McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
Gavin Dalziel kicked three field goals to become Linfield's career record holder in that category, spurring the 24th-ranked Linfield Wildcats to a 23-6 Northwest Conference victory over the Pacific Boxers on Homecoming Weekend at Maxwell Field. The win marked the Wildcats' third straight triumph since a season-opening setback to UW-Oshkosh on Sept. 6.
Linfield's defense confined Pacific to just 31 yards in the second half and 166 for the game. The Wildcats forced three turnovers while holding the Boxers without a touchdown for the first time this season.
Dalziel, a fifth-year senior from Brier, Washington, raised his career field goal total to 35, moving in front of standing co-record holders Garrett Wales (2002-05) and Willy Warne (2016-18).
Linebacker
Hudson Reink paced the Linfield defense with a career-high nine tackles, including sixth unassisted stops, four of which were behind the line of scrimmage.
Brady Crenshaw totaled seven tackles and added a first-quarter interception that set up the Wildcats' first touchdown.
Crenshaw picked off quarterback Keaton Smith and returned the ball 20 yards to the Boxers' 10-yard line. From there, the 'Cats needed just three plays to cross the goal line with
Luke McNabb scampering four yards to paydirt. The extra point by Dalziel put the hosts in front 7-0 with 3:50 left in the first quarter.
Pacific kicker Isaac Ahmed made the score 7-3 with a 27-yard field goal at the 10:03 mark of the second quarter. The points came after an 18-play Pacific drive stalled at the Linfield 10.
Dalziel answered for the Wildcats with a 34-yard field goal at 5:46 of the second quarter.
The second half saw Dalziel become Linfield's all-time career leader in made field goals with a 35-yarder at 7:02 of the third period, a play that gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the contest at 20-3.
Pacific cut the margin to 14 points when Ahmed nailed a chip-shot 23-yard field goal three minutes into the fourth quarter. Dalziel provided the game's final points with 6:44 to play, putting the finishing touches on an 11-play, 66-yard march with a 26-yard conversion.
Linfield limited Pacific All-America tailback Brody Bantolina to just first-half 19 yards rushing, though the Boxers outgained the Wildcats 131-110 during the opening two quarters. Bantolina finished the game with just 13 net yards rushing on 20 attempts and the Boxers running attack averaged just 1.1 yards per carry.
Smith split time at quarterback with Emana Tarape. Together, the two Pacific QBs completed 17 of 23 passes for 137 yards but were intercepted three times.
McNabb threw for 170 yards and one touchdown, a 41-yard catch-and-run play to
Kai Laukkanen, who finished with a season-high four catches for 89 yards.
Caleb Woodcock had four receptions for 36 yards and
Jackson Pfeifer added three grabs.
The game marked coach
Joseph Smith's 200th as Wildcats' coach, a mark matched in Linfield history only by Hall of Fame coach
Ad Rutschman.
The Wildcats defeated the Boxers for the 17th consecutive time.
COMING UP
Linfield (3-1, 2-0 NWC) hosts Whitworth in another NWC contest next Saturday at Maxwell Field. The game will be part of Linfield's annual Family Weekend event.
