SPOKANE, WA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Football team fell in their NCAA First Round contest 21-13 to Whitworth on Saturday afternoon at the Pine Bowl.
 
Season Impact: with the loss, the Sagehens end their season at 8-3 overall.
 
The Sagehens were led by Grady Russo who threw for 358 yards connecting on 33-58. Russo also led the rushing attack with 82 yards on the ground.  Quinten Wimmer had a big for the receivers with 162 yards off of 11 catches while Jackson Walker had 72 yards and Sander Wimmer with 69 yards and a touchdown.  George Cutting led the defense with eight total tackles and two sacks while Max Eastman and Luca Milano had sacks as well.
 
The Sagehens took a little bit to settle into their second road NCAA Playoff game in program history after Whitworth got out to a strong start with a 42 yard pass for a touchdown on their opening drive.  The Sagehens got on the board with a 34 yard field goal by Jack Walker, but Whitworth came back again with the passing attack and took a 14-3 lead to end the first quarter.
 
The Sagehens got some momentum going into halftime after they capped off a late drive with a touchdown pass from Russo to Sander Wimmer to cut into the lead but trailed 14-10 heading into halftime.
 
After both teams failed to put up any points in the third, the Pirates scored the first points of the second half with a touchdown to open the fourth quarter and take a 21-10 lead. 
 
Walker and the Sagehens cut it down to a one-score game at 21-13 with 8:35 left in the fourth with the ball going back to the Pirates.  The Sagehen defense did a great job getting the ball back for the offense to try to make a late game drive to send it into overtime.  Pomona-Pitzer drove down the field and took a chance for the endzone, but it was intercepted at the goal line as the Sagehens came up just short in their quest for their first NCAA Playoff win in program history.