Headlined by Offensive Player of the Year Aaron Boehme, the Linfield Wildcats placed a total of 20 players on the Northwest Conference all-star team, as announced recently by the conference office following a vote of the league’s seven coaches.
Linfield coach Joseph Smith received his first NWC Coach of the Year award after leading the Wildcats to the NWC title and an unbeaten 9-0 regular season during his fourth year at the helm. Smith takes a 27-9 win-loss record into Saturday’s first round NCAA playoff game against California Lutheran.
In the midst of a spectacular junior season, Boehme led the NWC in passing (261.4 yards per game) and total offense (295.9). In nine games, Boehme passed for 25 touchdowns, completing 170 of 277 attempts (61.4 percent) for 2,353 yards and just seven interceptions. He also was Linfield’s second-leading rusher, gaining 310 yards and scoring seven TDs on the ground.
Four Wildcats joined Boehme on the first team offensive unit: Running back Aaron Williams, offensive linemen Jordan Barnes and Scott Millenbach, and receiver Trevor Patterson.
Williams led the NWC in rushing with a 77.1 yards-per-game average. He gained 617 yards and scored nine TDs in his first season as a starter.
Barnes and Millenbach anchored a stout offensive line that helped pace Linfield to conference-best marks of 42.1 points and 466.2 yards per game.
Another first-year starter, Patterson shared the conference lead with 14 receiving touchdowns. He was on the receiving end of 55 passes covering 885 yards, an average of 98.3 yards per game.
First team defensive citations went to tackle Paul Nishizaki, linebackers Jaymin Jackson and Alex Tkachuk, and safety Drew Fisher.
Nishizaki helped the Wildcats lead the NWC in rushing defense, holding opponents to under 100 yards rushing per game. He was credited with 22 tackles, including 7½ for losses totaling 22 yards.
Tkachuk, a repeat first team selection, was Linfield’s third-leading tackler with 42 stops. He also recorded 2½ tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown against Pacific Lutheran.
Jackson earned first team honors after recording 29 tackles, including eight for losses of 24 yards, plus three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He also broke up four passes and forced two fumbles.
Fisher was the Wildcats’ second-leading tackler, piling up 43 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Four Linfield Wildcats received distinction on the all-NWC second team. Receiver Chris Slezak ranked second on the team in receptions (36) and receiving yards (442). He also scored three TDs during his first season as a starter.
Linebacker Paul Partlow, who topped Linfield statistics with 46 tackles, received his first all-star recognition with an appointment to the all-NWC second team. He recovered two fumbles, forced a fumble and was credited with one pass deflection.
End Eric Hedin was a force on the defensive line, recording a team-leading nine tackles for loss, including four sacks, two quarterback hurries and a recovered fumble.
Rover Kole Krieger solidify himself as a rising start after finishing the regular season fourth on the team in tackles with 40. He also broke up five passes and intercepted two others, plus recovered a pair of fumbles.
Honorable mention all-conference recognition went to offensive tackles Aaron Heston and Chris Buck, center Kyle Otineru, receiver Gunnar Cederberg, defensive end Ian Estrada, tight end Russell Sells and cornerback Taylor Skore.
