Twelfth man comes up big for Linfield
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Linfield and Southern Oregon have a storied 40-game history. Their overall series dates to 1934 when Linfield won the opener 14-7 but the last two years have been anything but easy. The Raiders shut out Linfield in 2001, 29-0 and it took two extra frames last year before the Wildcats finally pulled away 42-35 in McMinnville, Ore.
Linfield monsterback Ray Lions produced a defensive highlight package in that game — one of the many that would make him a 2002 Division III All-American. He led the defense with 15 tackles (three for loss) and half a sack to keep Southern Oregon’s highly potent offense in check. It was Lions’ leadership that propelled Linfield to the national quarterfinals last season and Wildcats fans were looking forward to his senior season almost as much as he was.
“It has been such an awesome opportunity to watch the development of Ray over the past four years,” former Linfield All-American Ryan Carlson said, “From when he was thrown into the fire as a raw freshman to becoming the heartbeat of the Wildcat team over the past couple of years; It really feels as though Ray has been around forever.”
Unfortunately, that heartbeat of the Linfield team went irregular in the third quarter of their season opener against Redlands when Lions made what felt like a routine tackle. The initial thought was that Lions had suffered a concussion but doctors determined after several tests that he had fractured the cervical vertebrae in his neck. Sports Information Director Kelly Bird told The Oregonian that Lions’ first words after hearing the diagnosis were, “I’m thankful there’s no paralysis.”
 Lions was a D3football.com first team preseason All-American. Whether more talented, better inspired, or both, Linfield beat a Top 5 NAIA team without him. |
It was an emotional week for Linfield coaches, players and everyone associated with the program. At the same time it was a very important week to stay focused and mentally tough with a game at NAIA No. 5 Southern Oregon on Saturday night.
The Southern Oregon offense had found a way to improve on an impressive 30.4 points per game in 2002 with the addition of Division I transfer wide receiver Andrae Thurman. They also still had the services of NAIA All-Americans Dusty McGrorty at running back and kicker Steve Baker. “Those (SOU) guys are a great team,” Linfield quarterback Tyler Mathews said, “They have great players all around.”
The Wildcats understood they were going up against a potent arsenal of offensive weapons. However, they also knew something Southern Oregon may not have realized — Linfield College is a close football family and although Ray Lions’ name wouldn’t appear in the box score his presence would be felt by every player in the purple and white.
If ESPN Classic televised Division III games, the Linfield vs. Southern Oregon game would have probably been shown as soon as possible. Southern Oregon struck first with a 42-yard touchdown to their newest weapon, Thurman. Linfield countered two minutes later to tie the score but couldn’t cover the ensuing kickoff and Thurman took it 92 yards to the end zone. With 10:23 to go in the first quarter it was Thurman 14, Linfield 7.
Over the next three and a half quarters the lead would change hands seven times. Factor in five fumbles and four interceptions combined and it was clear this game was going down to be a seesaw battle.
With just over five minutes to play Southern Oregon took the lead back 42-41 on a 53-yard scamper by McGrorty. The game was far from over as Linfield quarterback Tyler Matthews went 5-for-7 in his final series and orchestrated a 65-yard scoring drive. With 1:28 on the clock he found George Carter in the end zone to retake the lead 47-42 — Matthews’ pass attempt for the two-point conversion failed.
After the kickoff the Wildcats had 1:23 on the clock and a five-point lead but needed a defensive stand to seal the victory. Only this time they needed it from somebody other than Lions. With 0:59 seconds left monsterback Ty Smith, playing where Lions very well may have been, came up with a huge play as he intercepted Southern Oregon quarterback Dan Woodward’s pass to Thurman. Linfield ran out the clock and the marathon was over.
After three hours, 45 minutes, 89 points and 934 yards of total offense the Wildcats had prevailed. Tears of joy ran down the faces of the Linfield players as the victory sunk in and their thoughts turned to their injured teammate. Lions had called a friend at the game and Linfield linebacker Ryan Boatsman got a hold of the phone as the players gathered together after the game. Silence fell over the team as Boatsman and Lions conversed shortly. As Boatsman choked up he could hardly deliver Ray’s message to the team. “I love you guys so much and I was there with you the whole time,” Lions had told them.
The team shouted back in unison, “We love you Ray” as Boatsman held up the phone. Everyone realized Lions had been as big a part of the win as Matthews, Carter or Smith.
The Raiders couldn’t do anything about it, the refs didn’t flag it but everyone associated with Linfield knew it — on Saturday the Wildcats definitely had more than 11 players on the field.
Pomona who?
Although the school name might make you think of sink or bath fixtures, Pomona Pitzer’s football program is anything but washed up. After playing as an independent for many years the Sagehens rejoined the SCIAC in 2003. As the fourth best liberal arts institution in the nation (U.S. News) and with just under 50 players, the team is out to prove weekly that they are more than just a bunch of smart guys in pads. On Saturday they proved it with an exclamation point.
Trinity (Texas) has made the NCAA playoffs every year since 1997 and finished runner-up to Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl last year. They have won their conference nine straight years and boast a handful of All-Americans amongst their 99 players. Why the No. 8 team in the country was playing Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday was a mystery — how they managed to lose was an even bigger one.
The Sagehens drew first blood with a 6-yard pass to Andrew Ackerman and then held on for a 14-10 halftime lead. They scored first coming out of the break to take a 21-10 lead but Trinity wasn’t about to fold. The lead swapped hands four times in the final quarter before Pomona-Pitzer quarterback Justin Fenchel ran in the winning touchdown from 1 yard out with forty-five seconds to play.
Trinity was stunned. The school that sounds like a sink had just sunk its most formidable opponent of the season.
Hey Frosty, Go Frosty, Attaway, Attaway, Yeah!
“Attaways” are a sign of respect in the Pacific Lutheran football program and on Saturday there was no one more deserving than head coach Frosty Westering. At 75 years young, Westering joined an elite fraternity of college coaches who have amassed 300 or more wins in their career. Amongst the members are the likes of Bear Bryant, Eddie Robinson, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Joe Paterno. Joining the fraternity was an honor for Frosty but the win was just another one in a 40-year coaching career.
“This hasn’t been anything I’ve dwelled on,” Westering told the Tacoma News Tribune, “But I know it was something the players wanted so bad.”
After failing in their first attempt in Week 2 the players bounced back with a decisive 31-3 win against Chapman.
“In a sense, this was an ordinary game,” wide receiver Brian Deely told the paper. “But you could tell this week that players put in the extra time, staying late at practice and watching extra video — we wanted to be sure no stone was left unturned.”
Westering, who announced his retirement effective at season’s end, has never had a losing season in his coaching career and has won national championships at the NAIA and NCAA Division III level.
Fun Fact of the Week
Simpson has not been shut out in its past 163 games. The last time Simpson was shutout was in week four of the 1987 season when Central defeated the Storm 21-0.
Games of the Week
Augsburg at Gustavus Adolphus, St. Peter, Minn., 1 p.m. CDT: After shocking St. Olaf last week Augsburg is hoping to make a statement in the MIAC. Gustavus has lost a boatload of talent from last year and have looked shaky — scoring only two points in a loss to Concordia and beating Carleton by 10. A win for Augsburg in St. Peter could open some eyes in the MIAC.
Central at Loras, Dubuque, Iowa, 1 p.m. CDT: Loras is where Central is used to being — the top of the conference. After a surprising defeat at the hands of Buena Vista last week Central is in the hot seat to get back on top of the conference. Loras opened their IIAC season with a 20-7 defeat of Dubuque but will need to beat teams such as the Dutch to stay in the top half of the conference.