Linfield University Athletics

McMINNVILLE, ORE. – Luke McNabb passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, spurring the Linfield Wildcats to a 28-13 come-from-behind non-conference victory over the Chapman Panthers Saturday at Maxwell Field.
 
McNabb hooked up twice with Caleb Woodcock in the third quarter, erasing a six-point deficit and giving the home-standing Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish.
 
McNabb threw for 170 yards, completing 14 of 24 throws without suffering an interception or a sack, and finished as the game's leading rusher with a 63 yards on the ground. Linfield (1-1) notched the win despite surrendering the early lead midway through the second period.
 
Woodcock totaled four receptions for a career-high 100 receiving yards. His two TD catches came nine minutes apart in the decisive third quarter.
 
Chapman (0-2), from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, remained winless under interim head coach Casey Shine.
 
Linfield capitalized on great field position midway through the first quarter when Kai Laukkanen's punt return spotted the ball at the Chapman 6-yard line. One play later, McNabb found tight end Jake Wallace for the senior's first career touchdown. The extra point by Gavin Dalziel gave the 'Cats a 7-0 advantage with 8:29 on the clock.
 
Andrew Latu and the Panthers evened the contest at the 9:20 mark of the second quarter. Latu ran nine yards around left end for the Panthers' first score but the two-point conversion pass failed, keeping the score 7-6.
 
Chapman used a big play to take its first lead of the game with 6:39 to play before intermission. Quarterback Tyler Pacheco hooked up with Emelio Puccio for a 54-yard strike. Carson Nichols' extra point put the Panthers in front 13-6.
 
The Panthers nearly made it a two-score game in the final minute of the second quarter, but Wildcats cornerback Kenyon Johnson intercepted Pacheco in the corner of the endzone to close the half.
 
Chapman outgained Linfield during the first two periods, 204-81, including 145-41 through the air. The Wildcats made just three first downs in the half, were penalized nine times for 68 yards, and went 1 of 6 on third-down plays.
 
The teams traded turnovers to open the second half before the Wildcats awoke with McNabb's 39-yard aerial bomb to Woodcock. Dalziel's extra point gave the 'Cats a narrow 14-13 lead.
 
The same McNabb-to-Woodcock pairing combined for another long scoring pass play with 5:23 left in the third quarter on a a lofting 34-yard rainbow. Dalziel's extra point stretched Linfield's advantage to eight points.
 
Linfield forced three turnovers – two interceptions and one fumble.
 
Pacheco passed for 225 yards and one score despite completing just 9 of 23 passes. He was sacked six times for 33 yards in losses – two each by ends Jaydon Kaio and Kanaan Huffman, and linebacker Blaze Holani.
 
Pacheco's leading target was Kade Zimmerman, who hauled in 10 passes for 56 yards. Jason Bruce had eight receptions for 103 yards as well.
 
Linfield's defense limited Chapman to 1-for-13 on third-down plays and the Panthers went 1-for-4 on fourth down.
 
Kaio finished with nine totaled tackles while Huffman had seven stops.
 
AHEAD
Linfield enjoys a week off before heading to George Fox to battle the rival Bruins October 4 at Stoffer Family Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.