Wildcats' Wisconsin invasion
Linfield used a star quarterback, a handful of freshmen and a little inspiration to defeat UW-Stevens Point 46-35, the Pointers’ first regular season home loss to a non-conference opponent in 30 years.
Things started much worse than they ended for the Wildcats. Down 7-0 with 6:15 to play in the first quarter, Linfield center Dwight Donaldson’s snap sailed five feet over quarterback Brett Elliott’s head and the Wildcats looked to be in over theirs.
The Pointers moved the ball with relative ease early on and jumped to a 14-3 lead in the second quarter thanks to a massive offensive line that gave sophomore quarterback Brett Borchart time to pick apart the Linfield defense.
Linfield got on the board with a Garrett Wales field goal and Elliott heated up throwing two touchdowns to cut the Pointers lead to 21-18 at the half.
Stevens Point took its first of two second half 10-point leads early in the third on a Kurt Kielblock 19 yard touchdown reception. Linfield countered with its own touchdown but gave it right back when LaRon Ragsdale returned one of Elliott’s few bad passes on the afternoon for another 19 yard touchdown and a 35-25 lead heading into the fourth.
On the Linfield sidelines, players didn’t panic but rather started pumping each other up raising one arm in the air with four fingers extended as if to say, “The fourth quarter is ours.” They wasted no time proving it. The Wildcats forced the Pointers into a punt and Elliott turned it into a touchdown to freshman receiver Tyler Kaluza — in the game spelling starter Brandon Hazenberg who battled leg cramps throughout the second half.
“Biggest touchdown of my career, for sure,” Kaluza said following the game. “I got my chance and things worked out.”
The ’Cats defense picked up its intensity in the fourth and forced Stevens Point into a three-and-out on their first possession. After a 35-yard punt return by Hazenberg, Elliott needed only one play to find wide receiver Casey Allen in the end zone for a 10 yard touchdown. The 10-point deficit was now a four-point lead and the momentum had shifted to Linfield.
 Linfield photo by Kelly Bird Nick Soo pursues Stevens Point quarterback Brett Borchart. |
The ‘Cats defense continued to sizzle with an interception by freshman Andrew Woods and a sack by freshman third string defensive end Jeff Denney on separate possessions.
“Young punks,” head coach Jay Locey said with a smile about the contributions of his freshmen. “They got caught up in it and were a pleasant surprise.”
Senior running back Thomas Ford sealed the victory with a 59 yard touchdown reception to reach the 46-35 final. Elliott finished the day 38-59 for 480 yards and six touchdowns including 10-for-12 for 142 yards and three scores in the fourth quarter. It was the most prolific passing performance in Linfield’s history.
The Wildcats have now won 26 consecutive regular season games dating to 2001.
“It was a great win for our team under some challenging travel and game circumstances,” said Locey. “It's an experience that we can put in the bank and build on.”
A hard day’s night
It was less American Revolution and more British Desolation on Saturday as Menlo dismantled the British Bulldogs — an all-star team of English university students — in an exhibition game in Atherton, California.
The Bulldogs spent the week at Menlo scrimmaging on Monday, barbecuing on Wednesday with NFL alumni as guest speakers and ultimately playing in the exhibition on Saturday.
Menlo used their advantage in experience and talent to easily handle the Bulldogs in this game set up by the two coaches.
“Every year they have a national coaches' convention," Menlo coach Mark Kaanapu told The Californian. "I was at one of the Division III meetings and there was an English team that wanted to come over and play some games in the States. I talked to them and they jumped at the chance."
"Giving these guys an opportunity is what's important," Bulldogs’ head coach Graham Thorpe told the San Mateo Times. "I believe they need to get here to develop any further. I need to get them to the next level. If we can win a few games, that's great."
Due to the fact that the game was played against a non NCAA or NAIA opponent, official game statistics were not reported but it didn’t diminish the Bulldogs feelings about the game of football.
"Football is the best team sport in the world," said lineman Tarquin Stephenson, a 6-foot-3, 390-pound two-way player. "Eleven on the field, eleven playing together to achieve one goal and execute as a unit. We're a family with team spirit who do everything together. And we party like rock stars."
While the Bulldogs aren’t exactly the Beatles, these self proclaimed “rock stars” got to enjoy A Hard Day's Night in California after the game.
