The Pacific University football season was one of highs and lows. After having their first official game cancelled, they went three weeks without playing before heading to Iowa to play Dubuque University. They lost that game and their first conference game, but then found their rhythm winning three straight conference games.
“It was an okay season,” head coach Keith Buckley said. “We have aspirations to be at or near the top of the conference every year and we fell short of that this year. We still ended up in the top half of the conference and did a lot of good things.”
In their last three games of the season the Boxers went 1-2 getting their win against Willamette University, then losing to Whitworth University and Linfield College. Finishing with a 4-3 conference record (4-4 overall) left the Boxers in fourth place in the conference.
“We’re always, non-conference wise, going to try and play tough games,” Buckley said. “Dubuque is a team that year in and year out will compete for their league title. There was a lot of inexperience starting the season. I think we weren’t quite ready for that caliber of football game to start the season but the kids did a great job of staying focused and continuing to improve week in and week out.”
When it comes to individual play, the Boxers got a break out year from senior running back Brandon Boyd. Boyd average 129.9 rushing yards per game and finished the season with 1052 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
“Brandon had one of the best seasons in Pacific’s history as a tailback,” Buckley said. “To go over a thousand yards in just eight games is pretty impressive. It was one for the record books.”
Boyd was selected to first team all-Northwest Conference along with junior wide receiver Kobe Williams and senior offensive lineman Tyler Kailiuli. Buckley still has high expectations going into next season but knows that it will not be easy.
“Year in and year out we want to be competing at the top of the conference,” Buckley said. “That’s what we came here to do and that’s what our expectation levels are. There’s a lot to do and a lot of excitement for where we’re heading.”
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