McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Devon Murray caught two touchdown passes from Blake Eaton and the Linfield Wildcats rolled to a 21-3 victory over the defending SCIAC champion Redlands Bulldogs on a warm Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Field.
 
Playing before a Homecoming crowd announced at 1,775, the eighth-ranked Wildcats ran their record to 2-0, defeating the Bulldogs (3-0) for the third time in two seasons.
 
The game was not as close as the score would seem to indicate. Linfield dominated statistically, holding the Bulldogs to a meager 84 total yards while piling up 366 yards of offense.
 
Wildcats linebacker Blake Rybar led the way defensively, recording 10 tackles, including seven unassisted, 3½ for loss.
 
Tailback Connor McNabb gained 77 yards on the ground and scored one touchdown while Connor Morton added another 51 yards rushing and 28 yards receiving.
 
After the teams traded punts to start the game, Murray broke the ice with a 4-yard touchdown catch from Eaton with 5:48 to go in the first quarter.
 
Redlands drove eight plays before Vincente Garcia connected on a 37-yard field goal at the 1:33 mark of the quarter.
 
McNabb gave the Wildcats some breathing room, plunging over from the 3-yard line with 2:43 to play before the break.
 
Linfield vaulted in front 21-3 midway through the third quarter when Eaton hooked up with Murray for another short aerial score, this one from 9 yards out.
 
Linfield outgained Redlands 260-61 during the opening two quarters, including a 108-14 edge on the ground. Eaton completed 12 of his 14 passes before halftime and 21 of 27 for the game. The 'Cats controlled the ball, running 77 plays to the Bulldogs' 38. The time of possession tally heavily favored Linfield, 40:26 to 19:34.
 
Isaac Hoidal contributed a career-best five receptions. Colton Smith caught three passes for 64 yards.
 
In addition to Rybar's 10 tackles, Logan Carr and Travis Swanson both added five tackles. Swanson logged two sacks of Bulldogs QB Myles Herrera.
 
NEXT
Linfield enjoys a week off before ramping up for its Northwest Conference opener on Oct. 1 versus the Puget Sound Loggers.