NEWBERG, Ore. --- A pair of upperclassmen came up with huge plays late as the George Fox Bruins clinched the program's best-ever conference finish with a thrilling 16-10 victory over the Whitworth Pirates Saturday at Stoffer Family Stadium.

Senior wide receiver Adam Hawker caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Haiden Schaan to break a 10-10 tie with 1:46 to play, the culmination of a drive set up by senior cornerback Lucas Schwin's interception and 31-yard return into Pirate territory. And it was Schwin who preserved the win, knocking down a Whitworth pass in the end zone on the final play of the game as the Bruins defeated the Pirates for only the second time in seven years.

With a 6-1 record, the Bruins finished in sole possession of second place in the Northwest Conference for the first time, a game behind undefeated and 6th-ranked Linfield. 

How It Happened

Whitworth tied the game on a 45-yard Nate RaPue field goal with 9:19 left in the third period and had three more opportunities to take the lead before the final gun. 

The Pirates' Jacob Hogger picked off a Schaan pass and returned it to midfield at the end of the third quarter. In position for a go-ahead 30-yard field goal, 6-5 Bruins' receiver Leon Johnson III crashed around the left end and got a piece of the ball, deflecting RaPue's attempt wide right. Early in the fourth quarter, the Pirates drove into field goal range again, but this time George Fox junior defensive lineman Jaron Marks was able to get a club in the air to knock down a 39-yard attempt to keep the teams even at 10.

Three punts later in this defensive slugfest, the Pirates were on the march with first down at midfield. Sophomore Gio Fregoso, starting for injured quarterback Jaedyn Prewitt, threw a pass to the right sideline, but Schwin jumped the route and picked it off at the Bruin 38, returning the ball to the Whitworth 31 with just over four minutes remaining in the game. 

"We had to make a play happen and get a turnover to get the offense a score," said Schwin. "They had been going to their tight end all day and their quarterback lobbed it up and didn't put too much on it. I just went up and grabbed it."

Schaan ran for 10 yards on a designed keeper, then two plays later, connected with Dillon Dobbins on a 3rd-and-7 pass to the Pirate 11. On the next play, he hit Hawker on a slant in the end zone to give George Fox the lead. Jason Santoni's extra point missed wide right, opening the door for a potential game-winning drive for the Pirates.

A 28-yard kick return by Anthony Kee gave Whitworth great starting field position. Pressed immediately into a fourth down and five, Fregoso hooked up with tight end Kanen Ables for a 9-yard gain to the Bruin 49, one of his three catches on the drive. An 11-yard pass to Dillon Kuk got the Pirates to the Bruin 9-yard line and Fregoso spiked the ball to stop the clock with 17 seconds left in the game and no time outs remaining. On the following play, a pair of senior defensive linemen, Anthony Pasion and Aaron Valenzuela, combined to sack Fregoso for a 2-yard loss, forcing to the Pirates to spike the ball again to stop the clock with two seconds left, setting up a final play to decide the game. On 4th-and-goal from the 11, Fregoso looked for Dylan Ashbeck in the back of the end zone, but Schwin dived in front and swatted the ball down as a packed house erupted in celebration.

"Coach Casey was saying that we need heart and desire to make this happen," said Schwin, "and that's what happened. I'm just glad to make a play with all of my teammates. It's a great win for us."

Schwin finished with a game-high 11 tackles to go with his third interception of the season. 

"We're hoping he comes back," said Casey of his standout corner. "He's making the decision, it's not final. He's one of the seniors that has another year of eligibility. He's an outstanding player and has been nominated as a First Team guy. A fighter and grinder and team guy. Can't think of a better guy to have made those key plays." 

Fellow senior Josh Poppleton added 11 tackles. The Bruins sacked Fregoso four times with senior defensive tackle Aaron Valenzuela in on three tackles behind the line, including the sack that preceded the final play of the game.

"They played tough and scrappy and we had to match that," said Valenzuela. "I'm never going to forget this, especially the goal line stand. Coming out here it's all glamorous with flashing lights and pictures, but no one really sees the work we all put in."

For the game, the Bruins' defense held the Pirates to 4-of-16 on third down and denied Whitworth twice on three trips into the red zone.

Whitworth outgained George Fox 315-279, had a 20-13 edge in first downs and possessed the ball for seven more minutes, but as they have most of the season, the Bruins' defense was able to limit explosive plays. On offense, big plays assisted George Fox on two of it's three scoring drives

The Bruins took the game's first lead when Schaan connected with Hawker on a 43-yard pass to the Pirate 6-yard line on their second drive of the game. Ethan Kassebaum ran it into the end zone on the next play.

The Pirates responded with an 11-play, 56-yard drive that ended when Isaiah Jones punched it in from a yard out on the second play of the fourth quarter. The Bruins answered with an eight play drive that ended in a 34-yard Santoni field goal. Schaan's 36-yard run on 3rd-and-4 put the Bruins in scoring position.

After the teams combined for three straight scoring drives, the next five would end in punts. George Fox had first and goal at the Whitworth 10 just before halftime, assisted by a 47-yard bomb from Schaan to Johnson III into a tight window, but a costly sack on second down ended the half as time expired.

"We were supposed to throw a vertical route immediately or throw it away," said Casey. "A poor decision by him, but he's a guy who's got guts and courage. I told him that when he threw the touchdown pass."

After owning the ball for over 11 minutes in the first period, Whitworth had just 44 yards and one first down in the second period as George Fox had the edge in possession. 

Top Performers

Schwin, Poppleton and Valenzuela all were standout seniors on defense, but junior Jaron Marks also had a career day with a sack, another tackle for loss and the blocked field goal. Johnson III finished with 109 receiving yards on four catches to go with his blocked field goal. Hawker had four catches for 65 and the go-ahead score. On what was a day of peaks and valleys for the Bruins' special teams, Santoni had seven punts, six of 40 yards or more including a pair of 49-yarders. He also showed his superior athleticism on a day where the Bruins struggled in kick coverage, with two key special teams tackles that saved potential touchdowns. Schaan completed 19 of 33 for 218 yards with one interception and one touchdown.

Coach's Thoughts

"This is a special deal to end the season this way," said Casey. "At home, Senior Day, playing a very good team. We overcame a ton of adversity in this game repeatedly. This team finds a way to win with complete team victories. They find a way to do it as a total team even though one area may be struggling."  

What It Means

For the first time in school history, the Bruins have second place to themselves, completing the conference schedule with just a single loss to a team that could be in line for a national title. The win means the Bruins will not share second place with Whitworth. 

Up Next

Due to George Fox's 0-2 record in non-conference games against SCIAC schools Redlands and Chapman, an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament is highly unlikely. Still, at 6-3 overall, it was the Bruins' second-best overall mark since relaunching football in 2013.