Linfield University Athletics

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Freshman Wyatt Smith passed for three touchdowns and Chidubem Nnoli ran for 113 yards and two scores as Linfield pounded Pacific 35-7 in the regular-season finale for both clubs Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium.
 
Eighth-ranked Linfield raised its record to 8-1 and finished unbeaten in the NWC (7-0) for a third straight season.
 
The Wildcats, who had already wrapped of the program's ninth straight and 41st overall NWC championship last weekend, await Sunday's announcement of the full 32-team NCAA playoff field. The playoff bracket will be revealed Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
 
Linfield controlled Saturday's game throughout, outgaining Pacific 370-147 in total yards, including 166-37 in the first half. The Boxers entered the game with but exited with just 76 net yards on the grounds. Brandon Boyd, the NWC's leading rusher through eight weeks, managed 69 yards on 24 carries, including just 13 prior to intermission.
 
Linfield totaled 14 first downs. Pacific nearly equaled that with 13, but six came by way of penalty. In all, the Wildcats were flagged 11 times, amounting to 111 yards.
 
As a result of the Boxers' inability to move the ball, the Wildcats led 21-0 at halftime and 35-0 after three quarters.  Pacific (4-4, 2-4 NWC) coughed up four turnovers to the opportunistic Linfield defense, crossing midfield just twice all afternoon.
 
Wade Ransom led the Wildcats' defensive charge. The senior rover finished with eight tackles, including five unassisted. Jason Farlow added seven tackles and Jake Reimer had six stops.
 
Cornerback Anthony Guttaduaro thrwarted a potential Pacific touchdown just before halfttime, picking off Boxers QB Bret Yap Jr. at the Linfield 8-yard line.
 
Linfield broke the ice in the first quarter as Smith hit J.D. Lasswell with a 38-yard bomb with 6:45 left in the period. Nnoli pushed the Wildcats' advantage to 14-0 at 9:54 of the second quarter, plowing over from the Pacific 1.
 
One play after Yap was sacked by Asa Schwartz and fumbled into the waiting hands of Zach Grate at the 31, Lasswell pulled in his second TD of the day from Smith, a 31-yarder that made the score 21-0 with 7:42 to go before halftime.
 
Nnoli added his second rushing score of the day early in the third quarter. Kyle Kimball followed with another touchdown less than two minutes later, pulling in a 1-yard lob into the corner of the end zone.
 
Boyd spoiled a second straight shutout victory by the Wildcats, pushing the ball into the end zone from the 1 on an 18-play drive that included two 15-yard penalties.
 
Smith, making just his second start at quarterback, completed 10 of 14 throwsfor 188 yards. His single interception was inconsequential, coming on the game's opening drive. Aiden Wilder spelled Smith late in the third period. He completed 2 of 5 for 31 yarsd and also rushed for 19 yards.
 
Wildcats punter Colton Ramos averaged 36.3 yards on six attempts, including a long effort of 57 yards. Two of his boots that were downed inside the Pacific 20-yard line.