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Oct 20, 2007
MCMINNVILLE, Ore.
— A matchup of the Northwest Conference's top two offensive teams turned into a defensive battle, at least for one half.
Holding their longtime rivals to six first downs and 79 yards of total offense, No. 19 Linfield defeated Pacific Lutheran 24-0 Saturday at rain-soaked Maxwell Field.
It marked the first time PLU had been shutout on the football field since 1979, ending the Lutes' streak of scoring games at 293. It also was the first blanking of a PLU team by Linfield since back-to-back shutouts in 1965 and 1966.
The Wildcats won their third straight game to improve to 4-2 and 2-1 in the NWC. PLU dropped to 5-1 and 2-2 in conference play.
Andrew Bean spurred Linfield's best defensive effort of the season, recording six tackles, including two for loss. The Wildcats forced three PLU turnovers, including two second-half interceptions.
The first half was a scoreless chess match. Linfield twice marched inside the PLU 25, but a fumble at the 11 and an interception in the end zone by Jeff Ebel prevented the Wildcats from assuming command early.
The offensive numbers in the first half were less than stellar, with the Wildcats leading the yardstick 137-49. PLU had just 12 yards passing at intermission, despite Lutes quarterback Brett Gordon completing 8 of 12 attempts.
Linfield broke the ice four minutes into the third quarter as Dan Lever dove over the goal line from three yards out. Scott Birkhofer booted the extra point and the hosts led 7-0.
The Wildcats gave themselves a bit of breathing room with 51 seconds left in the third quarter. Birkhofer connected on a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-0. The seven-play, 51-yard drive was aided by an acrobatic 24-yard catch by Banker from Trevor Scharer.
Scharer marched the Wildcats 77 yards in nine plays, hitting backup QB Aaron Boehme along the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown.
Wildcats linebacker Paul Partlow returned a Gordon interception 27 yards to the PLU 8, setting up Masters' game-clinching scamper up the middle, making the final score 24-0.
The Lutes' best scoring opportunity of the game came in the second quarter. Lutes wide receiver Greg Ford fumbled a catch after being hit by Bubba Lemon, and the ball was recovered by Jaymin Jackson. PLU did not cross the 50-yard line in the second half.
Scharer completed 17 of 30 for 191 yards and one TD. Masters 18 times for 129 yards and one score. Tyler Kaluza caught six balls for 92 yards.
Gordon was sacked five times and intercepted twice, completing just 11 of 24 attempts for 47 yards. Chase Reed caught four passes for 20 yards.
Defensive end Robert Thomsen led the way defensively for PLU with a game-high 12 tackles, including two sacks and one other tackle for loss.
'CAT SCRATCH: Saturday's Homecoming attendance was 2,666 . . .former Harlem Globetrotters great Meadowlark Lemon flipped the coin to begin the game. . . Lemon was in McMinnville to watch his four grandsons play for the Wildcats. . . a six-person crew from ESPN Game Day was also on hand, working on a story of the four Lemon boys and their father, Wildcats cornerbacks coach Meadow Lemon. . .the Lutes played the game without their leading receiver, two-time NWC all-star Craig Chiado, who was sidelined with an injury…PLU entered the game leading the NWC in scoring and total offense.
COMING UP: The Wildcats head to the San Francisco Bay Area for their second long road trip in three weeks, taking on NWC football affiliate Menlo Saturday at noon. . . with a win, Linfield can clinch its 52nd consecutive winning season. . . PLU hosts Lewis & Clark at 1:30 p.m.
Press release submitted by Linfield on Oct 20 2007 at 10:16 PM