McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield extended its all-divisions record of consecutive winning seasons to 68 on Saturday, drubbing Northwest Conference foe Puget Sound 62-13 at Maxwell Field.
Playing the first 10-game regular-season schedule in program history, the Wildcats improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 1-6 and 0-4 in conference play.
Linfield last experienced a losing season in football in 1955. The Wildcats hold the national distinction of having posted plus-.500 seasons every year since, on Saturday pushing their all-divisions records to 68 straight winning campaigns.
It was a great day for Linfield quarterbacks Blake Eaton and Luke McNabb. Eaton passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns while McNabb rushed for 126 yards and two scores.
Eaton achieved a rare triple feat, rushing for a touchdown, passing two scores, and pulling in a TD of his own. Caleb Woodcock had five catches for 79yards and a touchdown.
Linfield piled up 644 yards on an overmatched Puget Sound defense, notching 333 yards rushing and 311 passing. The Wildcats did not yield a turnover to the Loggers.
Linfield was in control from the very first series. Puget Sound fumbled on its third offensive play and Wildcats end Connor Nelson recovered at the Loggers 40. Linfield took full advantage, needing just one play to reach the end zone. Eaton tossed a 40-yard rainbow to a wide-open Conner Wolfe for a quick 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats made it 14-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Eaton connected with Woodcock on a 13-yard scoring play.
Maclain Stoneking put Linfield up by three scores on a sweep around the left side. The extra point by Gavin Dalziel made the score 21-0 with 10:57 left in the second quarter.
Linfield went to the trick playbook for its next score as tailback Aaron Martinez passed 7 yards to Eaton in the end zone with 7:45 to play before intermission.
Puget Sound got on the board when Loggers star receiver Joe Gallager took a Mason Binning pass 55 yards to paydirt. The extra point was blocked by Blaze Holani. The Wildcats answered right back, marching 82 yards in five plays and capping the drive with a 1-yard run by Eaton that put the 'Cats in front 35-6.
Linfield sacked Binning four times in the first half and as a result, the Loggers entered the halftime locker room with minus-8 yards rushing. The Wildcats outgained the Loggers 283-142 in the first half.
McNabb rushed 46 yards to the end zone on the Wildcats' second possession of the third quarter, extending Linfield's lead to 42-6.
From there, the Loggers put up little resistance, allowing Linfield to seemingly score at will. McNabb, Jesse Sadretzky and Matthew Spurbeck each rushed for touchdowns.
Defensively, Linfield linebackers Blake Rybar and Johnny Miller led the way with seven tackles each. Rover Caiden Biege-Wetherbee contributed five stops.
Binning completed 25 of 41 passes for 227 yards. But he was sacked four times by the Wildcats. Gallagher had 13 catches for 133 yards and one TD.
The Loggers finished with 253 total yards. Linfield held UPS to a net 13 yards on the ground.
'CAT SCRATCH
The Wildcats defeated the Loggers for the 34th straight time in series history, a run that stretches back to 1988. . . Wildcats punter Thomas Tabor averaged 50.5 yards on two punts, including a long effort of 54 yards.
NEXT
Linfield heads to Forest Grove for a Northwest Conference battle with the Pacific Boxers at Hanson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Winning season No. 68 assured as 'Cats trample Loggers 62-13
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20241026_kkwv.xml
2024
Puget Sound
13
Linfield
62
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound (1-6) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| No. 14 Linfield (6-1) | 14 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 62 |
Oct 26, 2024