Clinching its 42^nd Northwest Conference title and going 7-0 in conference play, the Linfield football team had 20 student-athletes named to the all-Northwest Conference teams. Wyatt Smith, Colton Smith and coach Joseph Smith became the first father-son trio to be chosen as NWC Offensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.
 
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
The first team offense was headlined by Wyatt Smith at quarterback. Joining Smith are running back Artie Johnson, wide receiver Keegan Weiss, offensive lineman Matt Metcalf and tight end Jacob Calo.
 
Smith was a unanimous first-team selection, leading the Northwest Conference in passing yards (3,121), passing yards per game (346.8), completion percentage (72 percent), passing touchdowns (39) and pass efficiency (185.5). The McMinnville, Oregon, native ranks sixth on Linfield's single-season passing yards list, third in passing touchdowns, first in completion percentage, third in offensive efficiency and third in passing yards per game.
 
Weiss was second in the NWC in touchdowns (14), third in receptions (55), fourth in yards per game (90.8) and fourth in receiving yards (817). The Grants Pass, Oregon, native was a unanimous first-team selection at the receiver position.
 
A sophomore guard from Eugene's Sheldon High School, Metcalf earned unanimous first-team consideration as an offensive lineman, starting every game this season.
 
As the lead running back for the Wildcats, Johnson finished second in the NWC in rushing yards (586), third in yards per game (65.1), and fourth in rushing touchdowns (7).
 
Improving from being honorable mention in 2018, Calo totaled 358 receiving yards and a touchdown in 2019.
 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Earning recognition as first-team selections on the defensive side of the ball are linemen Chase Lydig and Travis Swanson, linebacker Keyell Davis, and defensive backs Tyler Bergeron and Tyler Sitton.
 
A unanimous first-team linebacker, Davis was among the leading tacklers in the NWC with 7.3 stops per game, ranking seventh in the NWC. His three interceptions are tied for fifth.
 
Tyler Bergeron was named to the first-team defense for the second season in a row as a unanimous first-team selection in 2019.
 
Lydig, a sophomore defensive tackle from Buckley, Washington, was fourth in the NWC with 11.5 tackles for loss and sixth in sacks (5), earning all-conference honors for the first time in his career.
 
Swanson, a defensive end from Hailey, Idaho, was a second team all-Northwest Conference pick a year ago. This fall, he recorded 30 tackles, including eight for loss and 2.5 sacks.
 
Sitton had 40 tackles and two interceptions. This is the first all-conference honor for the junior cornerback from McMinnville, Oregon.
 
SECOND TEAM & HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
Three Wildcats landed on the all-NWC second team: offensive linemen Julien Sears and Tyler Critser as well as wide receiver Keaton Wood. Wide receivers Tyler Torgerson and Colton Smith were named honorable mention.
 
The offensive unit for the Wildcats ranked first in the NWC in yards per game (495.3), passing touchdowns (42) and points per game (46.4).
 
SECOND TEAM & HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
Two Wildcats were named to the second team defense and two others were named honorable mention. End Tony Kraus and cornerback Chris Adamo were appointed to the second team while end Ray Thomas and safety Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett rounded out the honorable mention list.
 
The Linfield defense allowed the fewest yards (273.9) and points per game (15.8) of all NWC squads.
 
HONORABLE MENTION SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Andrew Starkel was received honorable mention, leading the NWC in points and extra-point attempts made. The Pacific, Washington, native was named NWC Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week twice this season.
 
Wyatt Smith was named the Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year. This is the first player of the year honor for the junior quarterback from McMinnville, Oregon. Linfield players have claimed four of the past five NWC Offensive Player of the Year awards.
 
Becoming the first Wildcat to win the NWC Freshman of the Year award, wide receiver Colton Smith finished the regular season sixth among all conference receivers with 79 yards per game and was fourth with nine receiving touchdowns. The Northwest Conference has been giving out Freshman of the Year award since 2016.
 
Winning 10 of the last 11 conference championships, coach Joseph Smith won the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year award for the 10^th time of his career. Smith has the most Coach of the Year honors in the Northwest Conference since the award was started in 1996.
 
The Smiths become the first father-son trio to be named award winners in the Northwest Conference for football.
 
The Linfield Wildcats take on the Chapman Panthers in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Ernie Chapman Stadium in Orange, California.