LINFIELD AT ROWAN
Saturday, 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PDT)
Richard Wackar Stadium, Glassboro, New Jersey
 
Linfield (0-0) must travel nearly 3,000 miles to the Garden State to for its season-opening game against the Rowan University Profs (0-1). The game is expected to draw national interest, given the two program's long history of football success. Rowan, located in Glassboro, N.J., just outside of Philadelphia, is a member of the New Jersey Athletic Concference.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Graeme Fineman and Dave Hansen provide play-by-play audio coverage of Linfield football on the Linfield Sports Network. Exclusive coverage begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff for the Farnham Electric Pregame Show. Rowan will provide a free video webcast of the game. Links to both streams, plus live statistics, are listed above. Projected to finish fifth in the NJAC, Rowan is led by head coach Jay Accorsi in his 18^th season. Sophomore quarterbacks Nick Couzzi and Mike Husni are listed as co-starters on the Profs depth chart. In the season opener it was Husni who got the start and played the whole game. A dual-threat QB, Husni threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another score in the Profs 38-28 defeat at the hands of Widener University at home.
 
After finishing the 2018 season with a record of 6-4, Rowan returns two all-conference offensive performers in receiver/returner Elijah Rehm and offensive lineman Scott Dunscomb.
 
With four returns for touchdowns (two punts, two kickoffs) in 2018, Rehm led the NJAC in all-purpose yards and was one of the most dangerous return men in all of NCAA Division III. The senior led the Profs in receiving, piling up 508 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Junior Messiah Devine assumes the role as Rowan's starting tailback. A backup last season, Devine appeared in all 10 games while averaging 4.1 yards per carry with two touchdowns.
 
The offensive line returns just one senior in Pat McGowan but is buoyed by the all-conference sophomore guard Scott Dunscomb. The Profs started two freshmen on the line in their Week 1 loss, including Pryce Bouchard at center.
 
Rowan finished 2018 as a middle-of-the-road offense, ranking no better than sixth in any team offensive category in the 10-team NJAC. Special teams are definitely a strong point for the group with the head coach doubling as special teams coordinator. The team was second-most proficient club in the NJAC in kickoff and punt return yardage, as well as scoring in the conference.
 
LINFIELD OFFENSE
This will be the first opportunity to see the new-look Linfield offense led by graduated All-America quarterbacks and now co-offensive coordinators Aaron Boehme and Brett Elliott. Junior Wyatt Smith is under center to start his third season. Look for the 'Cats to spread the ball around to playmakers Artie Johnson, Keegan Weiss and Keaton Wood.
 
In the Wildcats' scrimmage last weekend, seniors Tyler Torgerson and Jacob Calo were targeted with passes all over the field. Expect them to be featured prominently in Saturday's game plan.
 
The offensive line appears set, spearheaded by senior center Zach Jacobs and sophomore Matt Metcalf. Coaches Joseph Smith and Doug Hire have been impressed with Jacobs' leadership, mentoring a sophomore-laden group of linemen on either side of him. Although new to the position, watch for converted defensive end Sam Fults to help stabilize this group with his smart play and added leadership at tackle.
 
A season ago, Linfield was the third-highest scoring team in the Northwest conference, averaging 32.8 points per game. That was nearly a full touchdown better than the 2017 season. Linfield's offense was very balanced, finishing third in total yards per game, passing yards per game and rushing yards per game. The Wildcats' greatest area for improvement in 2019: the Red Zone.
 
The 'Cats scored the second-most points in the red zone in the NWC behind only NWC champions Whitworth. However, Linfield a red-zone touchdown just 51 percent of the time, fourth among teams with comparable red zone attempts.
 
In a battle of great special teams units, the 'Cats had the NWC's best return averages from kickoffs and punts. Linfield still has returners Keegan Weiss and Chris Adamo in the fold, while adding wide receiver Colton Smith to the mix. Punter Colton Ramos and kicker Andrew Starkel add tremendous talent to what appears to be a strong special teams group.
 
ROWAN DEFENSE
The Profs return one all-conference defensive player from its 2018 team in senior defensive end David Gajderowicz.
 
Last year, Rowan had the least proficient defense in terms of total yards allowed and pass defense in the NJAC. The Proffs allowed 20 passing touchdowns, most in the conference. The defense did a better job at stopping the run, ranking fifth in the NJAC in rushing touchdowns allowed.
 
Though they gave up a lot of yards, the Profs' defense did prove stingy in the scoring department, allowing fewer than 20 points in six contents. But in their four defeats, that number was significantly higher at nearly 37 points per game.
 
Yet improvement should be in the cards. Rowan features a starting lineup comprised almost entirely of juniors and seniors. Seniors David Gajderowicz, Antoine Alicia and Eddie Hamilton make up the starting defensive line, with junior Sunny Tapp completing the group. 
 
On special teams, Rowan led the conference in made field goal percentage with six makes in seven attempts. The Profs also made 21 of a possible 25 PATs last fall. True freshman Jake Hurler is handling the kicking duties for the Profs while returning kicker Alex Boyko is listed as the backup. Sophomore Tom Brennan takes over as the new punter.
 
