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McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Whitworth could could not come up with the one extra play it needed on Saturday and fell 31-28 at Linfield on a Northwest Conference contest. The Pirates dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the NWC, while the Wildcats improved to 3-1 and 2-0.

A wild first half was followed by a more pedestrian second half and Linfield was able to score the game-winning points on Scott Birkhofer's 36 yard field goal with 12:17 to go.

Stone returned an interception 92 yards

Whitworth took its first possession and drove 75 yards for Adam Anderson's (Jr., RB, Elk, Wash.) two-yard touchdown run. Mike Peck (Jr., QB, Longview, Wash.) completed a 31-yard pass to Dale Entel (Fr., WR, Clarkston, Wash.) to move into Linfield territory and then Steve Stockton (Sr., WR, Spokane, Wash.) took a screen and threw to Justin Monahan (Fr., WR, West Linn, Ore.) for a 24 yard gain to the Wildcats' two.

Linfield responded with a 64 yard drive to tie the game, converting a pair of third downs on the drive before Reggie Ford scored from one yard out.

Whitworth gained a pair of Linfield fumbles, but could not move the ball after the first turnover and following the second Peck's pass was intercepted by Linfield's Taylor Skore at the Pirate 18 yard line and returned 82 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

But Whitworth's Paul Werhane grabbed another Wildcat fumble, his second of the game, at the Linfield 16 yard line early in the second quarter. This time Whitworth converted to tie the game. Peck completed a seven yard pass to Anderson for the score.

After a Linfield punt and a Whitworth fumble, the Wildcats were driving deep in Pirate territory. But McLane Stone (Sr., DB, Orcas Island, Wash.) intercepted Linfield QB Cole Franklin and returned the ball 92 yards up the right sideline for a Pirate touchdown.

Whitworth might have taken the 21-14 lead to the locker room, but a short punt to the 50 yard line was returned by P.J. Sequeria 20 yards to the Whitworth 30. Two plays later Franklin scrambled out of trouble and ran 18 yards to pay dirt with 1:38 to play in the half.

Linfield took its first possession of the second half 86 yards in 12 plays, scoring on Ford's seven yard carry. Ford ran 16 yards on a draw play on third and 10 at the Pirate 41 yard line.

However Whitworth responded with its best second half drive on the next possession. The Pirates went 74 yards in 12 plays and benefited from a busted field goal attempt. After Linfield held Whitworth inside the five yard line, the Pirates lined up for a 20 yard field goal. But the snap rolled to holder Chad Flett (Sr., WR, Spokane, Wash.), who alertly rolled to his right and found Cameron Stroyan (Jr., LB, Chewelah, Wash.) for a two yard touchdown pass. Peck set up the score by running 20 yards for a first down on third and five at the Linfield 40.

Linfield's game winning drive went 59 yards to the Pirate 19 yard line. At that point Birkhofer connected on his game-winning kick with 12:17 to play.

Whitworth had two more possessions in the fourth quarter, but the Pirates were unable to gain a first down each time. After Zack Clow (So., P, Blanchard, Idaho) punted 48 yards and Linfield took over on its 48 with 6:30 to play, the Wildcats were able to run out the clock by keeping the ball on the ground and gaining a pair of first downs. Linfield was able to down the ball three times to run out the clock.

Linfield outgained Whitworth 294-225 and had an 18-11 edge in first downs. The Wildcats finished with four turnovers to only two for Whitworth.

Anderson had 181 all-purpose yards and 2 TDs

Anderson, the NCAA Division III leader in all-purpose yards, had 181 on Saturday. He ran for 62 on 25 carries and caught one pass for the seven yard touchdown. He returned five kick offs for 112 yards. Peck completed 6 of 15 passes for 93 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran nine times for a net of 23 yards. He was sacked three times. Eric Entel (Jr., WR, Clarkston, Wash.) was Whitworth's leading receiver with three catches for 28 yards.

Ford finished with 99 yards rushing on 23 carries with two scores to lead Linfield. Franklin completed 13 of 20 passes for 130 yards with the one interception, and scrambled for a net of 45 yards and one TD. Travis Masters caught five passes for 73 yards.

Brandon Martin (Jr., DT, Sweet Home, Ore.) and Layton Brown (So., LB, Kennewick, Wash.) led the Pirate defense with eight tackles each. Dane Gilbertson (So., LB, Lake Stevens, Wash.) had five tackles, including two for losses of seven yards. Stroyan added four tackles, including one for a loss of four yards, and a fumble recovery to his touchdown catch. Stone's interception was his second of the season.

Alex Tkachuk led Linfield with nine tackles.

Whitworth will return home to try and break the team's first two-game losing streak since 2005 when the Pirates host Puget Sound next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.