LINFIELD VS. REDLANDS
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Maxwell Field, McMinnville, Ore.
 
After a Week 1 loss to Carroll College in Montana, the Linfield Wildcats are eager to get back on track. They'll open the home calendar this Saturday in McMinnville with an SCIAC vs. NWC meeting that brings the undefeated Redlands Bulldogs (2-0) to the Catdome to take the Wildcats (0-1) in the final non-conference game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen provide live internet play-by-play coverage of Linfield football on the Linfield Sports Network. Exclusive videocast coverage begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff for the Farnham Electric Pregame Show. Jon Lee and Joe Stuart provide pre-game, sideline, halftime and post-game coverage. Football videocasts are free of charge in 2018. LSN also provides an audio-only simulcast option.
 
STREAK STREET
Join fellow Linfield Wildcats on "Streak Street" for the best game-day experience in the Northwest Conference. Food trucks, yard games, photo ops and appearances from the Linfield Cheer Squad and the new Linfield Marching Band are expected just outside Maxwell Field. For those 21 and over, the Catdome Country Club by Country Financial offers beer from Seven Brides Brewing and Hop Valley Brewery, located down the left field line of Roy Helser Field inside the stadium grounds. The VIP Hospitality Park, presented by Golden Valley Brewery and Restarant, is located at the north end of the complex and is for donors who contribute $1,000 or more to the college annually.
 
BULLDOGS OFFENSE
Undefeated on the young season, Redlands has already knocked off two NWC opponents. In Week 1, the Bulldogs beat George Fox 20-12 and last week traveled to Puget Sound and took down the Loggers, 28-21. In part due to great quarterback play and an experienced offensive line, the Bulldogs look to be the front-runner in the SCIAC this season.
 
Senior quarterback Levi Plante leads the Bulldogs offense that has averaged 381 yards through the club's first two games. He has thrown for 347 yards on 67 percent passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Expect Plante to escape the pocket and run. The 6-foot-3 quarterback has 89 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns. A season ago, Plante was the Bulldogs' leading rusher with over 600 yards, 5.6 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. A read-option offense, Plante's opportunities to run depend on Linfield's discipline up front.
 
Receivers Kai Kang, David Molina and Mitch Nikovich are all new to the starting lineup as Redlands lost its top three receivers from a season ago to graduation. The team's leading receiver is tight end Blake Roy, a junior from Camas, Washington. Roy has 11 receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in 2018.
 
Redlands' rushing attack rests on the shoulders of senior running back Conner Kennedy. The 5-8 senior has 228 yards on 47 carries (4.9 yards-per-carry) with five catches for 30 yards. Yet to score this season, Kennedy is eager to find the end zone.
 
Averaging 275 pounds on the offensive line, the Redlands front features three seniors in left tackle Joey Caffaro, center Tommy Garcia and right tackle Christian Godina. The veteran front has allowed four sacks through the first two games, including three last week to Puget Sound.
 
WILDCATS OFFENSE
Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Smith looks to bounce back after a tough day at Carroll last weekend in gusty conditions. The second-year passer attempted 54 throws, tying Tom Knecht (UMHB 12/5/15) for third-most pass attempts in a single game. Smith's ability to run does not match Plante's but don't ignore him outside the pocket. He was on the receiving end of a Dawson Ruhl touchdown pass a week ago. 
 
This game calls for Linfield getting back to its run game. First-team all-conference back Chidubem Nnoli finished with 79 yards on 18 carries and would have broken the century mark in Montana had it not been for untimely penalties on the 'Cats offense. Artie Johnson and Ruhl are both expected to get touches out of the backfield in the run game and passing attack.
 
A breakout-game from receiver Keegan Weiss last weekend is something Wildcat fans should get used to. A burner and clean route-runner out of the slot, Weiss led the 'Cats with 76 yards receiving on seven catches. He and Ruhl are both seen as difficult matchups for the Bulldogs linebackers and secondary.
 
The Wildcat offensive line needs to continue to grow after allowing three sacks last weekend to Carroll. The Saints got to Smith in the fourth quarter on the final drive of the game.
 
