NEWBERG, Ore. – Tailback Chidubem Nnoli scored two first-half touchdowns and the No. 24 Linfield Wildcats blanked cross-county rival George Fox 14-0 Saturday afternoon in Northwest Conference football action at Stoffer Family Stadium.
The third defensive shutout raised the Wildcats' record to 4-2, moving Linfield within one victory of securing the program's 63rd consecutive winning season. Linfield upped its NWC record to 3-1 while George Fox fell to 1-2 in the NWC and 3-4 overall.
Nnoli piled up 116 yards rushing on 25 carries, scoring the game's first points a 5-yard run midway through the first quarter. He added a 4-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Wyatt Smith early in the second quarter. Neither team could penetrate the end zone in the second half.
The teams twice trade punts to start the game. Starting a drive at midfield, Smith completed passes to Keaton Wood and Jacob Calo to the GFU 5-yard line. Nnoli finished it off with a blast up the middle and the extra point by Willy Warne gave Linfield at 7-0 advantage with 6:52 left in the first quarter.
Linfield's defense again forced the Bruins to punt, marking the start of a 65-yard scoring drive. Smith tossed the ball 4 yards to Nnoli for the touchdown and Warne's extra point pushed the Linfield lead to 14-0 less than two minutes into the second quarter.
Linfield nearly turned another long drive into points to end the first half. Taking over at their own 24, the 'Cats marched nine plays to the GFU 19 but with one second left, Warne's 36-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Linfield outgained George Fox 188-79 in the first half and 323-199 for the game. Smith passed for 192 yards, completing 21 of 30 throws, five of which went to J.D. Lasswell.
Linebacker Brian Pullman and mosterback Tyler Bergeron each recorded eight tackles to spur the Linfield defense. Tony Kraus, Patrick Pipitone, Marquis Perrilliat accounted for solo sacks of Bruins quarterback Jack Taylor, while Pullman and Travis Swanson combined for another sack.
Lasswell caught a team-high five passes for 36 yards. Khory Day had four receptions for 31 yards and Keegan Weiss added three catches for 33 yards.
Taylor completed just 6 of 15 pass for 64 yards.
George Fox's Austin Taylor registered a game-high 12 tackles while teammate Daniel Campos contributed 11.
Next
Linfield returns to Maxwell Field for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Pacific Lutheran. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. with live coverage on the Linfield Sports Network starting at 1.
