The Pomona-Pitzer football team had an opportunity to force overtime Saturday afternoon, but Omari Williams intercepted a pass by Grady Russo during the final seconds to preserve Whitworth’s 21-13 victory over the Sagehens in an NCAA Division III playoff opener at The Whitworth Pine Bowl in Spokane, Wash. Russo again shouldered the offensive load for Pomona Pitzer, completing 34 of 58 passes for 360 yards and rushing for a team-high 57 yards on 14 carries. Whitworth (10-1, No. 22 in the nation) got off to a fast start, as Ryan Blair tossed a 42-yard touchdown to Evan Liggett with 12:56 left in the opening quarter. Pomona-Pitzer (9-3) got onto the scoreboard about 4 minutes later when Jack Walker kicked a 34-yard field goal. Whitworth answered on the ensuing drive, as Blair connected with Dawson Tobeck for a 26-yard scoring strike that helped extend the Pirates’ advantage to 14-3 with 5:35 remaining in the first period. The score remained that way until the final minute of the half. Pomona-Pitzer gained some momentum going into the locker room and cut the deficit to 14-10 when Russo tossed a short touchdown pass to Sander Wimmer with 5 seconds remaining on the clock. Neither team scored in the third period, but Whitworth took a 21-10 lead early in the fourth when Blair and Tobeck connected again for a 4-yard touchdown. Walker knocked through a 36-yard field goal with 8:25 remaining in the game to make it a one-score game. Pomona Pitzer’s defense did its job and got the offense the ball back two more times. The Sagehens went three-and-out and had to punt the first time, but they took possession again with 2:27 left to play. Russo completed a 20-yard pass to Sander Wimmer on fourth down to get the ball near midfield. Pomona-Pitzer faced third-and-10 from the Whitworth 30 when Williams intercepted the pass that helped seal the victory. Whitworth’s offense took the field, and a kneel down ran the final 6 seconds off the clock. Blair completed 28 of 37 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns to lead Whitworth. Liggett finished the game with seven catches for 130 yards. Quinten Wimmer caught 11 passes for 162 yards, Sander Wimmer hauled in 10 catches for 71 yards and Jackson Walker had three catches for 72 yards.