McMINNVILLE, Ore. – It never rains in Southern California, but it was raining touchdowns at Maxwell Field on Saturday as the Linfield football team secured a 44-10 win over SCIAC champion Redlands in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
First-round playoff jitters took over the early stages of the game. The game started with five consecutive punts, including back-to-back three-and-outs for both teams in a scoreless first quarter. Linfield senior Colton Ramos punted four times in the game, the most action he's seen since the Wildcats' win over Pacific on Oct. 16.
 
Redlands marched down the field with a 15-play third drive, but Linfield held the Bulldogs to a field goal to open the scoring at the beginning of the second quarter.
 
The Wildcats kept pace on the following possession and then some. A 38-yard pass from senior quarterback Wyatt Smith to junior wide receiver Devon Murray set up a two-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Joel Valadez, the Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year.
 
Linfield had a chance to extend its lead, but an unsuccessful attempt on fourth and one on the Redlands two-yard line gave the Bulldogs the ball back. But the Wildcat defense had other plans as senior defensive tackle Chase Lydig sacked Redlands quarterback Nathan Martinez in the end zone for a safety.
 
The Linfield offense needed to capitalize on a big play by its defensive counterpart, and the 'Cats did just that as Smith found Murray in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 16-3 going into halftime.
 
The Wildcats forced the Bulldogs to punt on the opening drive of the second half. A bad snap on the punt attempt, however, allowed Linfield junior Connor Morton to get to Redlands punter Vicente Garcia and make a diving block. The ball was recovered by fellow junior Jett Searle.
 
The 'Cats were rolling after that.
 
Smith threw a 41-yard bomb to an unmanned Murray for the receiver's second touchdown reception of the afternoon. Smith then scored on a seven-yard keeper for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season to make it 30-3 in favor of the 'Cats.
 
A tipped pass by senior linebacker Cedric Agcoili-Ostrom was reeled in by senior defensive end Travis Swanson for his first interception of the season and second of his career. Swanson, the NWC Defensive Player of the Year, finished with six tackles, five solo.
 
Just to make the loss sting even more for Redlands, the 'Cats ran a trick play for their fifth touchdown of the day. Smith threw it out to the left to senior Payton Person, who completed a 13-yard pass to junior Colton Smith for the score. Smith and Murray are tied for the conference lead with 10 touchdown catches apiece.
 
The Bulldogs finally scored their first touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard keeper by Martinez to cut the Wildcats' lead to 27. But the 'Cats punched right back with a two-yard touchdown pass from Smith to junior tight end Franco Keplinger.
 
The two-time NWC Offensive Player of the Year, Wyatt Smith completed 25 of 35 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns with a long pass of 49 yards. Murray finished with 114 receiving yards on five catches while Colton Smith caught six passes for 109 yards.
 
Wyatt Smith extended his program records with 784 career completions and 9,953 passing yards. Smith eclipsed the school record with 9,918 career yards of total offense, passing Sam Riddle's (2013-16) 9,617. Smith also has 105 career passing touchdowns, five short of tying the school record of 110 set by Brett Elliott (2004-05), who is currently serving as the Wildcats' co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
The Linfield defense limited the Bulldogs to 200 yards of total offense, including 95 yards through the air. Senior linebacker Brock Klosterman registered a game-high nine tackles, four solo. Senior cornerback Jon Sedy had eight solo tackles while junior monsterback Ben Baxter had the Wildcats' second interception of the afternoon.
 
NEXT
Redlands ends its season with an 8-2 overall record (6-0 SCIAC). Both losses came to Linfield.
 
The Wildcats (10-0, 7-0 NWC) advance to play at St. John's (Minn.) in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.