It's a familiar non-conference foe visiting the Linfield Wildcats in McMinnville for the 2022 home opener as the Redlands Bulldogs, reigning champs of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), return to Maxwell Field.

The Wildcats have started the season strong under head coach Joseph Smith, winning on Sept. 3 in poor conditions at Huntingdon College in Alabama, 41-34. They look to improve to 2-0 against a hungry Redlands squad that has started the year uncharacteristically at 0-2 under head coach and Linfield alum Jim Good, starting his second year as the head man for the Bulldogs.

The two teams played twice last year, in the 2021 season opener at Redlands, before meeting in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in McMinnville. Linfield won both with a combined score of 95-20.

The season opener will also serve as Linfield's 2022 Homecoming game. A full schedule of Homecoming activities can be found on the Linfield University website.
 
TICKETS
Both reserved grandstand seating and general admission tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the Maxwell Field ticket booth on gameday starting two hours before kickoff.

All reserved grandstand seating tickets are $20, while general admission tickets are $10 for adults with discounts available for seniors, children and students. Linfield students with their university IDs can enjoy Linfield football games free of admission.

COVERAGE
Live video and play-by-play coverage will be provided online on the Linfield Sports Network as well as on KRCW-32, Portland's CW, available to Portland, Vancouver and Salem-area Wildcat fans through a new partnership between Linfield University and KOIN/KRCW.

Both online livestream and television coverage will be available for Linfield home games all season long.

Linfield alum Joe Stuart returns to the booth for his second year of serving as the play-by-play voice of Linfield football. He is joined by former Wildcat and two-time NAIA All-American Gary McGarvie on color-commentary. McGarvie begins his career in the booth after of 20 years of coaching high school football. McGarvie replaces another Linfield Hall of Famer, Dave Hansen, following Hansen's retirement this summer after nearly 50 years of broadcasting Linfield sporting events.

Coverage starts 30 minutes before kickoff on the LSN with the "Farnham Electric Pregame Show."

THE LINFIELD OFFENSE
One of the highest-flying and most impressive groups in Division III in 2021 under co-offensive coordinators Brett Elliott and Aaron Boehme, the Linfield offense picked up right where it left off in their season-opening win over Huntingdon, amassing 452 yards of total offense to go with 41 points.

Any continued success this year is due in large part to 10 returning starters, but the big storyline from the season-opening win was the performance by sophomore quarterback Blake Eaton in his first-career start. The Crater High School product lit it up against the Hawks, completing 24 of 42 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns while running in two more touchdowns on the ground. Although he did throw two interceptions, the sophomore's impressive debut put him in full control of the starting quarterback job for the Wildcats.

Joining Eaton in the backfield are junior tailbacks Connor McNabb and Connor Morton. Both top three in the Northwest Conference in rushing in 2021, the dynamic duo leading the Catbacks are expected to turn in all-conference worthy seasons again.

Morton led the running backs in Alabama with McNabb sidelined due to injury. Morton carried the ball 15 times for a net gain of 46 yards while catching four passes for 21 yards. McNabb is expected to return in full form Saturday against Redlands. Plenty of depth at the position saw a couple of other Wildcats fill in admirably for the injured McNabb. Graduate student transfer Bishop Mitchell and junior Aaron Martinez combined for nine rushing attempts in Alabama. Both could mix into the backfield attack against Redlands.

Boasting three 2021 First Team All-NWC selections at the starting positions, the Wildcats receiver corps is as strong as it has ever been. 2021 NWC Freshman of the Year and conference receiving champion Joel Valadez is joined by juniors Colton Smith and Devon Murray at wideout. All three were top four in receiving yards last season and were the top three touchdown scorers in the league, Valadez leading the way with 13.

Against Huntingdon, the trio picked up right where it left off last season. Murray caught seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Valadez also recorded seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown while Smith, one of the top "deep-threats" in the country, made the most of his opportunities, catching three passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

The tight ends, junior Franco Keplinger and Isaac Hoidal, did not catch any passes against Huntingdon but were both vital in the blocking schemes. Linfield fans should keep their eyes open for the two to make their presence felt against the Bulldogs.

One of the most experienced offensive line groups in the nation are tasked with the responsibility of protecting Linfield's prize young quarterback and creating opportunities for the bounty of skill players.

