Pacific Lutheran Escapes With Tie for NAIA Title

Pacific Lutheran running back Pat Dorsey scored on runs of 55 and 58 yards Sunday and the Lutes rallied to tie Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 16-16, in the NAIA Division II football championship game Sunday.

Each team gets to keep the championship trophy for six months, starting with the Lutes.

Mike Tuiasosopo of Pacific Lutheran (10-1-2) blocked a 27-yard field-goal attempt by Joe Parish with 37 seconds left and a 51-yard try by PLU’s Eric Cultum fell short as time expired.

Dorsey’s 59-yard and Cultum’s extra point with 7:19 left tied the score.

Quarterback Kirk Baumgartner scored one touchdown and Theo Blanco another for the Pointers (12-2-1) in a defensive battle marred by 17 penalties.

Dorsey was named offensive player of the game, while defensive honors went to Pointers’ defensive end Jay Downey, who made 11 tackles and sacked Lutes’ quarterback Jeff Yarnell three times for 20 yards in losses.

Yarnell left the game after fumbling while being tackled by Brent Harder at the Pacific Lutheran 45 in the fourth period, and reserve Craig Kupp directed the Lutes on offense the rest of the way.