Playing at Maxwell Field for the final time in the regular season, the eighth-ranked Linfield Wildcats (6-1, 5-0 Northwest Conference) host the Puget Sound Loggers (3-4, 2-3 NWC) on Saturday, November 4, in McMinnville. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Fresh from a thrilling 16-10 overtime victory, the Wildcats look to find greater punch from their offense while continuing to supply ample doses of defense. Puget Sound possesses one of the best passing attacks in the Northwest Conference, yet can be prone at times defensively.
 
THE DETAILS
Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen provide play-by-play coverage of Linfield football. Listen on TruTalk 800 KPDQ-AM for pregame coverage with host John Lee starting at 12:30 p.m. Simulcast coverage throughout the McMinnville area starts on Linfield campus station KSLC 90.3 FM at 1 p.m.
 
FINDING A RHYTHM
 
LOGGERS
Having graduated all-star quarterback Hans Fortune at the conclusion of last season, the Loggers are without one of their all-time passing leaders. Transitioning to a new arm, Puget Sound features gunslinger Tanner Diebold. The senior has passed for 1,879 yards while completing 54.6 percent of his passes. Diebold comes into the game with 11 touchdown passes but has also coughed up a conference-high 10 interceptions. The Loggers, who throw for nearly 270 yards per game, have the second-highest number of pass attempts in the conference, trailing only Whitworth. Diebold is a capable runner, when needed, accounting for two rushing touchdowns and 154 yards on 68 carries.
 
Puget Sound has long been known for its passing game. Yet the Loggers' young personnel at running back potentially point towards a trend of establishing a solid running game. Sophomore backs Paul Thomas and Vance Wood have each run for five touchdowns each while averaging more than three yards per carry. Thomas is listed as the starting back but be prepared to see Wood just as frequently on Saturday.
 
Leading the NWC with 81.9 receiving yards per game, senior wide receiver, Dustin Harrison has caught a conference-best 50 passes. Diebold's favorite target looks to Harrison to carry most of the offensive production. Along with Harrison at receiver are Alvin Johnson, Michael Zabran and Jacob Smith, each with more than 10 receptions this season. A young sophomore-laden receiving corps has much to learn but is following the example set by one of the best in the NWC.
 
Up front, the Loggers may have their hands full against Linfield's defensive line. Freshman left tackle Michael Griardin is projected to start alongside sophomore Isaiah Martinez at left guard. The right side of the line features more experience with senior right tackle Jared Polonitza and Zack Losack at left guard. The center is senior Dylan Cunningham. As one of the youngest offensive lines in the NWC, the Loggers have allowed 23 sacks this season.
 
WILDCATS
Ranking next-to-last in total yards per game, the Linfield offense is coming off its least productive performance of the season against Pacific Lutheran.
 
Without a firm answer at quarterback, the Wildcats have been sharing tgeh ball between Troy Fowler, Aiden Wilder and Wyatt Smith. All three QBs have seen meaningful time in competitive action with the game on the line. Fowler was off to a hot start and found a groove, throwing for 640 yards and six touchdowns before turning the job over to Aiden Wilder. Starting the last three games, Wilder has thrown for an average of 67 yards with three TDs and two interceptions. Smith has appeared in three games while completing 50 percent of his passes. Who gets the start? We'll find out together on Saturday.
 
Though he came short of rushing for more than 100 yards in his fifth consecutive game, Wildcats tailback Chidubem Nnoli found the end zone in overtime at Pacific Lutheran to give the 'Cats a 16-10 win. The NWC's second leading rusher, Nnoli leads a group of Wildcat backs looking to find their swagger once again. Expect Blake Burnett and Dawson Ruhl to spell Nnoli on third down or to provide a timely change of pace.
 
Catching just six passes last week in Puyallup, the Wildcats showed signs of improvement in finding their playmakers. J.D. Lasswell, Kyle Kimball and Keegan Weiss each had a pass reception. Lasswell caught his NWC-best sixth touchdown while Kimball helped extend a drive in the third quarter that led to a Willy Warne field goal.
 
Warne, the Wildcats' leading scorer, has yet to miss a kick since missing a field goal against Mary Hardin-Baylor. The sure-footed kicker has been named NWC Specials Team Player of the Week three times, giving Linfield scoring range from anywhere inside 50 yards.
 
RUN STUFFERS
 
LOGGERS
Puget Sound have shored up their defense this fall, allowing an average of 23 points and 157 rushing yards per game. The Loggers rank fourth against  the run and allowed just 13 points to Willamette a week ago.   
 
Coming off his best performance in a Puget Sound uniform, Jason Clayton was named NWC Defensive Player of the Week. The defensive back had an interception, blocked a field goal, and notched a team-high eight tackles in a 14-13 win over Willamette.
 
