Athlete 2000 - 2003
The astonishing Hall of Fame career of Linfield quarterback Tyler Matthews nearly never unfolded. Matthews, from the class of 2004, overcame his own self-doubt to become one of the greatest pocket passers in program history.
The 2001 season, a pivotal year that helped launch the program’s current run of postseason success, began with a battle for the starting position between Matthews and Blake Kluse. Though Matthews lacked complete confidence in himself to lead the team, he held a slight edge in experience. And though was chosen to start the season-opening game, the coaching staff remained intrigued to see what Kluse was capable of and a switch would be made quickly if Matthews were to sputter.
Linfield won its season opener over Whittier as the two quarterbacks shared playing time. But in Week 2, the offense suffered through perhaps Linfield’s all time worst performance, totaling a mere 40 yards in a 29-0 shellacking at Southern Oregon. Matthews was ineffective to say the least, completing 1 of 8 passes for minus-1 yard.
Searching for answers, the coaching staff tabbed Kluse as the starter the next week against Pacific Lutheran. Yet Linfield’s struggles continued and the Wildcats lost a second straight contest to fall to 1-2 for the season. With an upcoming road game against an unbeaten Menlo team, critics had started to wonder aloud if Linfield’s lauded consecutive winning seasons streak would soon be broken.
With Kluse facing a heavy pass rush at Menlo, the offense was again unable to move the football and the Wildcats found themselves in a 27-9 hole to begin the fourth quarter. That’s when the coaching staff reached for Matthews, who provided the spark the Wildcats needed for what can only be considered one of the most remarkable comebacks in Linfield football history.
Matthews embraced a one-word mantra from then-Linfield coach Jay Locey, who implored his players to simply “Believe.”
He attempted just nine passes in that season-altering quarter of football, but completed five of them. And three of his throws went for touchdowns, including a 74-yard game-clinching score to tight end Marcus Ward. The unlikely comeback was the first of six straight wins for the Wildcats with Matthews at quarterback.
“For the first time in my life,” Matthews recalls, “I went out and played football like I had nothing to lose. It's one of the few times in my life I honestly felt like God picked me up off the ground. He just showed up that day. There is really no other way to explain it.”
The 2001 season was just the beginning of a marvelous career that saw Matthews set single-game, single-season and career records for passing yards and touchdowns.
He won 26 of the 29 games as Linfield’s starting quarterback, throwing for 6,798 yards and 69 touchdowns and twice leading the Wildcats to unbeaten regular seasons and berths in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Matthews was a finalist for the 2003 Gagliardi Trophy, given to the top Division III player, and was a co-recipient of the Ad Rutschman Small College Male Athlete of the Year award for the state of Oregon.
His career accomplishments include first team All-America honors in 2003 from the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com, an invitation to play in the Aztec Bowl all-star game, the Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year citation, and the Willis Baker Most Valuable Player award.
Since graduation, Matthews has remained close with the Linfield football program, serving as team chaplain for seven years. Earning a degree in finance, he has advanced to a career as a project manager with RTP Craftmark, coordinating sales of framing lumber, timbers and reclaimed wood products from Seattle to Portland.
He and his wife, Molly, are raising two daughters, Maya and Halle.
