Brennan LaBrie
Editor-In-Chief
With just a few minutes left in the annual bout between the Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and University of Puget Sound football teams on Nov 6, the overcast sky darkened. A storm cloud rolled in from the west, and the drizzle that came and went throughout the game turned to a heavy downpour.
The atmosphere on PLU’s sideline, however, was one of joy.
The game, at this point, was practically over. PLU had built up a 33-0 lead over their crosstown rivals, and an interception by Sophomore defensive back Colby Rhinelander had just secured the shutout.
The final buzzer went off, and the PLU sideline, along with the home team bleachers at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, erupted in cheers. As the rain intensified, the team gathered on their sideline to raise “The Trophy,” a Douglas Fir and steel trophy unveiled this year to commemorate the winner of the annual UPS-PLU game, which is in its 97th year. The fans waited patiently for the Lutes to finish their celebratory huddle and photo shoot. Then, at the first opportunity, they stormed the field with flowers, posters, candy and money leis and hugs for their favorite players.
As the celebration in the rain continued, a dance party slowly formed in the locker room. Head coach Brant McAdams, Offensive Coordinator Spencer Crace and Defensive Coordinator Jud Keim all took turns in the center of the mosh pit.
The extensive celebration was warranted, as this wasn’t just any win. PLU had just blanketed their historic rival, and narrowed the 49-43-5 all-time record UPS holds against them. They did this on Senior night, which they won for the first time under McAdams, who was hired as head coach in 2018. And perhaps most importantly, they moved to 4-4 overall on the season (3-3 in the Northwest Conference), their first time hitting .500 in the McAdams era. With this victory, the Lutes have the chance to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2016.
Soaking up the glory
McAdams credits the team’s 14 Seniors, who include 5th year players taking their PLUS Year, for the Senior night victory that he said is sweetened by who it came against.
“I’m just incredibly proud of our Seniors,” he said amidst the on-field celebration. “They’ve worked their tails off, and that’s a team that always plays us hard and we always bring our best, and it was good to get on the other side of the win-loss column, to get in the win column versus that team.”
Senior Malik White, who led the Lutes on the ground with 72 yards and a touchdown, said that he is cherishing this win.
“Honestly, I was just worried about getting the dub, I didn’t care how many points we put up,” he said. Gesturing to his teammates as they danced around him in the locker room, he added, “these guys make Senior day like no other. It was better than it was in high school, and I’ll always remember this moment, to be honest.”
Not far from White in the locker room, Senior defensive end Max Larson was also soaking up the joyful energy in the Sparks locker room one last time.
“I mean, it’s everything,” he said of the win. “It makes you remember all the hard work you put in, all those long hours, those early mornings. If there’s a group out of the five years I’ve been here that deserves this win, it’s this one right here.”
Junior quarterback Erik Bainter, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 179 yards and scored on a one-yard run in the 3rd quarter, credits the defense for leading the way in the win. PLU’s defense was indeed dominant, recording their second straight shutout for the first time since the 1990 playoffs. They accumulated seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, and held the Loggers to just 148 total yards, including -57 rushing yards, and 18:25 of playing time to the Lutes’ 41:35.
“Our defense has really stood out,” Bainter said. “They’ve really been the rock of our team this season. Offense finally got some things rolling and we put a full game together, finally. You know, first half was a little rough, but we fixed some things and, second half, really came out firing. Obviously it feels great to beat the cross town rivals and good to shut them out. So it was a good day overall.”
A Dominant Performance
The Lutes’ first drive of the day started off strong, led by several impressive runs by White — one of which involved him hurdling over a UPS defender — before stalling out in the red zone. The defense held off the Loggers until a three yard run by Freshman running back Michael Martinez put the Lutes on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. A goal line stop by Sophomore linebacker Kalen Davis-White prevented a Loggers touchdown on the following drive, keeping the score at 7-0 until late in the third quarter, when a 34-yard field goal by Peiyton Hilliard extended the Lutes’ lead to 10-0. Just a minute and a half later, freshman defensive back Aiden Yost tackled UPS’s punter in their end zone, recording a safety for the Lutes.
McAdams called this play a “big momentum shifter” in the game, as the Lutes ran away with the game shortly afterwards. The fourth quarter began with a 60 yard drive by the offense, capped by Bainter’s one-yard touchdown. A fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff gave the ball back to the Lutes, and less than two game minutes later, White found the end zone on a three yard run. A strip sack by Senior lineman Tristan Thomas on the next drive put the Lutes just seven yards from the end zone once again, and Quarterback Kellan Kranc, filling in for the injured Bainter, capped off the day with a one-yard touchdown.
PLU is back
The Lutes will finish their season next Saturday at Pacific University (5-3, 4-2 conference), where they will look to secure that 5-4 record they so desire.
McAdams, for one, likes their chances. He points to the gradually improved play by his squad over the course of the season.
“There’s a good Pacific team, but any time you can build momentum at the end of a season, be playing your best football at the end of the season, it’s a good sign for what’s to come,” he said.
White said that the Lute’s position heading into their final game has him feeling “pretty freaking good.”
“We haven’t had this opportunity in three-plus years,” he said. “Like coach says, an opportunity only lasts as long as the life of the opportunity, so we just have to capitalize and do it.”
Larson, a fifth-year Senior, wants this win as much as anyone else on the team.
“It would be huge — it would leave a legacy for sure,” he said. “And what it would do for the young guys and confidence and everything…I’d love to go 3-0 the last three games of the season. I’d love nothing more.”
Win or lose this weekend, Senior offensive lineman Jacob Espinosa sees “great things” ahead for the team once he’s gone. As he searched for teammates to congratulate after the game, he succinctly summed up the sentiments of the Lutes after their dominant win:
“PLU is back.”