LINFIELD DEFENSE
Led by an elite defensive line, the hallmark for Linfield this fall should be a fantastic defense. All-NWC senior Tony Kraus returns as arguably one of the most complete defensive ends in all of Division III. He's joined by sophomore Travis Swanson, junior Ray Thomas, and tackles Sam Gomez, Chase Lydig and Brady Wessel.
 
A year removed from averaging only 13.4 points per game (lowest in the NWC), expectations remain extremely high for defensive coordinator Jackson Vaughan and his staff.
 
Linfield's defense led the NWC in almost every statistical defensive category in 2018. Notably, they were the best scoring defense in the conference and finished in the top 25 in the country. Even more impressive, the 'Cats had the best red zone defense in the nation. Linfield's rushing defense was listed among the top 25 as well.
 
A year removed from an impressive all-conference campaign, junior Tyler Bergeron is set to lead the Wildcats' new-look secondary. While recording five of the teams 15 total interceptions, Bergeron also forced a fumble and scored two touchdowns.
 
OVERALL
Excitement and high expectations mark the new season. Linfield must journey across the country for their first game of the season, the first of three straight encounters on the road. Rowan, a team which Linfield met in the 2004 playoffs, provides a great challenge to start the season. The 'Cats will hope to avoid a repeat of last season's Week 1 road defeat. Expect the reenergized Linfield offense to take advantage of the Rowan pass defense. The 'Cats D-line should provide ample problems for the Profs' inexperienced offensive line, potentially creating turnover opportunities.
 
SERIES HISTORY
As noted, Linfield and Rowan met once previously, in the 2004 NCAA Division III semifinals, with the Wildcats taking a 52-0 victory in McMinnville en route to the national championship. This is the first regular-season game the Wildcats have played on the East Coast. Linfield has played on the Eastern Seaboard on four previous occasions, but all were playoff games: a 1965 loss to St. John's (Minn.) by 33-0 in the NAIA national championship game in Augusta, Ga.; a 2004 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor by 28-21 in the NCAA Division III championship game in Salem, Va.; a 2011 loss to Wesley by 49-34 in the NCAA Division III second round in Dover, Del.; and a 2014 win over Widener by 45-7 in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals in Chester, Pa.
 
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
In season-openers, Linfield has an all-time record of 62-38-4 (.615). That includes a home record of 34-11-2 (.766) and a road record of 28-27-2 (.526) … prior to opening 2018 with a 21-14 loss at Carroll, the Wildcats had won seven straight season-openers. Their longest string was winning 11 in a row from 1995-2005 … Linfield's longest losing streak in season-openers was seven, from 1937-46 (no teams were fielded from 1943-45 due to World War II) … Linfield's widest margin of victory in a season-opener was 61 points, coming in 1966's 61-0 home win over Whitworth; the Wildcats' widest margin of defeat in a season-opener was 54 points in the school's first-ever football game, a 54-0 loss at Pacific College (now George Fox) in 1896 … Linfield's highest score in a season-opener was 71 points in a 71-21 win at Hardin-Simmons in 2013; on the flip side, the Wildcats have been shut out 20 times in season-openers, most recently in 1960 in a 33-0 loss at Humboldt State … the most points the Wildcats have allowed in a season-opener was that 54 to Pacific College (now George Fox) in the 54-0 loss in 1896, while the Linfield has posted 18 shutouts in season-openers, most recently in 1999's 48-0 home win over Redlands.
 
STILL STREAKIN'
Going into the 2019 season, Linfield is riding a string of 63 consecutive winning seasons; the Wildcats' streak, which began in 1956, is the longest in the history of college football at any level. During the streak, Linfield is 507-116-10 for a winning percentage of .809. Linfield's record at home during the streak is 276-42-4 (.863), and at Maxwell Field it is 273-42-4 (.862).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
2019 is Linfield's 105th season of football, dating back to 1896. The Wildcats' all-time record is 611-267-28 (.690) … Linfield's all-time home record is 342-91-16 (.780), including a Maxwell Field record of 322-79-11 (.795) …
 
Linfield has made 29 national playoff appearances; a school-record string of nine straight in the NCAA Division III playoffs from 2009-2017 was snapped last year … 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 is seeking a return to the top of the Northwest Conference standings in the 2019 season. Prior to finishing second in 2018, the Wildcats had won or shared the NWC title 9 straight seasons. That was the longest such streak in NWC football history … Linfield has won 41 NWC championships, including 33 outright.
 
Since the start of the 2009 season, Linfield is 101-15 overall (.871), 84-6 (.933) in the regular season, 57-3 (.950) at home and 63-2 in NWC games (.969) … During that span, Linfield is 17-9 (.654) in the postseason.
 
COACH JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith is in his 14th season as Linfield's head coach. He has an overall record of 119-24 (.832), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history … Smith's record includes marks of  102-15 (.872) in the regular season, 77-6 (.928) in Northwest Conference games, 17-9 (.654) in the postseason and 67-7 (.905) at home.