2008 Woodie Awards
Here's Johnny: Pirates end season
Elise Page, Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/5/06
Last Updated: 12/29/07
On Saturday, Nov. 25, the most successful football team in Whitworth history played its last game. When the Pirates hosted the St. John's University Johnnies, the Pirates remained in the game until the second half.
The game's first score belonged to the Johnnies in their first drive, moving 80 yards in nine plays. St. John's running back Craig Luberts ran in for a touchdown from 15 yards.
Whitworth turned over the ball inside the Johnnies 20-yard line on its next possession when SJU's Kevin McNamara recovered sophomore running back Milton Nelson's fumble. However, Whitworth got a chance to score the next time they had the ball, moving 64 yards in 13 plays before the Pirates settled for a 29-yard field goal by senior kicker Cameron Collings.
At the end of the first half, Whitworth was down by a score of 7-3.
"The game was still close at halftime. We weren't out of it until the second half," freshman offensive lineman Michael Cozad said.
In the second half, the stable offense and the powerful defense of the Johnnies took over the game. The Johnnies began the second half with a 64-yard drive to score a touchdown off of SJU Mike Lofbloom's 11-yard touchdown, increasing the score to 14-3.
On the next possession, Whitworth moved the ball into St. John's 38-yard line, but a bad snap on third and fourth caused a seven-yard loss and the Pirates had to punt.
In the fourth quarter, St. John's Mike Schumacher sacked Whitworth senior quarterback Joel Clark on the Whitworth 12-yard line on third down. After the punt, the Johnnies began a rush at the 39-yard line and scored in 6 plays, extending the score to 21-3.
"The hardest part of the game was watching St. John's score the last touchdown," Cozad said.
The Johnnies had one more chance to score in the fourth quarter, but junior defensive back Peter Ghilardi intercepted SJU quarterback Alex Kofoed's pass in the end zone. Whitworth then went 89 yards to get on the Johnnies' seven-yard line. But Whitworth couldn't find the end zone as St. John's Shawn Schoenberg knocked away Clark's fourth down pass and ended the game, with the final score being 21-3.
"Losing was definitely the lowest point of the season, since it was the first time we'd lost all season. Just realizing that we were going to lose was hard for us," Cozad said.
Clark completed 17 of 31 passes for 221 yards, with no interceptions. Senior tight end Michael Allan caught six passes for 101 yards, while junior wide receiver Steve Silva had five grabs for 63 yards. Junior running back Kyle Havercroft ran the ball 18 times for 84 yards. Clark finished his season as Whitworth's all time leader in total offense (9,656 yards), passing yardage (8,513) and touchdown passes (71). Allan is Whitworth's all-time leader in touchdown receptions (29) and finished the season with 53 catches for 1,100 yards.
"This season was amazing," Cozad said. "It was one of the best things I've ever been a part of in my whole life."
The game's first score belonged to the Johnnies in their first drive, moving 80 yards in nine plays. St. John's running back Craig Luberts ran in for a touchdown from 15 yards.
Whitworth turned over the ball inside the Johnnies 20-yard line on its next possession when SJU's Kevin McNamara recovered sophomore running back Milton Nelson's fumble. However, Whitworth got a chance to score the next time they had the ball, moving 64 yards in 13 plays before the Pirates settled for a 29-yard field goal by senior kicker Cameron Collings.
At the end of the first half, Whitworth was down by a score of 7-3.
"The game was still close at halftime. We weren't out of it until the second half," freshman offensive lineman Michael Cozad said.
In the second half, the stable offense and the powerful defense of the Johnnies took over the game. The Johnnies began the second half with a 64-yard drive to score a touchdown off of SJU Mike Lofbloom's 11-yard touchdown, increasing the score to 14-3.
On the next possession, Whitworth moved the ball into St. John's 38-yard line, but a bad snap on third and fourth caused a seven-yard loss and the Pirates had to punt.
In the fourth quarter, St. John's Mike Schumacher sacked Whitworth senior quarterback Joel Clark on the Whitworth 12-yard line on third down. After the punt, the Johnnies began a rush at the 39-yard line and scored in 6 plays, extending the score to 21-3.
"The hardest part of the game was watching St. John's score the last touchdown," Cozad said.
The Johnnies had one more chance to score in the fourth quarter, but junior defensive back Peter Ghilardi intercepted SJU quarterback Alex Kofoed's pass in the end zone. Whitworth then went 89 yards to get on the Johnnies' seven-yard line. But Whitworth couldn't find the end zone as St. John's Shawn Schoenberg knocked away Clark's fourth down pass and ended the game, with the final score being 21-3.
"Losing was definitely the lowest point of the season, since it was the first time we'd lost all season. Just realizing that we were going to lose was hard for us," Cozad said.
Clark completed 17 of 31 passes for 221 yards, with no interceptions. Senior tight end Michael Allan caught six passes for 101 yards, while junior wide receiver Steve Silva had five grabs for 63 yards. Junior running back Kyle Havercroft ran the ball 18 times for 84 yards. Clark finished his season as Whitworth's all time leader in total offense (9,656 yards), passing yardage (8,513) and touchdown passes (71). Allan is Whitworth's all-time leader in touchdown receptions (29) and finished the season with 53 catches for 1,100 yards.
"This season was amazing," Cozad said. "It was one of the best things I've ever been a part of in my whole life."
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