McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Wyatt Smith set a Linfield single-game record with eight touchdown passes and the No. 23 Wildcats scored in double digits in all four quarters on the way to a 77-22 Northwest Conference rout of the Puget Sound Loggers Saturday in front of a Homecoming crowd of 3,200 at Maxwell Field.
Smith tossed five touchdowns in the first half as Linfield built a commanding 35-7 lead at the break. The junior from McMinnville broke graduated All-American Brett Elliott's standing record of seven scoring passes in one game. Elliott, now co-offenisive coordinator at Linfield, established the record twice, once in 2004 and again 2005.
The Wildcats (4-1, 2-0 NWC) established a new team passing record as well. Counting backup Clark Hazlett's touchdown pass to Colton Smith with 10:37 to play, the Wildcats piled up nine passing TDs, surpassing the previous record of seven set 10 times previously, the most recent in 2016.
Linfield opened the scoring with Wyatt Smith's 30-yard pass to a wide-open Keegan Weiss with 3:19 left in the first quarter. The same two Wildcats hooked up three minutes later, this time a 12-yard sprint-out pass into the hands of Weiss along the sideline of the end zone.
Keaton Wood made it 21-0 for the hosts with a 5-yard run with just over seven minutes remaining before halftime.
Tyler Torgerson added his name in the scoring summary, pulling in a 45-yard pass from Smith with 2:20 to play in the half to push the Linfield lead to 28-0. Defensive end Travis Swanson lined up at tight end and caught a TD pass from Smith less than two minutes later, putting the 'Cats in front by five scores.
A 50-yard completion to Jewell Day from Nik Bernhardtr put the Loggers art the Linfield 2-yard line with two seconds to play in the period, setting up Colin Heimbach's 2-yard TD catch from Bernhardt.
Linfield kept up the offensive pressure in the second half, scoring three times in each of the final two quarters to win going away.
Linfield outgained Puget Sound 596-233. The Wildcats held the Loggers to -19 yards rushing on 27 attempts. The 'Cats forced four turnovers in the contest.
Smith completed 23 of 29 throws for 357 yards without an interception. Younger brother Colton Smith total nine receptions for 147 and two TDs. Wood had three TD catches and Torgerson totaled five receptions for 127 yards and a score. Weiss had two TDs among his four receptions.
Reserve tailback Colby Iverson finished with a game-high 71 rushing yards on just four carries.
Bernhardt totaled 224 yards passing but he was intercepted three times, twice by Wildcats rover Keyell Davis. He was also sacked four times, two by end Ray Thomas.
Wildcats monsterback Tyler Bergeron totaled a team-best seven tackles while Davis and Sam Paris contributed five stops each.
Brody Pearman and Aaron Fisher both had seven tackles to lead Puget Sound (2-2, 1-1 NWC).
'CAT SCRATCH
Saturday's Homecoming attendance was estimated at 3,200…Puget Sound was held to 3 of 14 on third-down plays…the Loggers were penalized 10 times for 227 yards…Linfield benfitted from six first downs via penalty…Linfield punted the ball just once in the game.
AHEAD
Linfield is back at Maxwell Field on Saturday when the 'Cats host the Willamette Bearcats at 1:30 p.m.
Smith's record-setting day leads Linfield to 77-22 romp over Puget Sound
/seasons/2019/boxscores/20191012_0wia.xml
2019
Puget Sound
22
Linfield
77
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound (2-2) | 0 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 22 |
| No. 20 Linfield (4-1) | 14 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 77 |
Oct 12, 2019