CLU TURNOVERS MAKE DIFFERENCE : PAC. LUTHERAN 45, CAL LUTHERAN 23.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

After the final whistle blew and Cal Lutheran and Pacific Lutheran gathered at midfield to exchange high-fives and handshakes, Pacific Lutheran coach Frosty Westering told the group the scoreboard told nothing of the quality of the game.

For the Kingsmen, that would be a good thing.

The Lutes, a perennial NAIA power, ran off 21 consecutive points in the first half and took advantage of six Cal Lutheran turnovers, cruising to a 45-23 victory Saturday at Mt. Clef Stadium.

The victory gave Westering his 250th career win and spoiled the home opener for the Kingsmen (0-2), who played well defensively but did not help themselves - losing four fumbles and throwing two interceptions.

``We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot, and I said before that to win this game we needed to keep their offense off the field,'' Cal Lutheran quarterback Zack Hernandez said. ``We were playing catch-up. It was frustrating.''

The Lutes (1-0), ranked No. 15 in the current NAIA poll, romped with a balanced offensive attack. Quarterback Dak Jordan threw for 256 yards and three scores while tailback Peter Finstuen rushed for 148 yards and had both a running and passing touchdown.

But it was the inability of the Kingsmen to keep the football when they had it that made the difference.

``To spot that team 28 points . . .'' Cal Lutheran coach Scott Squires said. ``We need to clean that up. But take it away and we have an outstanding football game.''

Westering, who coached Squires in the late '80s at Pacific Lutheran, agreed:

``(They) shut down our offense from doing things that we've done to teams all over the Northwest,'' he said. ``(They) should be proud.''

Kingsman backup quarterback Derek Brown, a transfer from Cal State Northridge, came in midway through the third quarter and ended up 12 of 24 for 228 yards and one touchdown, making his case for the starting job when the Kingsmen host San Diego on Saturday.

``I know I can win, but it doesn't matter what I think,'' he said. ``It's in the coach's hands.''

Notes: Freshman kicker Ryan Geisler of Camarillo hit a school-record 57-yard field goal at the end of the first half. The previous record was 53 yards by Joe Haynoski on three separate occasions, the last in 1984. . . . The game, called the Lutheran Brotherhood Kickoff Classic, will move to Tacoma for next year's installment. The Brotherhood raised $25,000 to make the series possible.