LINFIELD WILDCATS (4-2, 3-1 NWC) VS PACIFIC LUTHERAN LUTES (3-3, 2-2 NWC)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Maxwell Field, McMinnville, Ore.
 
With three shutouts in hand, 24th-ranked Linfield looks to extend a three-game winning streak Saturday when the Wildcats clash with the Pacific Lutheran Lutes in Northwest Conference play at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Ore. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. Family Weekend on the Linfield College campus should provide a lively atmosphere at the Catdome.
 
THE DETAILS
Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen provide live audio play-by-play coverage of Linfield football on the Linfield Sports Network. Coverage begins at 1 p.m. with the Farnham Electric Pregame Show, featuring Joe Stuart and Jon Lee.
 
LUTES OFFENSE
First-year head coach Brant McAdams is the 10^th head coach in PLU's 93-year history. A defensive minded coach, McAdams was previously the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas).
 
Senior quarterback Walker Lavoy is listed as the Lutes' starter though Nolan Hoover has taken considerable snaps at quarterback as well. The duo are a combined 97 of 191 passing (51 percent) for 1,130 yards with seven touchdowns to five interceptions. Last week in a win over Willamette, Lavoy went 10 for 18 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Hoover was 9 of 16 passing for 122 yards and a score.  
 
PLU has used a mix of three different running backs in 2018. Led by senior Anthony Louthan, the Lutes rank fifth in the NWC in rushing, averaging 91 yards per game and 2.8 yards per carry. Louthan has carried the ball 68 times for 323 yards (4.8 avg.) and has scored one touchdown. He is also a threat out of the backfield with 13 catches (third on team) and 199 yards. Following Louthan are Ethan McElderry and T.J. Morris. Lavoy can also be a threat to run. The quarterback has gained 158 yards on the ground but has just 23 net yards due to sacks.
 
Though PLU lacks a dynamic passing offense, Lutes receiver Wesley Nixon has 28 catches for 322 yards (11th in NWC). Nixon has yet to score a touchdown in 2018. Brady Winter, Alex Rendon and Marcus Wiley make up the remaining receiving PLU corps.
 
After facing the largest pound-for-pound offensive line last week at George Fox, Linfield faces arguably the smallest group when it lines up across from PLU. The Lutes' offensive line averages just 258 pounds with senior center Nate Jarvis leading the pack at 285 pounds. He and the rest of the Lutes will have a tough task in limiting the red-hot Linfield pass rush which comes into the contest averaging 3.5 sacks per outing.
 
WILDCATS OFFENSE
Winning with a suffocating defense, capitalizing on quality field position and controlling the line of scrimmage, the Wildcats have been extremely efficient offensively over the last three weeks. Linfield is averaging 442 yards of offense per game since it played NWC frontrunner Whitworth. Since then, the 'Cats have given the ball away just times in three games.
 
Poised under pressure and showcasing pinpoint accuracy when called upon, quarterback Wyatt Smith is the second-most accurate passer in the NWC through six games (60 percent completion). His 231 passing yards average ranks fourth in the conference. Smith was 21 of 30 for 192 yards and a touchdown last week at George Fox.
 
A first team all-NWC pick a season ago, running back Chidubem Nnoli leads the NWC in rushing. Nnoli has carried the ball more than any conference runner with 113 carries for 570 yards, averaging five yards per touch. The Wildcats workhorse is sure to get involved early and often after a big 25-carry day last week in Newberg. Expect Artie Johnson to factor as the second option in the backfield.
 
Smith connected with 10 difference receivers against George Fox. Spreading the wealth among a talented group, no pass catcher has enjoyed the breakout season many expected. Slot receiver Keegan Weiss leads the 'Cats with 30 receptions and 330 yards while J.D. Lasswell has three touchdowns on 21 catches.
 
The Wildcat offensive line gave up one sack to George Fox, that coming on the first play from scrimmage. Linfield's front five has been dominant in recent weeks and continues to return to form as their collective health improves.
 
Setting the offense up with tremendous field position, Linfield kick returners Keegan Weiss, Khory Day and Chris Adamo combine to average 29.36 yards per return (fifth in NCAA Division III).
 
LUTES DEFENSE
Statistically, PLU has struggled to limit opponents in 2018. The Lutes allow 412 yards of offense per game (274 passing, 138 rushing) have forced 11 turnovers and give up more than 26 points per contest. Running a 3-4 defense, the Lutes have allowed 24 points or more three times this season.
 
The front three of PLU is relatively young. Senior defensive tackle Jordan Zimmmerman is grouped with sophomores Curtis Garner and Max Larson on the defensive line.
 
Outside linebacker Matt Anthony leads the Lutes with 54 tackles this season (third in NWC). A bright spot of the PLU defense, Anthony has a team-high three sacks with 10 tackles for loss, an interception and six pass breakups. He is joined by freshman linebacker Hunter Briggs, who is fifth in tackles among NWC defenders with 47. Hajriz Aliu is the other linebacker and is tied for the team-high in interceptions with two.
 
Senior Parker Bowles is the leader of the PLU secondary. The four-year player has 32 tackles and three pass breakups. He is joined by Cody Barnett at cornerback. The safeties are Anthony Bautista and Tyler Lee.
 
WILDCATS DEFENSE
Recording their third shutout of the season, the 'Cats have the most Linfield shutouts in a single season since 2007. Allowing 255 yards per game, Linfield ranks 18th nationally in total yards allowed. Linfield has given up just 10 touchdowns in six games and allows an average of 11 points per game (15th NCAA). Opposing offenses have made just five trips inside the 20-yard-line on the Linfield defense. Inside the red zone, the Linfield defense ranks second nationally with a 20 percent success rate.
 
