LUTES GAMEDAY
PACIFIC LUTHERAN (1-2) AT LEWIS & CLARK (4-0)
1 p.m., Griswold Stadium, Portland
Radio: 1180-AM.
The Series: PLU leads, 35-10-1. The Pioneers ended a 16-game losing streak to the Lutes with a 34-32 win last year in Puyallup.
What to watch: For the first time this season, the Lutes will face an unranked squad. Yet, why isn’t Lewis & Clark ranked? The Pioneers have been arguably the Northwest Conference’s second-best team behind Linfield since last season – and feature the most dynamic player in the league in QB Keith Welch (82 of 134, 1,091 yards, 10 TDs; 185 rushing yards, seven TDs), who accounted for seven touchdowns last week in the Pioneers’ 55-42 win over Puget Sound. Welch has 39 rushing touchdowns in 24 career games. The Lutes took No. 3 Linfield to the wire last week before losing, 31-24. And their passing attack is coming along nicely with QB Dalton Ritchey (61 of 107, 918 yards, five TDs) in his first season. WR Kellen Westering had his first multiple-score game last week. The only phase where PLU was noticeably outplayed last week was on special teams – especially after P Conor Lien (back) was sidelined leading up to the game.
What’s at stake: As well as they have played during a tough stretch in the schedule, a loss would send the Lutes to 1-3, and virtually out of the playoff picture.
TNT pick: Pacific Lutheran, 41-32.
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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