Big Plays, Big Defense Help Linfleld Knock Off Boxers
Box Score
FOREST GROVE – Nationally ranked Linfield used big plays to take a large lead and relied on rock steady defense to knock off Pacific 49-6 in Northwest Conference football action at Lincoln Park Stadium.
The Wildcats (5-0, 3-0 NWC), ranked No. 5 in the latest D3Football.com Top-25 Poll, scored twice on plays of 50 yards or more, one of which came on an 86-yard kickoff return to begin the third quarter. The Linfield defense also came up big, stunting two Pacific drives that came inside the 5-yard line and returning a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Linfield outgained Pacific in total offense 477-238, but Pacific controlled the ball for over 38 minutes of the contest. All of Pacific's positive yardage came in the air.
T.C. Campbell (So., Kaimuki, Hawaii) completed 12 of 24 passes for 129 yards to lead the Boxers, while
P.J. Minaya (So., Wahiawa, Hawaii) completed 6 of 10 passes for 107 yards.
Jordan Fukumoto (So., Mililani, Hawaii) caught five balls for 82 yards.
Gunther Schultze (So., Bellflower, Calif.) caught two balls for 63 yards and also has 12 rushes for 29 yards.
Mickey Inns had another big day for Linfield at quarterback, completing 16 of 25 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Lucas Jepson was his favored target, making three catches for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Buddy Saxon caught four balls for 61 yards and a score. Josh Hill led the Linfield rushing game, carrying 12 times for 69 yards.
With the win, Linfield extended their streak of consecutive winning seasons to 56, the most for any program at any level of collegiate football.
Pacific held onto the ball of 12 minutes of the first quarter, but it was Linfield dominating the action thanks to big plays and quick drives. The Wildcats needed only 1 minute, 57 seconds to covert their first drive into a touchdown as Inns found Lucas Jepson for a 14-yard strike at the 8:37 mark.
The Boxers milked their next drive for nearly six minutes, which ended on a
Moses Villareal-Gomez's (Fr., Stockton, Calif.) 37-yard field goal at the 2:46 mark. The Wildcats, however, would convert big plays into two more scored before the first quarter ended.
Colin Forman returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, and then Kyle Wright blocked
Aaron Koford's (So., Wilsonville, Ore.) punt at the Pacific 4-yard-line, allowing Drew Fisher to run it back for the score. Linfield led 21-3 after the first 15 minutes.
Pacific put together a nice drive to begin the second quarter, but could not punch it in to the end zone thanks to a Linfield goal line stand. Villareal-Gomez did put Pacific on the board with a 22-yard field goal to bring the Boxers within 21-6 with 9:48 to go. Linfield closed first half scoring on their next drive, with Inns finding Saxon for a 4-yard touchdown pass at the 6:40 mark.
The Pacific defense prevented Linfield from scoring a fifth first half touchdown with a goal line stand of their own, stopping the Wildcats on the 4-yard line to secure the 28-6 halftime score. Linfield outgained the Boxers in total offense 166-134 in the half despite the Boxers holding onto possession for over 22 minutes.
The Wildcats needed just one play to get that sixth touchdown on the board, with Inns finding Jepson for a 65-yard scoring pass on the first play from scrimmage for a 35-6 Linfield advantage. Both defenses locked down for the rest of the quarter. The Boxers were successful in stopping the Wildcats at the 4-yard line with 8:35 to go in the third to stunt a 12-play, 83-yard drive.
Linfield returned the favor early in the fourth quarter, with the Wildcats stopping a 10-play, 48-yard play drive at their own 2-yard line. The Wildcats came right back down the field, moving the ball 88 yards in 2 minutes, 48 seconds. Josh Yoder closed the drive with a 4-yard run for the touchdown that gave Linfield a 42-6 lead. The Wildcats added one more with 8:01 left in the fourth when Josh Yarborough connected with Colin Nelson for a 24-yard score to close scoring.
Tim Hastie (So., Auberry, Calif.) led Pacific defensively with nine tackles, including one for loss.
Bryan Mills (So., Imbler, Ore.) and
Chaz Bajet (Fr., Waipahu, Hawaii) each had six tackles. Drew Fisher led Linfield with 11 tackles.
Pacific takes to the road again next weekend as they take on Whitworth in the Pine Bowl in Spokane. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Linfield returns home to host Pacific Lutheran.