BULLDOGS DEFENSE
Redlands has allowed an average of 330 yards passing in two games. On the flipside, the Bulldogs have given up an average of just 20 yards on the ground after playing George Fox (65 yards rushing) and Puget Sound (-24 yards rushing). Running a 3-3-5 defense, the Bulldogs will try to confuse the 'Cats offense with five defensive backs.
 
Up front, Redlands shows three veteran players. Senior defensive end Troy Kay is joined by senior defensive tackle Joe Munroe with 6-5, 260-pound junior Elias Hackney on the other end. Hackney has four tackles, two for loss, and a sack in 2018.
 
The Bulldogs linebacker corps features seniors Peter Riccolo and Nick Castro with second-year player Mathew Bentancourt. Castro is second on the team with 10 tackles. Expect plenty of edge rushing when Linfield drops back to pass from this unit.
 
In the secondary, sophomore Carl Holmes leads the team with 12 tackles and two pass breakups. PJ Wilson lines up at the other corner position. Vinny Vanhorne, Marvin Perkins Jr. and Chad Virgil make up the Bulldogs safeties. Good in coverage, the Bulldogs have yet to intercept a pass in 2018.
 
WILDCATS DEFENSE
Adjustments at the half made for a stingy Linfield defense in the second period versus Carroll. As the young defense continues to mature, look for the 'Cats to rank as one of the top units in the NWC.
 
After a stellar first career game at defensive end, Occidental transfer Travis Swanson could be a difference-maker up front for the 'Cats defense. Swanson had eight tackles, 3.5 for loss, and a 13-yard sack. He is joined by veteran tackles Chris Stinchcomb and Havili Eteaki.
 
Patrick Piptone is fresh off of his best game as a Wildcat. The senior linebacker was named NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after leading the club with 10 tackles and an interception. Taulelei Toledo, Brian Pullman and Sam Paris make up the Linfield linebackers.
 
The Linfield secondary is eager to play in front of the home crowd. Led by second team all-conference safety Duke Mackle, the second level for the 'Cats needs to match his aggressiveness. Mackle had nine tackles and an interception versus Carroll and added a highlight-reel hit on Saints quarterback Kolby Killoy on a third-down play in the fourth quarter. Anthony Guttadauro, Marquis Perrilliat and Chris Adamo make up the Linfield cornerbacks with Tyler Bergeron and Malik Campbell at monsterback. Steven Kwak and Peter Finley share time as the Linfield rovers.
 
OVERALL
With Game 1 in the books, it's time for the Wildcats to get back to their style of football. Redlands, 2-0 and off to its best start since 2011, is searching for the program's first win over Linfield. This has all the makings of another great matchup between two of the top teams from their respective conferences.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Linfield has an all-time record against Redlands of 7-0 in a series dating back to 1998 … The last meeting was in 2015 with Linfield winning 44-7 in McMinnville; the first meeting was the Wildcats' 24-23 win in Redlands … Linfield is 4-0 at home in the series and 3-0 on the road … The widest margin of victory was 48 points, 48-0 in 1999 in McMinnville; the closest game was that 24-23 game in 1998 in Redlands … One of the games was in the NCAA Division III national playoffs, Linfield's 31-23 win in the 2003 first round in McMinnville … Against teams from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Linfield has an all-time record of 27-2, including a mark of 18-0 in games played in McMinnville.
 
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 500-115-10 for a winning percentage of .808. Linfield's record at home during the streak is 271-42-4 (.861), and at Maxwell Field it is 268-42-4 (.860).
 
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Linfield has made 29 national playoff appearances, including the past nine seasons in the NCAA Division III playoffs … Linfield has won 4 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 94-14 overall (.870), 77-5 (.939) in the regular season, 52-3 (.945) at home and 57-1 in NWC games (.983) … 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 112-23 (.830), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history … Smith's record includes marks of 95-14 (.872) in the regular season, 72-5 (.935) in Northwest Conference games, 17-9 (.654) in the postseason and 62-7 (.899) at home.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
2018 is Linfield's 104th season of football, dating back to 1896. The Wildcats' all-time record is 604-266-28 (.688) … Linfield's all-time home record is 337-91-16 (.777), including a Maxwell Field record of 316-79-11 (.792).
 
Linfield will mark its 900th varsity football game in 2018, coming when the Wildcats visit Whitworth on September 29 … 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 varsity 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.