Willamette loses in OT
Bearcats stay with conference leader Whitworth before falling 20-17
 
Oct. 27, 2007

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University place-kicker Andy Largent kicked a 33-yard field goal in the first overtime period to give the Pirates a 20-17 victory over Willamette University at McCulloch Stadium. Whitworth improved to 6-2 on the season and remained undefeated in the Northwest Conference at 4-0. Willamette fell to 3-5 overall, 2-2 in the NWC.

Willamette trailed 10-7 at halftime and 17-7 just over three minutes into the third quarter, but rallied to the tie the game. Senior tight end Josh Lee scored for the Bearcats on a 33-yard shovel pass from quarterback Ryan Whitcomb with 9:05 remaining in the third quarter to cut the lead to 17-14. Whitcomb was almost sacked in the backfield, but scrambled to his right, then tossed the ball forward to Lee just before being tackled.

The Bearcats completed thier rally before the quarter ended, as place-kicker Matt Bicocca kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1:07 left in the third to tie the game.

Neither team scored during the fourth quarter,sending the game to the "Kansas Plan" overtime system, and the Bearcats had the football first on offense. Each team gets one possession in overtime, starting with a 1st-and-10 just 25 yards from the opposing end zone.

Willamette fumbled on its first play of overtime , recovering the ball but losing seven yards to put them back at their own 32 yard line. After failing to make a first down, Bicocca narrowly missed a 46-yard field goal just to the left of the uprights. Whitworth played in conversative in their overtime attempt, setting up Largent's game winning kick.

Willamette plays next Saturday at Lewis Clark in Portland. The game will be aired live on Full Access Sports, beginning with the pregame show at 12:45 pm.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF WU Sports Information