Setting the Scene: Pacific Lutheran sits in a four-way tie for first place in the NWC standings and welcomes Oregon rival Pacific to Sparks Stadium.
Series History: The Lutes hold a 32-14-3 advantage in a series that dates all the way back to the 1939 season. Since the Boxers resurrected their program in 2010 the series has been almost equal with PLU owning a slim 8-6 edge. That includes PLU winning the last two meetings, prevailing 34-18 last fall in Forest Grove.
Connor Meade set the tone on the opening kick last year, returning it 90-yards for a touchdown as the Lutes built a comfortable 34-10 lead after three quarters of play. PLU got after the Boxers that day, collecting five sacks while rushing for 221 yards as a team, scoring four times on the ground.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (3-2, 2-0 NWC) returns home to Sparks Stadium tied atop the league standings with a two game winning streak.
The Lutes' perfect NWC record includes a 21-point comeback in the conference opener two weeks ago, escaping with a 31-28 homecoming win over Willamette University before retaining "The Trophy" for the fifth consecutive year with a decisive 41-27 victory over University of Puget Sound in the 101st edition of the crosstown showdown.
PLU and UPS traded field goals in the early moments of the game but Jacob Schuh stole the show, slicing through the Logger defense like a hot knife through butter. The senior shattered a school record that stood since 1996, racking up 327 rushing yards to set a new single game rushing mark. Schuh averaged 9.1 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns, eclipsing the previous record of 292 yards set by Peter Finstuen against Western Washington University.
All told, the Lutes racked up 601 yards of total offense, gaining 242 through the air and 361 on the ground. Defensively, the Lutes held the Loggers to -17 rushing yards and picked off two passes. That included an interception by JJ Miles who finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup.
The Lutes head into Saturday's clash averaging 27.4 points per game and averaging 389.4 yards per game.
PLU has utilized two quarterbacks this fall with Darius Chaffin and Anthony Mahaffey combining for 12 touchdowns and 1,269 yards through the air. Mahaffey has started the last two games and has completed 53.6 percent of his passes.
Jase Ellamar has emerged as the top receiving target with a team-high 19 catches for 302 yards. Connor Meade has snagged 18 balls for 268 yards while Dayton Savea brings a bg play ability and leads the team in receiving yards with 311. All told, five different receivers have at least 100 yards on the season and five different players have scored receiving touchdowns this fall.
The ground game has been dominated by Jacob Schuh who has 503 yards this season with four touchdowns. Averaging over 100 yards a game, Schuh is looking to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since Niko Madison n 2014.
PLU's defense is limiting its opponents to less than 100 yards a game, holding its first five foes to an average of just 83.6 rushing yards per game.
Individually, Eli Fernandez leads the team with 46 total tackles and 23 solo takedowns with a team-best two interceptions. Fernandez is one of five Lutes with an interception this fall, including Will Frank who also has two picks.
Cole Becker leads the team with five sacks and four quarterback hurries while Zach Gable has three sacks and a quartet of hurries.
Evan Harvey has made all three of his field goals this year, including a season-long 34-yarder while hitting 14 of his 15 extra point attempts.
Meet the 2025 Team Captains
This year's team captains are Jake Schuh, Josh Holder, and Darius Chaffin on offense and Micah Ragaza-Bourassa, Zak Gable, and Jackson Hale on defense.
About the Boxers: Pacific (1-4, 0-2 NWC) heads north to Washington looking to snap a three-game slide. The Boxers started the season in Texas where a late rally stalled at the 16-yard line late in the fourth quarter in a 21-13 setback to host Howard Payne University.
The Boxers responded a week later with a 42-0 drubbing of Willamette University in the Oregon Cup, the first of two meetings this year between the two teams. Pacific closed out the non-league slate with a 36-13 loss to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Boxers opened NWC play on Oct. 4, falling 28-14 at home to Whitworth University and dropping a 23-6 game against Linfield University last week.
The Boxers trailed host and nationally-ranked Linfield 10-3 at the half last week but the Wildcats pulled away with 10 points in the third quarter.
Pacific has struggled to start game this year, getting outscored 24-7 in the opening quarter of play.
Brody Bantolina was an All-American last fall and one of the nations top rushers. Bantolina comes to Sparks Stadium with 306 rushing yards and all four of the team's rushing touchdowns.
Three quarterbacks have seen action for Pacific with Keaton Smith getting the most reps, slinging it for 503 yards and four scores. Riley Camarillo has been the preferred target with 22 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Camarillo is one of four receivers that have found the end zone this year.
Defensively, Tyson Vasquez leads the team run tackles with 34 while Kaden Huppin has 28 takedowns this fall. Kilinahe Aki leads the squad with two interceptions, one of five players with a pick. Ryan Passi has a team-best 3.5 TFLs, a blocked kick, and two sacks.
All-Star Attaways
It's been a banner fall this year for the Lutes with three players securing D3football.com Team of the Week accolades. Connor Meade literally kicked off the awards, returning a kick against Simpson University while Cole Becker was named to the Team of the Week a week ago for his exploits against Willamette University. This week it was Jacob Schuh's turn, securing a spot on the 11-player offensive team for his record breaking day against UPS.
Schuh became the 22nd Lute to secure D3football Team of the Week honors which is now in its 27th season, recognizing the best weekly performances from the 241 NCAA Division III programs.
Lutes Donate Over 3K to Texas Flood Victims
The Pacific Lutheran University community showed its support for the victims of the Texas floods this summer, combining to donate $3,200 to the Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal Memorial Foundation from tickets sales, donations, and a direct match from the President's Office.
The Lutes announced that 25 percent of all tickets sales from the non-conference finale against Trinity University (Texas) would be donated to the Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal Memorial Foundation. The Foundation was established in honor of Trinity offensive coordinator Wade Lytal's daughter who tragically passed away on July 4, 2025 along wth 26 others during the flooding at Camp Mystic.
Walk with Us: Jacob Schuh
Learn more about running back Jacob Schuh in season 2 episode 2 of Walk With Us...
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Coach Jud Keim after a courageous battle with cancer.
An ’86 PLU graduate, “Keim Time” was a four-year letterwinner in both football and track & field for the Lutes and was a two-time All-Conference running back. Jud went on to coach football for over three decades, including 20 seasons at PLU (2004-2023) where he served in a variety of roles, including special teams coordinator, defensive coordinator, and interim head coach. In addition to PLU, Jud had coaching stops at Gustavus Adolphus, California Lutheran, Mankato State, Lewis & Clark, and Puget Sound.
Jud had a tremendous impact on PLU, the NWC, and all of Division III. A student of the game, his Lute defenses were routinely some of the toughest in the conference. But beyond the X’s and O’s, Jud had infectious energy and cared deeply about his student-athletes.
A servant warrior, Jud gave back to the community, as a high school track & field official and ran the “More than Champions” youth football camp in Gig Harbor.
He is survived by his wife Sari and children Kalen and Jace who are all Lute graduates.
4 National Titles. 22 Conference Championships. This is PLU Football.
NWC Coaches' Poll
This August, the Lutes were picked to finish third in the NWC standings in the annual coaches' poll. Last fall, PLU finished third in the league standings behind playoff qualifiers Linfield and Whitworth.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Game:
Oct. 25 vs. Linfield at 1 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu