A day for the Willamette record books
Bearcats set scoring, rushing marks in 77-17 thrashing of Lewis & Clark
 
Nov. 3, 2007

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University ran the ball with 19 different players and never had to punt, as the Bearcats routed Lewis & Clark College, 77-17, in a Northwest Conference game at Fred Wilson Field on Saturday. Willamette set school record for points in a game, touchdowns in a game (11), rushing touchdowns in a game (11) and rushing yards in a game (599).

The Bearcats improved to 4-5 overall, while moving to 3-2 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark dropped to 0-8 on the season, 0-5 in the NWC.

Both teams scored in the first minute of the game. Willamette's Jose Green (Fr., RB, Downey, CA/Warren HS) returned the opening kickoff 70 yards to the L&C 14-yard line, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Skylar Swinford (Sr., RB, McCall, ID/McCall-Donnelly HS) two plays later with 14:53 left in the first quarter. On Lewis & Clark's first play after the ensuing kickoff, A.J. Brown completed a 79-yard touchdown pass to James Connelly, as the Pioneers tied the score, 7-7, at the 14:05 mark.

Willamette added two more touchdowns in the first quarter, while Adam Foote scored on a 40-yard field goal for L&C, leaving WU with a 21-10 advantage to open the second quarter. Three touchdowns in the second period extended Willamette's lead to 42-10 at the break. The Bearcats' C.J. Washington had two of the first half TDs on runs of six and seven yards respectively. WU tacked on 14 points in the third quarter and 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The 77 total points by Coach Mark Speckman's team broke Willamette's previous high of 75, set in 1934 during a 75-0 win over Whitman College. The Whitman game also featured 10 rushing touchdowns and 10 total touchdowns, which were school records until Saturday's win at Lewis & Clark.

The Bearcats' 599 rushing yards against the Pioneers broke the WU single game record of 554 yards, set against Montana Tech in the NAIA Playoffs on Dec. 6, 1997. Against L&C, the Bearcats also threw for 82 yards to give Willamette 681 total yards of offense. The school record of 738 yards was set against Bethany College (Kan.) on Nov. 23, 1996.

Swinford led all rushers with 108 yards on just four carries. Deon Horne (So., RB, Issaquah, WA/Liberty HS) gained 88 yards on seven carries and scored one touchdown for the Bearcats. Dan King (Jr., RB, Nevada City, CA/Nevada Union HS) carried seven times for 79 yards and on touchdown.

Willamette's 599 rushing yards were earned on 59 attempts for an average of 10.2 yards per carry. The Bearcats limited Lewis & Clark to 98 rushing yards on 36 carries (2.7 avg.). L&C also completed 17 of 26 passes for 271 yards, giving the Pioneers 369 yards of offense.

Brown was 15 of 22 passing for 230 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Pioneers also lost two fumbles. Willamette also lost a fumble for the Bearcats' only turnover of the game.

Ryan Whitcomb (So., QB, Oak View, CA/Nordhoff HS/College of the Canyons) was 6 of 9 for 81 yards for Willamette. James Yamashita (Jr., WR, Walnut Creek, CA/Los Lomas HS/Diablo Valley College) caught two passes for 35 yards. Josh Lee (Sr., TE, Eugene OR/Sheldon HS/Air Force Academy) hauled in two passes for 32 yards.

Willamette will conclude its season at home next weekend, when the Bearcats host Pacific Lutheran University at McCulloch Stadium in Salem. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PST). The game will be broadcast on Full Access Sports, with the pregame show beginning at 12:45 pm.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF WU Sports Information

Photos by Nisha Strauch