WILLAMETTE (1-2, NWC 0-1) AT LINFIELD (1-2, NWC 0-1)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (Homecoming)
Maxwell Field, McMinnville, Ore.
 
Returning home after a defeat to the Whitworth Pirates, the No. 25 Linfield Wildcats are set to take on the Willamette Bearcats in a Northwest Conference football game Saturday at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Ore. Linfield looks to bounce back from its first NWC loss in 23 games in front of a rowdy Homecoming crowd. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.
 
THE DETAILS
Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen provide live videocast 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. A live audio feed is also available through the LSN portal.
 
BEARCATS OFFENSE
Willamette's quarterback is Matthew Castaneda. The second-year starter has thrown for 734 yards on 69-127 passing (54 percent). Though averaging 231 yards per game, he has three touchdown passes to an NWC-high five interceptions. His longest pass this season went for 38 yards. The 10^th-leading rusher in the conference, Castaneda averages 41 yards on the ground per game and has three rushing touchdowns. Castaneda and the Bearcats' spread offense averages 292 yards per game.
 
Running the ball for the Bearcats is junior running back Caine Farmer. He has 63 yards on 21 carries, averaging just three yards per attempt. The Bearcats like to motion Farmer out of the backfield and get him the ball in space through the air. He has four catches for seven yards. Farmer is joined by senior Matt Stone and freshman Trey Hixon.
 
The Bearcats receiving corps is led by graduate senior Jeremiah James, who has 18 receptions and 203 yards. James ranks seventh among conference receivers. Alongside James is Anthony Sammut, Michael Hamp, Ben Verhoeven and Kodiak Hussey. Spreading the ball around, 11 Willamette receivers have at least one reception through the first three games of the 2018 season.
 
The Willamette offensive line features three juniors, one senior and one sophomore. Senior left guard Dalton Haselgrove headlines the group. The five Bearcats weigh an average of 271 pounds.
 
WILDCATS OFFENSE
Yet to score more than 14 points in a game this season, this could be the breakthorough game Linfield's offense is searching for. Quarterback Wyatt Smith had a clean passing game at Whitworth, throwing for 258 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 783 yards through the air ranks fourth among NWC quarterbacks.   
 
Getting the running game back on track is a point of emphasis for the Linfield offense this week. The 'Cats showed great success on the ground against Redlands but failed to churn out yards in Spokane. First team all-conference back Chidubem Nnoli needs help up front to create openings to run through. Nnoli has 207 yards on an NWC-high 58 carries. He is paired with sophomores Dawson Ruhl and Artie Johnson.
 
The Wildcat receivers are continuing to meld together entering the fourth game of the season. Keegan Weiss leads the team with 19 catches and 199 yards. First team all-conference receiver J.D. Lasswell returned to the starting lineup last weekend after missing the previous game due to injury. The senior made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch and finished with 61 yards receiving. Aiden Wilder, Khory Day, Max Novak and Tyler Torgerson all figure into the mix as well.
 
BEARCATS DEFENSE
The Willamette defense has been shredded early in 2018. Allowing 33 points per game, the Bearcats allow more than 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing per contest.
 
Using 3-4 style defense, Willamette features Nick Di Fiori and Teddy Rose at defensive end with Baily Wyatt at nose guard. Rose leads front-line trio with nine tackles and one sack. 
 
The Bearcat linebackers should have their hands full as they attempt to contain the Wildcat offense. Juniors Tommy MacDevitt and Alec Stevenson are paired with senior Jackson Lewis and first-year backer Preston Doyle. Stevenson leads the team with 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
 
A blend of experience and youth comprise the Bearcat secondary. Senior free safety Kendrick Pearson and junior strong safety Andrew Rodriguez are the Bearcats' last line of defense while rookie cornerbacks Marcus Cutler and Albert Ramon are expected to be challenged by veteran Linfield receivers.
 
WILDCATS DEFENSE
Despite allowing 19 points in the third quarter at Whitworth, the Wildcat defense played well enough to win in Spokane, forcing five turnovers and holding the Pirates to 2.6 yards per carry.
 
The Linfield defensive line got to the quarterback four times at Whitworth. First-year defensive end Travis Swanson continues to make his presence known, ranking third on the team with 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Senior Chris Stinchcomb, Sam Fults and Haveli Eteaki make up the Wildcat front.
 
Patrick Pipitone leads from the center of the Wildcat defense. The senior middle linebacker has 21 tackles, 2.5 for loss and an interception through three games. He's matched with freshman Brian Pullman, sophomore Kamaehu Beltrame-Aila and junior Taulelei Toledo.
 
