Another chapter of in the intense rivalry between NCAA Division III heavyweights Linfield and Mary Hardin-Baylor takes center stage on Saturday at Maxwell Field in when the No. 1-ranked Crusaders meet the sixth-rated Wildcats in Week 2 of the regular season. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.
 
Both teams enter the highly-hyped contest at 1-0 after knocking off a pair of non-conference foes to begin the season. Linfield defeated Chapman on the road 27-12 while UMHB handled Sul Ross State 23-7). The 1 vs. 6 matchup is the highest-ranked regular season matchup in Division III football in 2017.
 
Outside the lines, Linfield launches its new Game Day Experience, which encompasses a fan zone featuring food, entertainment and games, as well as live music, a marching band, and special hospitality zones.
 
THE DETAILS
No. 1 MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS (1-0) vs No. 6 LINFIELD WILDCATS (1-0)
 
Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen provide play-by-play coverage of Linfield football. Listen on TrueTalk 800 AM KPDQ for pregame coverage starting at 1 p.m. with John Lee and local station KSLC 90.3 FM McMinnville.
 
Nelson and Hansen will also provide play-by-play coverage on the Linfield Sports Network, live video streaming service. The pay-per-view videocast is $12 per game, or fans can purchase four-game season package for a reduced rate of $40.
 
HISTORY
Having first met in the 2004 National Championship (won by Linfield, 28-21), the Wildcats went on to take down the Cru in the next three meetings in 2009, 2014 and 2015. A season ago, Linfield traveled to Belton, Texas, in the regular season where the Cru exacted a measure of revenge in an eye-opening 66-27 result. The two perennial playoff powers met for a fourth time in three seasons when the Cru hosted the 'Cats in the second round of the 2016 NCAA playoffs. UMHB defeated Linfield, 27-10 and went on to clinch its first NCAA championship.
 
RUN, RUN, RUN.
 
CRUSADERS
The game could likely be decided on the performance of both offensive lines. Neither team impressed in the passing department during Week 1 and both will likely again lean on the ground game for most of the afternoon.
 
New UMHB quarterback T.J. Josey started 14 games at wide receiver a season ago. The lanky speedster snagged 52 passes for eight touchdowns and set a school record for most receiving yards in a single season with 1,063. Josey carried the ball 22 times for 91 yards against Sul Ross State last Saturday. He struggled in the passing game, completing 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Josey also threw an interception.
 
A preseason All-American is featured in the Cru backfield. Markeith Miller carried the ball 26 times for 98 yards, averaging 3.8 yards per carry against Sul Ross State. The combination of Josey and Miller should command most of the Wildcats' defensive attention.
 
Top receivers Bryce Wilkerson and DeNerian Thomas are back after successful 2016 campaigns. The dynamic duo on the outside showcases next-level speed. Wilkerson caught five passes for 59 yards and one touchdown a week ago while Thomas had one reception for 14 yards.
 
The UMHB offensive line should be the heaviest Linfield will see all season. The Cru front five average 283 pounds and stand an average of 6 feet, 3 inches. Without an underclassman on the line, the Crusaders plan on winning the battle at the point of attack and should impress with their sheer size.
 
WILDCATS
Still undecided on who the primary quarterback will be after an average weekend of play a weekend ago, Linfield expects to run more often this week. Troy Fowler delivered two touchdown passes but also tossed two interceptions to go with 159 yards on 13-of-20 passing. Transfer Aiden Wilder immediately sent life into the Wildcats' offense with his running ability. He saw limited time and completed 2 of 3 passes with one interception.
 
The running back committee shined in their first outing of 2017. Freshman Dawson Ruhl led the way with 88 yards on 23 carries and 3.8 yards per carry. Look for Chidubem Nnoli and Blake Burnett to get their fair share of carries as well. This is not a one-horse backfield and Linfield will likely feature all three backs and some point during the game.
 
It's tough to pinpoint a go-to wide receiver for the 'Cats this early in the season but if there is one, it's JD Lasswell. The junior from Corvallis caught two passes for 77 yards and two scores. His ability to beat defenders deep and gain yards after the catch was on display against Chapman. Tyler Torgerson and tight end Jacob Calo are lethal targets in the passing game as well.
 
While head coach Joseph Smith said the offensive line has not reached its potential, the front five played well in their first night of action against the Panthers. They have a tough task head of them facing one of the best defensive lines in the nation.
 
BATTLE OF FIELD POSITON
 
CRUSADERS
Don't expect the score to mimic the trend of today's point-a-minute college football. This game features two of the best defenses in the country and early in the season, both offenses have yet to reach their stride.
 
UMHB star Haston Adams is someone the Cru expects to have an All-American caliber season. Deemed a preseason All-American, the 6-5, 295-pound defensive tackle is the epicenter of the Crusaders' defense. If he gets off to a hot start, it could be a long day for the Linfield offense.
 
Linebacker is another strong position for UMHB. Juniors Tevin Jones and Santos Villarreal help plug the middle of the field followed by up-and-coming sophomore linebacker Chris Jones.
 