The o-line is anchored by All-American right guard Julien Sears, joined by fellow fifth year seniors Matt Metcalf, an All-Region 6 selection in 2021 at center, Taylor Adams, a 2021 Second Team All-NWC honoree at right tackle, and Tyler Critser, a 2019 Second Team All-NWC selection as a sophomore who missed most of the 2021 season to injury.

Rounding out the group is sophomore left guard Bailey Lee, already a Second Team All-NWC selection after his freshman season.

THE REDLANDS OFFENSE
Although they return significant starters from the 2021, the Redlands offense is still looking for their spark through an 0-2 start.

Their 343.0 yards of total offense per game and 25.5 points per game are respectable but are both just good enough for fifth in the seven team-SCIAC.

Senior quarterback Myles Herrera is in his first season at the helm of the Bulldog's offense. Through two contests he has connected on 66.7 percent of his passes for 531 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also added two rushing touchdowns, both coming in their season opening loss to George Fox.

At running back the Bulldogs feature another senior with lead back Andrew Kellstrom. So far Kellstrom has accumulated 154 yards on 40 carries with one touchdown and one fumble. Through the air he's caught three passes for 29 yards.

Junior backup Calel Olicia-Aramboles has been used in limited action behind Kellstrom, carrying the ball just four times for nine yards and catching one pass for 15 yards.

The Bulldogs carry experience as well in the wide receiver room, starting junior slot reciever Evan Aguon next to senior wideouts Michel Mindnich and Kaleb Hatten.

Aguon has led the group through two games with an impressive 20 catches for 242 yards and three touchdown. All three touchdowns were scored in Redlands 21-20 loss to Pomona-Pitzer last week.

Mindnich so far has caught six passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and Hatten has caught three for 56 yards.

Senior Brady Welch joins the group at tight end but is yet to record a reception this season.

Despite the number of seniors at the skills positions, a young offensive line will be heavily tested against Linfield's formidable pass rush.

Junior Kaleb Gibson leads the group at left guard as the only upperclassmen. He's joined by sophomores Dominic Perez at center and Daniel De La Torre at left guard with freshmen Elliott Hamilton at right tackle and Antonio Gallardo at right guard.

THE LINFIELD DEFENSE
It all starts up front for long-time defensive coordinator Jackson Vaughan and the Wildcat defense.

Headlined by All-American defensive end Travis Swanson, now in his sixth year of collegiate football, the defensive line imposes one of the best pass rushes in Division-III.
The defense racked up nine tackles for loss against the Hawks, with Swanson contributing 4.5 along with Linfield's only two sacks of the night.

Swanson is joined at the defensive tackle positions by two All-Region selections from 2021, senior Chase Lydig and sophomore Nick Severson. At the opposite defensive end position is senior Vinny Niosi, who led the NWC in forced fumbles last year.

Backups Grayson Cosier, Alex Frazier, Caleb Sell and Connor Stevens should all mix in the d-line rotation as well against Redlands.

At linebacker the Wildcats start two sophomores, Blake Rybar and Logan Carr. Both made big impacts in Alabama, with Rybar leading the team with eight tackles and Carr following closely behind with seven in their starting debuts.

Senior Tyler Good and sophomore Zack Kanahele-Mone will likely see action at linebacker going forward as well.

The rover position is held down by sophomore Caiden Biege-Wetherbee, a First Team All-NWC selection as a freshman in 2021, while the monster is another First Team All-NWC selection in senior Ben Baxter. Biege-Wetherbee had five tackles against Huntindon, while Baxter pulled in the fourth interception of his career.

Joining Baxter at the safety position are junior Jett Searle as well as sophomores Colby Kalukoa and and Cutter Hillock. Hillock impressed in Alabama, recording six tackles and a pass breakup.

The defensive backs are rounded out by junior cornerbacks Evan Fisette, Dez Phillips, sophomore Chance Sparks and senior Gilbert Pizzaro. All are competing well for snaps in a position group that saw significant turnover last season.

THE REDLANDS DEFENSE
Statistically, the Redlands defense has been as middling as their offense through two games, allowing 29.5 points per game and 370.5 yards of total offense per game, both fourth in the SCIAC. They have been able to force three turnovers on the young season, tied for the conference lead.

