Linfield University Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. – Linfield tailback Matthew Spurbeck rushed for a career-high three touchdowns to power the 21st-ranked Wildcats to a key 24-7 victory over Lewis & Clark Saturday afternoon at Griswold Stadium.
 
The win gives Linfield (6-1, 5-0 NWC) the inside track to securing the Northwest Conference championship and the NWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
Enjoying its best season in many years, Lewis & Clark (6-2, 4-1 NWC) suffered its first conference loss and now must hope for a Linfield loss in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Wildcats can clinch at least a share of the NWC title they last held in 2024 with a win at home over Puget Sound.
 
Against Lewis & Clark, Linfield wasted no time in taking control. Wildcats cornerback Reid Gray intercepted L&C quarterback Dashiell Weaver on the game's first offensive play, returning the ball to the River Otters' 8-yard line. Matthew Spurbeck ran the remaining distance for the touchdown on Linfield's first play and Linfield led 7-0 just 19 seconds into the contest.
 
Spurbeck added to Linfield's lead early in the second quarter, running 11 yards to the end zone. Andrew O'Dell's extra point made the score 14-0 with 10:57 remaining before intermission.
 
Linfield outgained Lewis & Clark in total yards 186-158 in the opening half, including a 111-56 edge on the ground.
 
Lewis & Clark sliced the margin in half on Dante Washington's 12-yard reception in the end zone from Sam Simril with three seconds left in the third quarter.
 
Spurbeck put the 'Cats back in front by two scores with 5:27 left to play, running for an 8-yard score with 5:27 to play, capping a seven-play, 42-yard drive.
 
Spurbeck gained 49 yards on 11 carries and caught six passes for 41 yards from quarterback Luke McNabb.
 
McNabb weaved his way for 82 yards rushing on 14 carries. McNabb also passed for 142 yards, completing 17 of 26 attempts.
 
Owen Livingston put the game out of reach with a 38-yard field goal with 3:41 to play, the first career points for the Linfield sophomore.
 
The Wildcats held L&C star receiver Sytyn Lasconia to under 100 receiving yards, the first team this season to do so. Lasconia finished with seven catches for 95 yards before exiting the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
 
For the game, Lewis & Clark outgained Linfield 343-303, but three turnovers and stellar play by the Linfield defense kept the River Otters from truly threatening in the game. L&C went 3 for 10 on third-down plays and 0-for-3 on fourth down.
 
Linebacker Kellen Wiggins totaled seven tackles, including three unassisted, while adding a fumble recovering and a crucial fourth-quarter interception. Wyatt Abrigo added six tackles, including one for a loss of 13 yards.
 
Weston Wade came off the bench to lead the River Otters, rushing for a game-high 114 yards on 12 carries while also pulling in three receptions for 43 yards.
 
Weaver, L&C's starting quarterback, finished with 102 yards passing. Simril played the entire second half, throwing for 112 yards.
 
CAT SCRATCH
Saturday's attendance was 1,803. . . Linfield has now won the last 48 games in the series, a win streak that stretches back to 1974. . . Linfield's 29-21 win over L&C in McMinnville last fall set the all-divisions college football record for most consecutive wins over a single opponent . . . the last time Lewis & Clark defeated Linfield was 1973 by a score of 7-4 . . . the Wildcat defense limited the River Otters to just a single score, the first time since 2022 Lewis & Clark has been held to single digits in scoring in that span.
 
NEXT
Linfield returns to Maxwell Field on Saturday to play its final regular season home game. The Wildcats will host the Puget Sound Loggers in the annual Pacific Office Automation Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
  Read Full Article