SPOKANE, Wash. –
Blake Eaton threw for three touchdowns – two to
Joel Valadez – and freshman
Blaze Holani piled up four quarterback sacks, powering the seventh-ranked Linfield Wildcats past the Whitworth Pirates 35-17 in Northwest Conference football action Saturday at the Pine Bowl.
Eaton completed 26 of 35 pass attempts and finished with 286 yards through the air. He also ran for what ended up being the winning points, a 1-yard sneak late in the third quarter.
Valadez was spectacular, catching 11 passes for 178 yards. His 41-yard touchdown reception with 6:59 left in the fourth quarter effectively sealed the game in favor of the Wildcats, who remained unbeaten at 4-0 (2-0 NWC) while moving within one victory of securing a 66th consecutive winning season.
Linfield outgained Whitworth 442-288. With Eaton leading the offense, the Wildcats converted 7 of 12 third-down plays and 2 of 3 fourth-down opportunities. Tailback
Connor McNabb kept the heat off of Eaton by rushing for 98 yards on 16 carries.
The defense was also solid throughout, led by the seven tackles of both
Blake Rybar and
Caiden Biege-Wetherbee, and the four quarterback sacks contributed by the freshman linebacker Holani.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Linfield. The Wildcats had to overcome a shaky start that included a muffed kickoff return and a fumbled punt return that twice gave the ball to the Pirates inside the Wildcats' 25-yard line. But the Pirates failed the convert the opportunities into points.
Whitworth did take the early lead on its first possession, capping a seven-play drive with Alvaro Campos-Ontiveros' 30-yard field goal.
Colton Smith scored the only touchdown of the first half, a 16-yard reception in the end zone from Eaton. Smith finished with seven grabs for 60 yards and one score.
The second half was different story. Linfield scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions – each coming on long sustained drives. Valadez added two more TDs to his receiving totals. Eaton's rushing touchdown completed a 13-play march that covered 80 yards.
Pirates quarterback Ryan Blair passed for 196 yards and two scores, completing 24 of 36 passes. But he was intercepted by Biege-Wetherbee in the second quarter and was sacked four times.
AHEAD
Linfield faces another stellar test when the Wildcats visit Pacific Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Hanson Stadium.