The three-man Redlands defensive line features seniors Dawson Brokman and Luke Purcella as the ends with sophomore Mikey Duran at tackle. Brokman and Purcella both have four tackles and two tackles for loss apiece this year while Duran has record three, 1.5 for loss.

Senior linebacker Jacob Sega has thrived in his first two games as a starter and leads the defense on the year with 20 tackles, including two for loss and one sack. He's joined by fellow senior Michael MacDonald and junior Craig Hunter. Hunter has recorded 14 tackles and leads the team in tackles for loss with five and sacks with two.

The Bulldog defensive backfield features a three-safety lineup with seniors Scott Tinsley, Andre Owens and junior Elihiah Valles.

Tinsley leads the group with 18 tackles, second on the team behind Sega, with two for loss and the Bulldogs' lone interception on the season.

The group is rounded out by a pair of heavily experienced seniors at the cornerback positions with graduate students Marvin Perkins and Jadin Michaels. Michaels is 10^th on the team in tackles with 10 and both have recorded a pass breakup this season.

HEAD COACH JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith is in his 15th season as Linfield's head coach; he has an overall record of 139-27 (.837), which is the highest winning percentage of any head coach in Wildcat football history … Smith's record includes marks of 120-16 (.882) in the regular season, 91-6 (.938) in Northwest Conference games, 77-7 (.917) at home and 19-11 (.633) in the postseason … in Smith's time as head coach, Linfield has won 11 NWC titles, 10 of those outright … during Smith's tenure, Linfield has put together six unbeaten regular seasons.

THE SERIES
Linfield has an all-time record against Redlands of 10-1 in a series dating back to 1998 … The most recent meetings were last season, with Linfield winning in the regular season 51-10 at Redlands and victorious 44-10 in the NCAA Division III playoffs first round in McMinnville; the first meeting was the Wildcats' 24-23 win in Redlands … Redlands' lone victory came in 2019, 27-19 at Redlands … Linfield is 6-0 at home in the series and 4-1 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. Linfield's widest margin in Redlands was 41 points, a 51-10 win in the first of two meetings in 2021 … One of the previous games was also 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 30-4.

HOME OPENERS
This week's game against Redlands is Linfield's home-opener. In home-openers, Linfield has an all-time record of 76-27-3 (.731), including 67-21-2 (.755) at Maxwell Field … the Wildcats won their home-opener in 2021, beating Simon Fraser 56-20. Linfield has won three straight home-openers and 21 of their last 23 … Linfield's longest winning streak in home-opener was 12, from 1957-68; that was part of a string of 13 straight unbeaten home-openers from 1956-68 … Linfield's longest losing streak in home-openers was 5 from 1928-32 … Linfield's widest margin of victory in a home-opener was 75 points in a 81-6 victory over Monmouth Normal (now Western Oregon) in 1923; the 81 points are also the most the Wildcats have scored in a home-opener … Linfield's widest margin of defeat and most points allowed in a home-opener is 56 in a 56-0 loss to Pacific College (now George Fox) in the Wildcats' initial season of 1896 … Linfield has posted 25 shutouts in home-openers, including 2018's 13-0 win over Redlands.

THE STREAK
In 2021, Linfield posted its 65th consecutive winning season; the Wildcats' streak, which began in 1956, is the longest in the history of college football at any level … During the streak, Linfield is 527-119-10 for a winning percentage of .811. Linfield's record at home during the streak is 286-42-4 (.867), and at Maxwell Field it is 283-42-4 (.866) … Linfield's Northwest Conference record during the streak is 266-33-5 (.883).

ALL-TIME
2022 is Linfield's 107th season of football, dating back to 1896. The Wildcats' all-time record is 631-270-28 (.694) … Linfield's all-time home record is 352-91-16 (.784), including a Maxwell Field record of 332-79-11 (.800) … Linfield's all-time NWC record is 301-111-11 (.725) in 79 seasons dating back to the conference's initial formation in 1926 … 2021 saw Linfield put together an unbeaten, untied regular season for the 20th time in school history; the most recent had been a 9-0 record in 2015 and the first was a 1-0 record in 1900.