PORTLAND, Ore. – Tyler Torgerson caught two touchdown passes from Aiden Wilder, Chidubem Nnoli rushed for 122 yards and two scores, and No. 7 Linfield smothered Lewis & Clark 49-14 in a Northwest Conference football game Saturday at Griswold Stadium.
 
In a series that dates to 1901, Linfield (4-1, 3-0 NWC) defeated Lewis & Clark (2-3, 1-2 NWC) for the 40th consecutive time, though the game's outcome remained somewhat in doubt for much of three quarters while Linfield found its offensive groove.
 
1st Half
Nnoli rushed for 93 yards in the opening half as Linfield built a 21-7 advantage. The game remained a one-score contest until Torgerson pulled in a 32-yard pass from Wilder 16 seconds before intermission.
 
Wilder opened the scoring with a 6-yard plunge midway through the first quarter. The three-play drive was set up by Marcus McGovern's recovery of a Sawyer May fumble that gave Linfield the ball at the L&C 14-yard line. Nnoli stretched the lead to 14-0 in the second quarter, running 13 yards to the end zone with 8:51 to play.
 
Linfield outgained Lewis & Clark 180-67 during the first two quarters as the Wildcats converted 5-of-9 third-down plays.
 
2nd Half
Torgerson caught his second TD of the game at the 5:51 mark of the third quarter to make it 28-7.
 
The teams traded touchdowns in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. Nnoli ran 14 yards to the end zone for a 35-7 margin but the Pioneers matched it with a 25-yard TD catch by L&C's Gage Bumgardner with just under nine minutes to play.

After liberally inserting freshman and sophomore reserves, Linfield scored twice in the final two minutes. Backup QB Wyatt Smith threw 8 yards to fellow frosh Kyle Kimball to push the score to 42-14, then rookie tailback Kela Marshall broke a series of tackles on the way to a 14-yard scoring TD with 13 seconds to go.
 
Stat Check
Linfield totaled 436 yards to Lewis & Clark's 230. The Pioneers were limited to 72 yards rushing. The Wildcats picked up 25 first downs and were 9-of-14 on third down.
 
Nnoli gained over 100 yards on the ground for the third straight game. He carried 23 times, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Blake Burnett picked up 61 yards on the ground in relief duty.
 
Wilder, who completed 13 of 18 throws for 168 yards, began the game in place of regular starter Troy Fowler, who did not dress due to an illness. Torgersen finished with six catches for 93 yards and J.D. Lasswell had four receptions for 34 yards.
 
Defensively, linebackers Jason Farlow and Jake Reimer led the way with eight tackles a piece. Tackle Chris Stinchcomb and rover Wade Ransom both added five stops. McGovern and Zach Grate teamed for the Wildcats' only quarterback sack. Marquis Perrilliat intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to thwart a Pioneers drive.
 
May ended his day with 12 completions in 19 attempts, totaling 137 yards and two TDs. Michael Abraham gained 49 rushing yards.
 
Closing in on a winning season
With its fourth win of the season, Linfield moved within one victory of securing the program's 62nd consecutive winning season, extending the nation's longest run of sustained success across all levels of college football. The next closest program with an active winning seasons streak is Florida State with 40 consecutive winning seasons. The Seminoles are currently 2-3.
 
Next
Linfield returns to Maxwell Field for a Family Weekend matchup against the George Fox Bruins Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Live videocast coverage starts at 1 p.m. on the Linfield Sports Network.