Pirates offense offensive

At Whitworth University, we are constantly coming up with new inventions. And here is the newest one: The Prevent Offense.

The Whitworth Pirates wrapped up their second straight Northwest Conference championship in dramatic fashion Saturday, beating No. 14 Linfield Wildcats 10-6. The Pirates have now won 12-straight NWC games stemming back to their 40-34 overtime loss to Willamette in the Pine Bowl on Nov. 5, 2005.

But this was entirely due to the stellar defense, who picked off five Trevor Scharer passes en route to the win—three of which landed in senior defensive back Phillip Entel’s hands. However the pressure would not have been on the defense if Coach John Tully did not have a reputation for shutting down the offense after gaining a lead, something he did not prove otherwise Saturday.

In an offense more conservative and predictable than Bill O’Reilly, the Pirates decided to pass on passing and stick to the rushing game. As a result the Pirates went three-and-out on their last five possessions, all in the fourth quarter, throwing only three passes during those five possessions—all of which came on third downs.

Luckily the Pirates have arguably the best defense in the NWC and the nation.

Reaction across the Pine Bowl was the same, as Tully shut down Pirates offense. This is a sight Pirate fans are used to seeing after all; one that former Whitworth players were once again cursing at this weekend.

One former player muttered “here we go again” as the Pirates faced third-and-seven in their final possession. He then joked after the Pirates were stopped for no yards that Tully should try a fake punt, a reference to one of Tully’s most memorable calls two years ago.

The Pirates were up 7-0 in the first quarter and were punting inside their own 30-yard line, when Tully decided to try a fake punt on fourth-and-long against one of the top ten teams in the nation in these very same Linfield Wildcats. The Wildcats stopped the Pirates well short, scored on the ensuing possession and went on to use that play as momentum for a 47-32 win.

The last home game the Pirates had, they let a 28-0 halftime lead become a 28-21 game with over two minutes left after Tully once again decided to put the Pirates’ ship on cruise control. Instead of going for the jugular, Whitworth opened the small side door for the Pacific Lutheran Lutes to come within one confusing on-side kick recovery of beating the Pirates.

With 2:06 left, Tully told the Pirates to take a knee. Only this didn’t run out the clock. So he had quarterback Kory Kemp run around for a while to kill the clock instead of punt on fourth down.

Just another prime example of one of the best recruiters around, and one of the worst signal callers and play clock managers around.

So while Tully gets credit where credit is not due for winning, instead it should be given to defensive coordinator Kirk Westre, the Pirates will continue to ride the tidal wave of their defense to success. Meanwhile, the Pirates’ offense will continue to be mediocre, something that has Whitworthians yearning for a leader, a chief.

Make that, a Chief: Michael Allan.