SPOKANE, Wash. -- Visiting Puget Sound scored more points against Whitworth in the first quarter than any other team had tallied against the Pirate defense in an entire game all season. But Whitworth regrouped behind the record setting day of All-American tight end Michael Allan for a 44-27 Northwest Conference victory over the Loggers, giving the Bucs their first ever 10-0 season and outright NWC title.

Allan set a Whitworth receiving yardage mark

Allan caught six passes for 251 yards and touchdowns of 74 and 66 yards to lead Whitworth's win. He broke the previous single game receiving yardage record of 219 yards originally set by Wayne Ralph against Willamette in 1986.

Allan got the Pirates on the scoreboard quickly, catching a pass over the middle and outpacing the Logger secondary into the endzone for 74 yards on Whitworth's first play from scrimmage. But UPS (7-3 overall, 3-3 NWC) answered quickly, scoring on a 36 yard touchdown pass from Kavin Williams to Aaron Bean at 10:40, capping a seven-play, 73 yard drive.

On Whitworth's next play, Joel Clark found Allan up the right sideline for 69 yards to the UPS 11 yard line. Clark scored two plays later. However, the Loggers quickly answered after Isaac Blum returned the ensuing kick off 80 yards to the Whitworth 14 yard line. Rory Lee scored two plays later. And only 7:07 into the game, the teams were tied 14-14.

Early in Whitworth's next possession, Kynan Pang forced a fumble by Whitworth's Tyler Hannon at the Pirate 39 yard line, which was recovered by the Loggers' Russ Stanbury. UPS used seven plays to go 37 yards, capped by Silas Paul's one yard touchdown carry, to open up a 21-14 lead with 2:50 to play in the first quarter.

The previous high point total given up by the Pirates in an entire game this season was 16 points against La Verne in the second game.

Clark threw for 379 yards and 4 TDs

Whitworth got within one point early in the second quarter when Clark hit Silva from 19 yards out to cap a 71 yard drive that took 10 plays. However, the extra point was blocked. On the next UPS possession, the Loggers were punting from their own 25 yard line when Jay Tully broke through and blocked the attempt by Brian Ames. The ball bounced back into the Loggers' endzone where Tully fell on it for a Pirate touchdown and a 27-21 Whitworth advantage.

Whitworth appeared to be driving for more points at the end of the first half, but Mitch Grandstaff intercepted Clark at the UPS 13 yard line with five seconds to play.

After Whitworth forced UPS to punt on the first possession of the second half, the Pirates drove to the Loggers' 10 yard line where Cam Collings nailed a 27 yard field goal for a 30-21 lead. And then after another UPS punt, the one-play wonder struck again. Clark hit Allan over the middle and this time Allan went 66 yards for a Pirate touchdown on the first play of the drive. That play broke the single game receiving yardage record and gave Whitworth a 37-21 lead.

Phil Entel made the first of his two interceptions at the Loggers' 39 yard line on the first UPS play after the touchdown. Five plays later Clark found Tully on a short pass and Tully went 11 yards for a touchdown to give the Pirates a 44-21 lead with 14:05 left to play in the game.

Lee capped the day's scoring with an 11 yard run with 5:26 to play in the game. His touchdown was set up by Noa Higgins' interception return of 33 yards to the Whitworth 22 yard line.

Clark finished the day with 379 yards passing, completing 16 of 22 passes with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Besides Allan, Clark's favorite target was Silva, who finished with five catches for 79 yards and a score. Tully had three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Havercroft carried 14 times for 67 yards, while Shane Stonemetz ran 11 times for 22 yards.

Entel picked off two passes

Lee capped his record breaking career at UPS with 101 yards on 27 carries. He becomes the all-time career rushing leader for the Loggers with 4,051 yards, breaking the record previous held by Gary McCurty. He also sets the UPS single season rushing record with 1,288 yards. His two touchdowns give him 37 for his career.

UPS Quarterback Kavin Williams completed 7 of 16 passes for 85 yards with three interceptions and a touchdown. He also ran 12 times for 73 yards. Bean caught three passes for 55 yards.

Greg Caster led the Whitworth defense with 13 tackles, a season high. Justin Rundle had six tackles, including a seven yard sack. Entel's two interceptions give him five for the season, while Ryan Marshal picked off his sixth pass of the year, which ties teammate Tully for the lead in the NWC.

Brian Jones had nine stops for UPS, while Pang has six tackles, including one for loss of four yards, and his forced fumble.

Whitworth outgained UPS 472-307.

As the final seconds wound down, the tears on the Pirate sideline flowed as freely as the sports drink the cascaded over head coach John Tully. Today's win capped a remarkable rebuilding job done by Tully over the last 12 seasons. In the 12 seasons prior to Tully's arrival, the Pirates suffered through 11 losing years. Over the course of the last seven seasons, Tully's record is 46-19 and he has coached the first 10-0 team in Whitworth history. The 1955 Pirates finished 9-0 and the 1960 and '61 teams each finished 9-1.

Whitworth will find out its first round NCAA playoff assignment on Sunday morning, when the NCAA announces the 32 team field on ESPNews at 11:00 am Pacific Time. There is a good chance the Pirates will host a first round game.