Pacific Index

Pacific Football looks to change their story from last season and have high hopes to dominate this upcoming season, but their first loss shows a rocky start for the team. 

   After enduring a tough stretch in their last season, the Pacific Boxers look to leave the past in the past and turn it around in this upcoming season. With the additions of transfer running back junior Carson Mullins, who came not too far out of Tualatin, Ore., and freshman Alex Dueser, out of Ridgefield High School in Redmond, Ore., there is much excitement going into this season.

   Their first opponent: Howard Payne University, whom the Boxers played last year when they traveled to Brownwood, Texas. Last year, the Boxers lost a close game 21-13, and were hoping for a different result this year as they were now the hosts.

   But the Yellow Jackets came to play, and gave the Boxers a stinging 49-0 loss. Sophomore QB Bryce Still got things going, and threw a 56-yard TD pass to Sophomore Martin Duece in just the third play of the game. It was also Duece’s first catch of his Yellow Jacket career, and he would go on to finish with four catches for 131 yards for a stellar debut. Still, last year’s American Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year, had a career game, throwing 17/24 for 321 Yards and three TDs, before coming out in the 3rd quarter to allow teammate Glendon Casas-Willis to get some game time. Senior Running back Ngene Blessing also picked up right where he left off from last season, as last year’s American Southwest All-Conference First Teamer had 14 carries for 106 yards and a TD. 

   For the Boxers, it was a rough showing offensively, with only had 151 yards of offense. Transfer Carson Mullins had a strong debut however, with 17 rushes for a team high of 66 yards, and one reception for eight yards. Senior Riley Camarillo had three catches for 24 yards, hoping to build off a strong season last year where he had 39 catches for 486 yards. While it was a disappointing showing defensively as well, there were some stellar individual performances, such as Freshman Linebacker Alex Dueser, who led the Boxers with 11 total tackles, including 2.5 TFL and a sack. Sophomore Kaimana Ancheta, in his first game for the Boxers, had seven total tackles, and an interception in the 3rd quarter. 

   More is on the horizon for the team and they hope to learn and build off of their first game. The Boxers continue to move forward, as they host their bitter rival in the Willamette Bearcats at Ledbetter Field at Hanson Stadium on Saturday, September 12 at 7 pm.