A possible game-winning drive ended on the 17-yard line for host Pacific in a 28-24 loss to the University of Dubuque on Saturday at Hanson Field.
The Spartans (2-0), who traveled 1,965 miles for the contest, rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to come away with the win over the host Boxers.
Facing a three-point deficit, 24-21, Dubuque quarterback Conor Feckly completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Najee Toomer on a 4th and 12 play for the eventual game-winning touchdown. Twice, on the drive, the Boxers defense forced a fumble by Feckly but the Spartans came away with the loose ball to continue the drive.
One of the primary contributors of the offensive fireworks for the Boxers was senior Kamana Pimental (Kaneohe, Hawaii), who ran 24 times for 151 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Campbell Summerfield (Sandy, Ore.) completed 25 of 44 passes for 309 yards with two touchdowns.
One of the touchdowns was a 73-yard strike to freshman Kobe Williams (Las Vegas, Nev.) that tied the game at 14 early in the second quarter. Williams finished the night with nine receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. The 145 yards receiving by Williams are the most by a Boxer receiver since Nathan Suyematsu had 130 yards in the contest against Whitworth.
Feckly put the visitors ahead in the first quarter when he completed the first of two touchdown passes to Toomer on the Spartans' second drive of the contest. Then, after a Boxers' turnover that saw the Spartans intercept a pass and return it to the two-yard line. Two plays later, Feckly ran it in for the early 14-0 lead with 3:41 left to play in the first quarter.
A resilient Pacific squad scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 24-14 lead into the halftime break. The 24 points match the most by a Boxers' squad since they scored 24 in the second quarter en route to a 41-24 win over No. 25 Williamette on Nov. 8, 2014. In the quarter, Summerfield had a pair of touchdown passes to go along with the punt return by Look and a 39-yard field goal by Alex Beekman (Beaverton, Ore.).
Dubuque got back on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter after a 11-play, 75-yard drive ended when Feckly completed his second of three touchdown passes. This time, his target was Austin Morgan for an 11-yard strike that cut the deficit to three, 24-21 with 7:34 left to play in the third quarter.
Late in the third quarter, the Spartans had a game-tying, 27-yard field goal attempt blocked by the Boxers' Andy Harris (Midvale, Utah). The two teams traded punts to start the fourth quarter. Then, with 7:02 left, Feckly engineered a 10 play, 95-yard drive end with him finding Toomer for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on 4th and 12.
Summerfield marched the Boxers down to as close as the two-yard line before a penalty pushed Pacific out to the 17-yard line. Two final pass attempts by Summerfield came up short in the final seven seconds to end the comeback hopes for the host Boxers.
Next for Pacific is a game against Occidental College (Calif.) at the Kunuiakea Stadium on the campus of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. The game is believed to be the first-ever NCAA Division III football contest held in Hawai'i.