Off to an impressive start, senior safety Duke Mackle is well on his way to a first team all-conference nod. Mackle has recorded a team-high 26 tackles (8.7 per game) and is tied for the conference lead with three interceptions. Sophomore monsterback Tyler Bergeron is coming off his best game as a Wildcat in which he recorded seven solo tackles and pulled in his first career interception. Anthony Guttadauro and Marquis Perrilliat make up the 'Cats corners.
 
Punter Colton Ramos has become a potent weapon on special teams.. The sophomore averages 45.8 yards per punt with a long of 60 yards and has downed five of his 15 punts inside the 20-yard line. He ranks second nationally in the latest NCAA Division III statistics report.
 
OVERALL
A must win for both sides, Linfield's offense must capitalize on the inexperience of the Bearcats corners. This matchup should reignite the high-scoring Wildcat offense fans are used to seeing at the Catdome as Linfield continues to work its way back to its end-of-season form in 2017. Homecoming is always a special day at Linfield and this year is no different. Playing amid a game day atmosphere unlike any other in the NWC, the Wildcats are expected to find their groove against the struggling Bearcats.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The series between Linfield and Willamette dates back to 1902, when the schools played to a 6-6 tie in McMinnville. Linfield leads the all-time series 51-36-3 and in 2017 won 55-14 in Salem … Willamette's last win was 31-28 in 2014 in McMinnville. Linfield had won the five previous encounters from 2009-2013 and has won 14 of the last 17 dating back to the 2000 season … The Wildcats own a 28-11-1 advantage in games played in McMinnville but trail 23-25-1 in games played in Salem … Linfield's longest winning streak in the series was 14 games from 1969-1982. Willamette's longest winning streak in the series was 17 games from 1927-1948 … Linfield's widest margin of victory was 55 points, a 55-0 win in 1984 in McMinnville. Willamette's widest margin of victory was 48 points, a 48-0 win in Salem in 1948. Linfield's widest margin in Salem was 42 points, 49-7 in 2015 and 63-21 in 2005; Willamette's widest margin in McMinnville was 43 points, 43-0 in 1941.
 
HOMECOMING HISTORY
This week is Homecoming at Linfield. In Homecoming games, Linfield has an all-time record of 66-20-3. Homecoming began at Linfield in 1922, the first season football returned to the school after a 16-year absence; it became an annual event in 1927 – including a 1928 "Reunion" game in Portland … after beating Whitworth 38-9 in 2017, Linfield has won 21 straight Homecoming games, the longest skein of Homecoming wins in school history. The last defeat was a 20-13 loss to Eastern Oregon in 1996 … in Homecoming games against Willamette, Linfield has a record of 4-2. The most recent Homecoming meeting with the Bearcats was in 2006 a 42-14 Linfield win; the first Homecoming meeting was in 1922, Linfield's first Homecoming game, a 36-0 Bearcat victory. That was the first season of football at Linfield since 1905; the sport had been banned by the Board of Trustees from 1906-1921. That was also the first season since the school's name was changed from McMinnville College to Linfield College …
 
THE STREAK
In 2018, Linfield is trying for its 63rd consecutive winning season; the Wildcats' current streak of 62 straight seasons, which began in 1956, is the longest in the history of college football at any level … During The Streak, Linfield is 501-116-10 for a winning percentage of .807. Linfield's record at home during The Streak is 272-42-4 (.862), and at Maxwell Field it is 269-42-4 (.860) … Linfield must win four its remaining six games to secure a 63rd winning season and extend The Streak.
 
COACH JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith is in his 13th season as Linfield's head coach. He has an overall record of 113-24 (.825), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history … Smith's record includes marks of  96-15 (.865) in the regular season, 72-6 (.923) in Northwest Conference games, 17-9 (.654) in the postseason and 63-7 (.900) at home.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
2018 is Linfield's 104th season of football, dating back to 1896. The Wildcats' all-time record is 605-267-28 (.688) … Linfield's all-time home record is 338-91-16 (.778), including a Maxwell Field record of 317-79-11 (.792) …
 
Linfield has made 29 national playoff appearances, including the past nine seasons in the NCAA Division III playoffs … Linfield has won four national championships: 1982, 1984, 1986 (all NAIA Division II) and 2004 (NCAA Division III). The Wildcats have played in 3 more national championship games: 1961, 1965 (both NAIA) and 1992 (NAIA Division II) … Linfield has an all-time national playoff record of 42-25 (.627).
 
Linfield won sole possession of the 2017 Northwest Conference championship, making it nine straight seasons in which the Wildcats at least tied for the title. The Wildcats' current streak is the longest such streak in NWC history … Through 2017, Linfield has won 41 NWC championships, including 33 outright.
 
Since the start of the 2009 season, Linfield is 95-15 overall (.864), 78-6 (.929) in the regular season, 53-3 (.946) at home and 57-2 in NWC games (.966) … During that span, Linfield is 17-9 (.654) in the postseason …
 
MORE MILESTONES
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.