Producing 13 sacks in seven games yet forcing 17 turnovers, the Loggers lean on their secondary to pack a punch defensively. Puget Sound's top five tacklers are all defensive backs.
 
Leading the team with 47 tackles and 11 pass breakups is Max Washam. Clayton and Zackary Teats both have picked off two passes and lead the team with 14 and 13 pass breakups, resepectively.
 
WILDCATS
After allowing 10 points to the Lutes in the first half, Linfield shut out Pacific Lutheran in the second half and one period of overtime, intercepting a pass and blocking a go-ahead field goal in the process.
 
The 'Cats own the best scoring defense in the conference, allowing just 12.7 points per game. Linfield also leads the NWC in total defense, giving up 267 yards per game. Linfield prides itself on stuffing opposing rushing attacks, stopping the run at a clip of 91.3 rushing yards allowed per game.
 
Leading the team by more than 30 tackles, linebacker Jason Farlow continues his top-tier play as one of the best defensive players in the nation. Farlow ranks fourth in the NWC with 63 tackles this season.
 
With two consecutive games with an interception and a fumble recovery, Andrew Schweiterman has come into his own. As a team, the 'Cats have picked off nine passes in 2017.
 
Tying their single game-high four sacks against PLU a week ago, the Linfield defensive front continues to dominate opposing offensive lines. Marcus McGovern leads the club with 4.5 sacks while Asa Schwartz recorded his first sack of the season against the Lutes.
 
OVERALL
Weather permitting, Saturday's game could be develop into another NWC slugfest. Puget Sound has the firepower on offense but may be limited by the Linfield defense.
 
And while the Loggers' defense shows holes defensively at times, the Wildcats' offense has not shown it can move the ball with confidence in nearly three weeks.
 
To win, the Linfield defense must force turnovers to set up with Wildcats offense with a short field. Getting into field goal range consistently throughout the day should enable the Wildcats to build some confidence offensively. 
 
The 'Cats could claim a share of the NWC title with a win over the Loggers. The added motivation of 20 seniors playing in their final regular-season home game should keep the intensity high for the Wildcats.
 
Having been pushed to overtime a week ago sends a message to all upcoming opponents that they too can hang with Linfield. Can the Loggers shock the home team on an emotional Saturday at the Catdome?
 
SERIES HISTORY
The series dates to 1924, when Puget Sound beat Linfield 55-6 in Tacoma. Linfield leads the all-time series 30-12-1 and has won the last 27 meetings, including 33-7 in 2016 in Tacoma. Puget Sound's last win was in 1987 by a 21-20 score in McMinnville … the Wildcats are 14-5 against the Loggers in McMinnville and 16-7-1 in Tacoma … Linfield and Puget Sound did not play between 1947 and 1983. Before that break, Linfield was just 1-11-1 in the series; since the break ended, Linfield is 29-1 vs. UPS … Linfield lost the first seven games before gaining a 7-7 tie in Tacoma in 1936, then a 28-19 win in McMinnville in 1939.
 
Linfield's widest margin of victory was 76 points, a 79-3 win in 2013 in McMinnville; Puget Sound's widest margin of victory was 50 points, 50-0 in in 1928 in McMinnville. Linfield's widest margin in Tacoma was 63 points, 66-3 in 2014; Puget Sound's widest margin in Tacoma was 49 points, 55t-6 in 1924 in the series' first game.
 
WITH A WIN SATURDAY
Linfield can clinch at least a share of the Northwest Conference championship; that would make nine straight seasons in which the Wildcats at least tied for the title. The Wildcats' current streak of eight straight seasons with at least a share of the title is already the longest such streak in NWC history. Linfield also won or shared NWC titles in six straight seasons from 2000-05 … there have been three other times NWC teams won or shared titles in five straight years: Linfield from 1974-78, Willamette from 1940-1947 (there was no NWC football from 1943-45 due to World War II) and Willamette from 1934-38 … through 2016, Linfield has won 40 NWC championships, including 32 outright.
 
THE STREAK
Linfield secured its 62nd consecutive winning season two weeks ago against George Fox. The 'Streak,' which began in 1956, is the longest in the history of college football at any level. During the Streak, Linfield is 497-113-10 for a winning percentage of .810 … Linfield's record at home during the Streak at Maxwell Field it is 266-42-4 (.859).
 
ALL-TIME NUMBERS
2017 is Linfield's 103rd season of football, dating back to 1896. The Wildcats' all-time record is 601-264-28 (.689) ... Linfield's all-time home record is 335-91-16 (.776), including a Maxwell Field record of 314-79-11 (.791).
 
MORE NUMBERS
Since the start of the 2009 season, Linfield is 91-12 overall (.883), 75-4 (.949) in the regular season and 50-3 (.943) at home … the Wildcats and are 55-1 in NWC games (.982).
 
COACH JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith is in his 12th season as Linfield's head coach; his overall record is 109-21 (.838), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history.