NEWBERG, Ore. -- For the second straight week, the George Fox football team came alive, putting up 468 yards of offense and forcing key turnovers to down the Puget Sound Loggers on a cold and rainy day, 48-23.

How It Happened
The sunny skies both teams warmed up in quickly gave way to pouring rains and gushing winds — and it was obvious from the start that the weather affected the teams. Taylor Saben got a carry on the first four plays of the game, before UPS had a three-and-out of their own. After a punt pinned the Bruins deep, the ball slipped out of JJ Leman's hands, with the Bruin QB wrangling the ball in the end zone for a safety.

Things went from bad to worse for the Bruins, with the winds pushing the ensuing safety kickoff out of bounds and giving the Loggers possession at the 50-yard line. UPS made quick work, with Loggers quarterback Hayden Teer finding Joe Gallagher for a 41-yard gain to put GFU on their heels at the one-yard line; though the Bruins defense held firm, forcing a 4th & Goal, Dre Dukes broke through for a TD to give the Loggers a 9-0 lead.

The Bruin offense pounced back, with Leman finding Shyeden Iokia and Tucker Land for sizable gains before scrambling up the middle for a touchdown. UPS wrestled back momentum, though, completing four straight 10-plus passes to score another TD in the early stages of the quarter to put Puget Sound ahead, 16-7. After that moment, it was all George Fox football.

After a strange squib/onside kick hybrid that was recovered by Elijah Franco, Leman started the drive by finding a familiar target: Karsen Denault. The freshman raced down the sideline for a 38-yard gain, setting up a red zone touchdown. This time, it was Iokia who was on the receiving end, catching an eight-yard pass to cut the Bruins' deficit to two, 16-14.

Fox had hard luck over the next few minutes: a Bruin fumble-recovery touchdown was called back due to a facemask, and a fumble on a punt return led to a UPS possession in GFU territory. Rather than let those plays get to them, the Fox defense locked in; Kaikoa Iokia pressured Teeter on a failed flea flicker that led to an intentional grounding, and the Bruins forced another punt.

This time, the Bruins embarked on nearly a 90-yard drive to take the lead at the end of the half. Leman and Saben traded big plays, with Leman finding Denault for a 14-yard gain before Saben rushing for a 21-yard gain. Ben Rembisz ended the 13-play, 87-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal. Though there were still four minutes left in the half, a Bruin fumble and several Logger punts meant the half ended with Fox in front, 17-16.

The second half was all GFU from the jump — and it started with a huge play from Sam Astor. The junior cornerback, who earned his first official start in the game, picked off Teeter on the third play of the half, racing 34 yards to the four-yard line. Two plays later, Saben broke into the end zone to extend the Bruin lead to eight.

Fox forced another punt thanks to a clutch third-down tackle from Reyn Asato, and the Bruins were back in business. Saben broke through the UPS defense again, nearly taking it to the house on a career-long 59-yard rush. That run set up Rembisz's second field goal of the day, this one from 27 yards out, to give the Bruins a 27-16 lead. 

A sack from Kuyper Assink gave the Bruins the ball back, and Fox was on the run again. Tyler Alsop recorded his first career catch to keep the Bruins moving, while a 12-yard run from Tucker Land put Fox in the red zone. Leman's second rushing TD — a wild run from the QB that came off of a busted handoff — of the game put the Bruins ahead, 34-16, but UPS countered with their biggest play of the day; Teeter found Isaac Tran for the 75-yard score on the final play of the third quarter, cutting Fox's lead to 34-23 heading to the fourth.

It seemed that the Bruins would score again as Saben continued to run over the Loggers, with two more 15-plus yard carries, but the UPS defense held firm. Leman's pass tipped off the hands of Saben and was hauled in for an interception by Joseph Earl to seemingly give the Loggers momentum. A big defensive pass breakup by Asato (on a play where the senior pushed receiver Darius Bailey out of bounds before he could get a foot down) forced a punt, and on the next possession, the defense struck again.

After the skies partially cleared in the second and third quarters — though strong winds remained present all game — rain and weather helped Jacob Erickson tremendously. A botched snap was recovered by the defensive end at the one-yard line — where Leman scored his third rushing TD of the game.

The Bruin quarterback nearly had his fourth rushing TD of the day two drives later with a 43-yard rushing touchdown to the two-yard line. Instead, it was Saben's turn to make history — with his second rushing TD of the day, the senior running back dethroned Leon Johnson III as the highest-scoring Bruin in program history with his 25th career touchdown. That highlight play cemented the Family Weekend win for the Bruins, the second in a row for head coach Spencer Crace, 48-23.

Top Performances
Taylor Saben had a career day on the ground, rushing for a career-high 158 yards — the second-most in program history — and two scores. JJ Leman had 76 yards rushing himself, scoring three touchdowns on the ground and throwing an additional one. Leman finished the day 17-32 for 186 yards and one touchdown through the air on a rainy day. Karsen Denault led the team with four catches for 68 yards, while Sheyden Iokia had a career high in catches (6) to go alongside 53 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Kuyper Assink totaled a career high of his own with three sacks for 17 yards, helping the Bruins hold the Loggers to a staggering -33 yards rushing. Ben Nuss led the team with six tackles, while Jacob Erickson recovered a fumble and Sam Astor picked off a pass. Reyn Asato and Austin Harrison each recorded three pass breakups.

On special teams, Ben Rembisz made all six of his kicks on the day — six PATs and two field goals — while Riley Rutledge averaged 40.5 yards per punt on four attempts. 

Coach's Thoughts
"Our guys persevered through a very sloppy game," Bruin head coach Spencer Crace said, "A lot to clean up. But super proud of our grit. The defense played lights out today, and our defensive line got after the QB. Looking forward to another week to get better."

What It Means
The Bruins followed up their first win of the season with their second, improving to 2-5 on the year (2-2 NWC). The Loggers, meanwhile, fall to 1-6 (1-3 NWC) on the season.

What Happens Next
Fox will be on the road for the first time in three weeks as they head to Salem for a game against the Willamette Bearcats (1-6, 0-4 NWC). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.