The UMHB secondary already has seven pass breakups after meeting with Sul Ross State. A corps of upperclassmen in Reggie Wilson, Raylon Hickey and Kris Brown patrol the secondary along with freshman cornerback Jefferson Fritz.
 
WILDCATS
If not for poor field position on a muffed punt and one 60-yard carry by Panthers running back Joe Muddie, the 'Cats might have pitched a shutout at Chapman Stadium last weekend. The defense allowed just 13 first downs, and 241 yards of total offense.
 
Linemen Zach Grate, Jake Handran, Marcus McGovern and Asa Schwartz were dominant in their 2017 debut. While the Linfield defensive front is loaded in its starting unit, the 'Cats showed off tremendous depth with players such as Chris Stinchcomb and Havili Eteaki stepping up in relief of Linfield's star-powered front four.
 
The two leading tacklers from a week ago with both linebackers. Jason Farlow (seven tackles) and Mitchell Kekel (six tackles) led the charge as expected.
 
Last Saturday came with a pleasant surprise after the play of the Wildcats secondary. Marquis Perrilliat and Andrew Schweiterman set the tone with their solid tackling from the cornerback position. Anthony Guttadauro supplied an interception and safeties Duke Mackle, Wade Ransom and Nate Sample all turned heads with big hits and quality coverage of Chapman receivers.
 
OVERALL
Saturday's big game should boil down to defense. Both the UMHB and Linfield offenses are not yet in full synch and it showed a weekend ago. Experience and leadership rests in each defense and their respective ability to disrupt the offense's ability to move the ball down the field.
 
A playoff game has much higher stakes than a regular season meeting but this matchup is special. "Streak Street" marks the beginning of a new age of Linfield Athletics, headlined by two of the top teams in the nation. While this game may not be much of what was witnessed the last time these two met in McMinnville, it still has the makings for an instant classic.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
SERIES RECORD
Linfield has an all-time record against Mary Hardin-Baylor of 4-2 in a series dating back to 2004, when the Wildcats took a 28-21 win in the Stagg Bowl to win the NCAA Division III national championship … last season, UMHB won a pair of games in Belton, Tex., beating Linfield 66-27 in the regular season and 27-10 in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. The 66 points was the second-most ever scored against Linfield, trailing only a 71-0 loss at Whitman in 1929. Those were the Wildcats' only losses of the 2016 season … the first four meetings had all been in the NCAA Division III playoffs. In addition to the 2004 Stagg Bowl, the Wildcats won 53-21 in the 2009 second round in McMinnville, 31-28 in the 2015 second round in Belton and 38-35 in the 2016 quarterfinals in McMinnville.
 
HOME FIELD NUMBERS
Saturday is Linfield's home-opener; Linfield has an all-time record of 73-26-3 in home-openers, including a Maxwell Field mark of 64-20-2 … Linfield has won its last 10 home openers; its last loss was in 2006, a 28-14 loss to Western Oregon. The Wildcats' longest streak of wins in home openers is 12 from 1957-68 … Linfield's widest margin of victory in a home opener came in 1923, an 81-6 victory over Monmouth Normal (now Western Oregon); that's the third-highest scoring game and fourth-highest margin of victory in Linfield history. The Wildcats' biggest loss in a home-opener was 56-0 to Pacific College (now George Fox) in 1896, the first year of Linfield's football program …after beating Chapman 27-12 last week to begin the 2017 season, Linfield is 62-37-4 in season openers; that includes records of 29-26-2 in season openers played on the road and 33-11-2 in season-openers played at home. The Wildcats have now won seven straight season openers.
THE STREAK
In 2016, Linfield is trying for its 62nd consecutive winning season; the Wildcats' streak, which began in 1956, is the longest in the history of college football at any level. During the streak, Linfield is 492-112-10 for a winning percentage of .809 … Linfield's record at home during the streak is 267-41-4 (.862), and at Maxwell Field it is 264-41-4 (861).
 
ALL-TIME NUMBERS
2017 is Linfield's 103rd season of football, dating back to 1896. The Wildcats' all-time record is 596-263-28 (.688) and Linfield's all-time home record is 333-90-16 (.777), including a Maxwell Field record of 313-78-11 (.792) … Linfield has won four national championships (1982, 1984, 1986, 2004), finished runner-up three times (1961, 1965, 1992) and won 40 conference titles (32 outright).
 
Since the start of the 2009 season, Linfield is 86-11 overall (.887), 70-3 (.959) in the regular season and 48-2 (.960) at home … the Wildcats have won 8 straight Northwest Conference championships in that time (7 outright) and are 50-1 in NWC games (.980).
 
COACH JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith is in his 12th season as Linfield's head coach; he has an overall record of 103-20 (.839), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history … Smith's record includes marks of 88-12 (.880) in the regular season, 65-5 (.928) in Northwest Conference games, 16-8 (.667) in the postseason and 58-6 (.906) at home.