So close yet so far away
If football games were 58 minutes long Augsburg would be 2-0 including an upset of No. 5 Wartburg. However, the Auggies are sitting at 0-2 after losing their first two games in the final two minutes. In Week 1, a Wartburg field goal with three ticks remaining resulted in a 27-24 loss. Saturday’s match up with North Central was decided with 1:53 to play as the Cardinals punched in a rushing touchdown to decide the game 31-24.
Losers start winning
Until this season began, the Puget Sound Loggers had a 1-26 record dating back to the last week of the 2000 season. While the Loggers have managed only 22 points in their first two games, they have been able to hold their opponents to only 16 points and string together their first two game winning streak since winning four straight in 2000.
Similarly, west region independent Chapman is currently riding a two game winning streak to open the 2004 season. They haven’t won more than three games in any of the past three seasons and haven’t won their first two since 1996.
Depression: Then and now
The United States was in the Great Depression the last time Hamline beat Gustavus Adolphus in an MIAC football opener (1929) and the Gusties had to feel like they were still in it following the controversial end to the Pipers 20-18 victory. It appeared that the game had ended when the Gusties stopped the Pipers on a third and goal from the 4-yard line with ten seconds left on the clock. Hamline was out of timeouts but officials stopped the clock with 3.2 seconds remaining saying that a Gustavus player was sitting on the ball.
Once the officials whistled for the clock to start it appeared as though the Pipers didn’t get the final play off in time. However, officials let the play stand and it decided the game. With 0:00 on the clock Hamline quarterback Andy Gagnon found wide receiver Dan Ryks falling out of bounds in the corner of the end zone to seal the come-from-behind controversial victory.
That didn’t last long
It looked as though a long season was ahead for the Central Dutch when they opened the season giving up 447 yards rushing to Augustana. Now, it looks as though they could return to dominance in the IIAC. After holding run-happy Bethel to 188 yards rushing in a Week 2 upset, the Dutch continued to stuff the run giving up only 73 yards rushing to the Simpson. Central could essentially give up 185 yards rushing to Loras and have a three game total that is less than their opening performance. The Dutch have clearly learned from their mistakes and are making first year coach Jeff McMartin look like the answer in Pella.
Johnnies back in stride
After losing their opener 30-28 to the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds, the defending national champions appear to be back in stride. They have outscored their last two opponents by a combined score of 103-7, including a 48-0 shutout of Northwestern (Minn.) and a 55-7 defeat of Carleton. Granted, these aren’t the teams that the Johnnies expect a close game from but their offense is clearing clicking on all cylinders with matchups against Bethel, Concordia-Moorhead and St. Thomas looming in the weeks ahead.
200-yard club
The following players from West Region games rushed for over 200 yards on Saturday.
North Central’s Steve Holden: 33 carries, 260 yards, two touchdowns
Bethel’s Phil Porta: 28 carries, 228 yards, two touchdowns
Coe’s Neil Suckow: 40 carries, 203 yards, four touchdowns (one receiving)
Trinity (Texas) Jerrold Jones: 17 carries, 215 yards, two touchdowns
Anything you can do I can do better
Wartburg and Buena Vista combined for two touchdowns in the first quarter on Saturday. Surprisingly, they were both scored on blocked punts. With 7:03 to play Wartburg sophomore linebacker Zach Eggleston returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a touchdown. Less than four minutes later, Buena Vista countered as junior defensive back Brant Goodchild fell on a blocked punt in the end zone to tie the game up 7-7.
Get to the Game!
UW-River Falls at Pacific Lutheran 1:30 p.m. PDT, Tacoma, Wash.: These two teams mark the second consecutive week with a NWC/WIAC showdown. After consecutive losses to Division II teams, UW-River Falls will look for its first win against Division III competition. The Falcons move the ball on the ground well with running back John Peterlik who averages 117 yards rushing per contest. Pacific Lutheran has only one game under their belt this season in a 14-12 defeat of Cal Lutheran. The Lutes split their offense rather evenly between the run and the pass. The Falcons will want to key on running back Mark McCall who rushed for 93 yards and two scores in the Lutes’ first victory.
Cal Lutheran at Occidental, 1 p.m. PDT, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: This battle between two teams that tied for second in the SCIAC in 2003 could give an early taste of who will win the conference in 2004. With Redlands struggling, either of these teams could move into the top spot. Occidental is looking for its second straight win. Cal Lutheran looks to bounce back from a close lose to PLU 14-12.