SPOKANE, Wash. -- Riding high after two big conference wins, the George Fox Bruins came out firing on all cylinders, giving the undefeated Whitworth Pirates all they could handle. Fox took a late lead over the Pirates before ultimately falling in a hard-fought game, 13-24.

How It Happened
Fox picked up where they left off against Pacific Lutheran — Ty Borde intercepted a pass on the second play from scrimmage, taking the ball into Pirates' territory. From there, DeMontre Thomas II and the Bruin offense moved the ball down the field and into field goal range, utilizing a 15-yard completion from Thomas II to Cobey Aldrich. Ben Rembisz finished off the drive with a 31-yard field goal to give Fox a 3-0 lead.

Solo Hines gave the Pirates a quick answer, taking the ball 67 yards to the house to give the Bucs a 7-3 lead. Then, disaster appeared to strike for the Bruins as Fox fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Though Whitworth had the ball at the GFU 30, the defense locked in; the Pirates got within the three-yard line, but pressure from Noah Tack and Blake Mazurowski forced a turnover on downs.

On the Bruins' second drive, Mikey Goforth increased his yards per carry with another dazzling display of athleticism on fourth and three. Much like the game against Willamette, the punter was faced with pressure and decided to run for a first down — gaining 19 yards on the play. Goforth's escapability led to another GFU field goal, with Rembisz cashing in on his second 31-yard field goal of the day. A last-second field goal from the Pirates made the score 10-6 at halftime, with the Bruins firmly in contention.

The third quarter went by quickly, with only three long possessions in the entire quarter. After a Bruin punt, the Pirates once again marched down the field to the red zone. And once again, the Fox defense answered the call. With another fourth and three, this time at the five-yard line, the Bruins stuffed a Solo Hines wildcat keeper to keep the score 6-10.

Following the defensive stand, the offense embarked on a long 10-play, 97-yard drive that lasted over nine minutes. Thomas II used both his arm and his legs to keep the drive alive, scrambling for 25 yards on third and 14 and finding River Osen for 32 yards to put the team in scoring position. Four plays later, the Bruin quarterback powered ahead for a two-yard rushing touchdown to give the Pirates their first fourth quarter deficit in conference play.

The Bruins' 13-10 lead was short-lived, however, as Austin Ewing found Luis Salgado for the 61-yard touchdown to put Whitworth back on top. Two minutes later, the Pirates extended their lead with another passing touchdown to make the score 13-24. Fox's last gasp came on the last possession as Fox drove to the nine-yard line. Looking to make the game a one-possession affair, Thomas II's pass was intercepted on the deflection, cementing the loss for Fox.

Top Performers
DeMontre Thomas II finished 17/31 for 208 yards and one interception, totaling 29 yards and a TD on the ground. Mikey Goforth finished second in rushing yards for the team with 19. River Osen was the top receiver for the team on the day, finishing with five receptions for 100 yards.

Defensively, Nolan Martin and Kiegan Schaan led the team with seven tackles apiece. Martin, Jacob Erickson, and Austin Harrison all recorded a tackle for loss, with Ty Borde intercepting one pass.

Coach's Thoughts
"It was a hard-fought game against a very good Whitworth team," Bruin head coach Chris Casey said, "I'm very proud of our attitude and effort. They just finished on a few more plays than us in the fourth quarter. We've been talking about finishing plays, drives, and quarters all season, and unfortunately they finished a few more late. Little things can add up to big things, but I am very proud of the team today."

What It Means
The Bruins fall to 3-6 (2-4 NWC), while Whitworth improves to 8-0 (6-0 NWC).

What Happens Next
Fox will play in their final game of the 2023 season, hosting Pacific on Senior Night, the game is scheduled to kickoff at 4:00 pm.