Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The Pacific University football team put up one of the most impressive offensive efforts in program history on Saturday. On the day, the Boxers scored two touchdowns in every quarter – including three in the second quarter – en route to a 60-55 win over Puget Sound in Forest Grove on Saturday.
The Boxers (3-5, 3-2 NWC) offensive fireworks included a two-week old school record of 676 yards of total offense – 265 of it from the ground and 411 more of it through the air. Plus, the offensive effort included five rushing TDs and 60 points which are the second most in school history, 411 passing yards, which are the 3rd most and 265 rushing yards, which are the seventh most.
The Loggers (5-3, 3-2 NWC) put 740 yards itself of total offense but it was the Pacific defense, who forced three-consecutive three and out series to begin the second that proved to be the difference. Puget Sound quarterback Murdock Rutledge completed 31 of 68 passes for 581 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Teammate Duncan Varela accounted for four touchdowns on 10 carries and 84 yards.
Puget Sound was held to 19 yards and scoreless as the Boxers rallied from a 35-34 halftime deficit to take a 47-35 lead. Both touchdown drives were quick scores for Pacific. They regained the lead on a three play, 88-yard touchdown drive and quickly capitalized as the Boxers' Vinny Le intercepted Rutledge to set up a one play, 26-yard touchdown drive.
Pacific junior running back Josh Harris had one of the top ground games in program history in the win. He ran the ball 37 times (second most) for 223 yards (third most) and a school record four touchdowns. He is the third Pacific ball carrier to rush for over 200 yards in program history and the first since Al Navarro in 1989. Harris also had his fifth multi-touchdown game of his career.
Boxers' junior quarterback Kenyon Harris completed 26 of 33 (78.8%) passes for a career-best 411 yards another career-high four touchdowns en route to a 223.4 passing efficiency. The 411 yards are the third most in program history and it is the sixth time that a quarterback has thrown for over 400 yards in school history. He is the first Pacific quarterback to have multiple 400-yard passing games in a season. The last Pacific quarterback to have four touchdowns in a game was J.T. Greenough on November 3, 2018.
The Boxer receiving tandem of sophomore Kyle Kern and junior Ty Hargis each caught 10 passes in the win. Kern had 170 yards receiving for the 10th most in a game in Pacific history and for his second multi-touchdown game of his career.
Hargis finished the game with 10 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. For his career, it is his fifth career game (third in a row) with double-digit receptions and his fourth game with over 100 yards of receiving.
It is the second time on the season that Kern and Hargis have each had over 100 yards receiving and for the first time in program history that Pacific had two players with double-figure receptions.
Next, Pacific will travel to Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. in Tacoma.