Sacking George Fox quarterbacks four times last week, the Wildcat front four continues to wreak havoc in the conference play. Tony Kraus, Travis Swanson, Chris Stinchcomb, Sam Gomez and Havili Eteaki have been dominant in recent weeks. The 'Cats have 21 sacks this season. Kraus and Eteaki are tied for the team lead with 3.5 sacks each.
 
The leader of the Wildcat defense, linebacker Patrick Pipitone is coming off a solid performance in Newberg. Pipitone had five tackles, a sack and recovered a fumble in the 14-0 shutout of the Bruins. He teams up with Brian Pullman at linebacker.
 
Covering the field sideline to sideline and blanketing the middle, safety Duke Mackle leads the 'Cats with 46 tackles and is tied teammate Tyler Bergeron for the conference lead in interceptions with three. The Wildcats did not have an interception in a game for the first time this season, largely in part to George Fox attempting 22 passes. Linfield's primary three cornerbacks are Anthony Guttadauro, Marquis Perrilliat and Chris Adamo.
 
OVERALL
This is a game the Wildcats must not overlook. Forcing an overtime thriller a season ago, Pacific Lutheran is always a tough out in the NWC. Not to be taken lightly, the lack of defensive consistency by the Black and Gold should give Wyatt Smith, Chidubem Nnoli and the Linfield offensive line plenty of opportunities to rip off some big-chunk plays. PLU allowed 20 points to Willamette in Tacoma last week while Linfield shut out George Fox in Newberg. With these two teams trending in opposite directions, it's fair to say Linfield has the momentum heading into Saturday's rivalry matchup.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Linfield leads its all-time series with Pacific Lutheran 44-21-4 and has won the last 18 meetings (16 regular season, 2 playoff), including last season's 16-10 overtime win in Puyallup. The first meeting was in 1933, when Linfield won 19-7 at PLU ... PLU's last victory was in 2001, by a 31-20 score at PLU … Linfield is 25-8-1 in McMinnville and 19-13-3 at PLU's various home fields … 7 of the meetings have been in the NCAA or NAIA national playoffs, with Linfield holding a 4-3 edge … from 1974-1980, five of the seven regular-season games were decided by 1 point … Linfield's widest margin of victory was 45 points, 45-0 in 2008 at PLU; PLU's widest margin of victory was 39 points, 45-6 in 1940 in McMinnville. Linfield's widest margin in McMinnville was 38 points, 45-7 in 2011; PLU's widest margin at home was 24 points, 44-20 in 1987 … last season's game was the second overtime meeting between the schools. The first was in 1986, Linfield's 27-21 win at PLU in the NAIA Division II quarterfinals.
 
SHUTOUT STATS
So far this season, Linfield has posted three shutouts; that ties for the seventh-most in a season in school history and is the most since posting three shutouts in 2007 …  The most shutouts Linfield has ever recorded is five, in 1935, 1963 and 1964. The Wildcats blanked opponents four times in 1926, 1927 and 1950 … there have been 12 Linfield teams besides this year's that posted three shutouts. For the 1904 squad, that meant an entire season of not allowing a point as then-McMinnville College beat Monmouth Normal (now Western Oregon) 11-0, beat the Portland YMCA 43-0 and tied Columbia (now University of Portland) 0-0.
 
THE STREAK
With a win today, Linfield can clinch its 63rd consecutive winning seasons, extending the longest in the history of college football at any level … the Wildcats' current streak of 62 straight seasons began in 1956 … During The Streak, Linfield is 504-116-10 for a winning percentage of .808. Linfield's record at home during The Streak is 274-42-4 (.863), and at Maxwell Field it is 271-42-4 (.861).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Since the start of the 2009 season, Linfield is 98-15 overall (.867), 81-6 (.931) in the regular season, 55-3 (.948) at home and 60-2 in NWC games (.968) … During that span, Linfield is 17-9 (.654) in the postseason.
 
COACH JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith is in his 13th season as Linfield's head coach; he has an overall record of 116-24 (.829), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history … Smith's record includes marks of  99-15 (.868) in the regular season, 75-6 (.926) in Northwest Conference games, 17-9 (.654) in the postseason and 65-7 (.903) at home.
 
MORE NUMBERS
The loss to Whitworth by 19-14 in Spokane on September 29 marked Linfield's 900th varsity football game … The other milestone games: Linfield's 100th game came November 11, 1931, a loss to Willamette by 19-6 in Salem; the 200th game was October 25, 1947, a loss to Southern Oregon by 39-6 in Ashland; the 300th game was November 1, 1958, a win over Portland State by 34-7 in Portland; the 400th game was October 11, 1969, a homecoming loss to Pacific Lutheran by 27-21 in McMinnville; the 500th game was September 20, 1980, a win over Central Washington by 30-2 in McMinnville; the 600th game was November 4, 1989, a win over Simon Fraser by 42-31 in McMinnville; the 700th game was September 9, 2000, a win over Menlo by 31-30 in McMinnville; and the 800th game was November 21, 2009, a win over California Lutheran by 38-17 in an NCAA Division III first-round game in McMinnville.
 
The 600th football win in Linfield history came in 2017 over George Fox by a 12-6 score October 21 in McMinnville; that was also the victory that secured the Wildcats' 62nd consecutive winning season … The other milestone victories: Linfield's 100th win came September 25, 1954 against Portland State by 12-7 in McMinnville; the 200th win was November 2, 1968 against Whitman by 27-7 in Walla Walla; the 300th win was October 30, 1982 against Willamette by 43-14 in McMinnville; the 400th win was October 29, 1994 against Eastern Oregon by 55-13 in La Grande; the 500th win was October 6, 2007 against Puget Sound by 37-0 in McMinnville.