SALEM, Ore. – Kai Laukkauen caught three first-half touchdowns from
Luke McNabb, and
Max Kirsch pounced on a blocked punt by
Brady Crenshaw to highlight a 64-0 Northwest Conference domination by 22nd-ranked Linfield Wildcats over the Willamette Bearcats Saturday at McCullough Stadium.
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The playoff-bound Wildcats (8-1, 7-0 NWC) secured the program's 33rd outright conference crown and 40th overall. Linfield locked up the NWC's automatic berth to the NCAA playoffs and now awaits Sunday's announcement of the full postseason field.
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Linfield bolted to a 44-0 lead by halftime, then pulled the majority of its starters to begin the second half.
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Laukkanen caught four passes for 68 yards and
Jayce Bareng pull in three receptions for 45 yards. Laukkanen has now accounted for five scores in his last two games.
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McNabb completed 12 of 18 throws for 189 yards and three TDs. The veteran pivot added 66 rushing yards on eight carries, including a touchdown.
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Defensively, linebacker
Hudson Reink led the 'Cats with six total tackles, including one for loss. Rover
Iloa Kaio added five total stops, three of which ended behind the line scrimmage. Â
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Willamette (1-9, 0-7 NWC) concluded its season on an eight-game losing skid.
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CAT SCRATCH
Linfield outgained Willamette in total yards, 537-15 . . .the Bearcats finished with minus-6 yards rushing . . . .competing on his 23rd birthday, Wildcats senior punter
Cade Johannsen punted just once in the game for 46 yards . . . though records for fewest yards by an opponent in a game are not kept, Willamette's single-game total of 8 yards is believed to be the lowest output by a Linfield foe in at least the last 38 seasons . . . Willamette finished with just two first downs in the game Linfield amassed 25 first downs . . . the Wildcats forced the Bearcats to punt nine times . . . the Bearcats went 0-for-11 on third-down plays . . . reserve defender
Scott Anderson scored his first career touchdown on a 34-yard fumble return in the second half.
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NEXT
Linfield awaits Sunday's announcement of the full 40-team NCAA Division III playoff field at 2 p.m. PDT on NCAA.com. The Wildcats are hoping to earn a first-round bye when the playoff bracket is revealed.
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