloch Stadium. It was the Pirates' first road win over the Bearcats since 2001.

Largent kicked two FGs and caught a TD

Whitworth (6-2 overall, 4-0 NWC) moved closer to a second consecutive NWC football title with the win. Willamette (3-5, 2-2) fell two games behind the Pirates with two games to play.

Adam Anderson (So., RB, Elk, Wash. - Univ. of Idaho) ran for 84 yards and a touchdown and threw for a touchdown to lead the Pirates. Chris Ahsing (Sr., RB, Ewa Beach, Hawaii - Campbell) rushed for 50 yards. Kory Kemp (Jr., QB, Redmond, Wash. - Eastlake) completed 10 of 19 passes for 171 yards with two interceptions.

C.J. Washington, who led Willamette with 76 yards rushing, put the Bearcats on the board first with a one yard touchdown carry that completed a 45 yard drive.

Whitworth answered with a 62 yard drive and pulled to within 7-3 when Largent kicked a 20 yard field goal. Then the Pirates took a 10-7 lead when Anderson scored from 15 yards away. The touchdown was set up by a 52 yard pass completion from Kemp to Joey VanHoomissen (Jr., TE, Renton, Wash. - Kentridge).

Whitworth appeared to take control early in the third quarter when Anderson took a lateral from Kemp and threw a 32 yard touchdown pass to Largent on the Pirates' first possession.

But Willamette pulled to within three points on a broken play. Quarterback Ryan Whitcomb could not handle a snap at the Whitworth 32 yard line. He was able to beat a couple of Pirate defenders to the ball, then shuffled a pass to tight end Josh Lee as he was being tackled. Lee rumbled into the endzone, breaking several tackles along the way.

The Bearcats tied it late in the third quarter when Matt Bicocca kicked a 24 yard field goal.

Neither team threatened to score in the fourth quarter. Then after Whitworth won the toss in overtime the Bearcats when on offense first. Whitcomb and Merben Woo could not complete a hand off, leading to a fumble on the first play. The Bearcats lost 11 yards on the play when Woo fell on the ball. The miscue led to a long attempt by Bicocca (46 yards), which was wide left.

Whitworth gained nine yards on three running plays on its first possession and Largent made his attempt from 33 yards to give the Pirates the win.

Tully was credited with 18 total tackles

Whitworth outgained Willamette 366 - 274 and had a 31:11 - 28:49 advantage in time of possession. The Bearcats were the first team since Wisconsin-Stout to hold Whitworth below 200 yards rushing (163). Willamette was also the first team to gain more turnovers in a game with the Pirates, finishing with three takeaways (two interceptions) to a pair for Whitworth.

Jay Tully (Sr., SS, Spokane, Wash. - Mead) was credited with 18 tackles (including one for loss), while Casey Clifton (Sr., LB, Spokane, Wash. - University) was in on 13 stops (including 1.5 for loss). Greg Caster (Sr., LB, Sherwood, Ore. - Sherwood) recovered a fumble on Whitworth's own four yard line and Phil Entel (Sr., FS, Clarkston, Wash. - Univ. of Idaho) intercepted his third pass of the year.

Whitworth now faces a showdown with 15th-ranked Linfield (5-2 overall, 3-1 NWC) next Saturday in the Pine Bowl at 12:30 p.m. A Whitworth win will clinch the Pirates' second straight conference championship. A Linfield win will give the Wildcats a good opportunity to at least tie for the NWC title.