After two years of break-even seasons, football broke through this past fall and put together their best performance in 15 years under first-year head coach Brett Elliott. Lewis & Clark finished the season 6-4, marking the first time the team has earned six or more wins in a single season since 2011 (7-2) and just the second since 1991 (7-2-1).
Football kicked off the season with a 56-20 win at the University of Puget Sound. Transfer quarterback Dashiell Weaver BA ’28, who started his career at Fresno State, threw five touchdowns to help Elliott earn his first win as a head coach. L&C defeated George Fox 38-10 in week two to clinch a spot in next year’s Oregon Cup Championship Game.
The team put themselves on the national radar in week three, when they shut down Pomona-Pitzer 21-3 in California. The defense allowed their fewest points in a game since 2010.
Lewis & Clark returned to the Pacific Northwest to open up NWC play with two more wins. They dominated Puget Sound 58-21, behind four touchdown passes from Weaver and five interceptions by the defense. Football moved to 5-0 the following week with a 28-20 road win over rival Willamette University in the Wagon Wheel rivalry game. Dez Holton BA ’26 posted two touchdown catches, and Daryl Scott BA ’26 recorded 11 tackles to help L&C win their eighth consecutive Wagon Wheel game. Lewis & Clark earned votes in the D3football.com National Top 25 poll for four consecutive weeks during this time span.
In October, injuries took out L&C’s top two quarterbacks and a slew of starters. Nonetheless, the football team nearly upset conference champion Whitworth University at Homecoming and lost by just eight points against perennial power Linfield University. L&C closed out the season with a 28-21 win at Pacific University. Sam Simril BA ’26 threw two touchdown passes, and Jordan Lahusky BA ’26 rushed for a career-high 141 yards on the road to victory.
Several players earned All-Conference honors. Wide receiver Sytyn Lasconia BA ’29, offensive lineman Iggy Marquez BA ’27, and defensive end JT Chavez BA ’27 were all named to the NWC Second Team. Wide receiver Garrett Lee BA ’26, offensive lineman Ramses Packer BA ’28, and Scott carved out spots on the NWC Third Team. Jack Warren BA ’26 was tapped for the D3football.com All-Region First Team for the second straight year. He led the team with four blocked kicks on special teams.
Football anticipates returning 13 starters for the 2026 season, including Weaver, Lasconia, Marquez, and Chavez. Their goal will be to win the program’s first NWC title since 1991.
