Wildcats plow through George Fox Bruins
Michael Fuller, 29, attempts to shake off a George Fox defender before Aaron Kokubun, 77, goes in for the tackle.
October 30, 2016
The Linfield Wildcats made quick work of George Fox on Saturday, blowing past the Bruins 50-14 at Maxwell Field.
Saturday’s game was historic for both teams, with the Bruins putting points on the scoreboard against Linfield for the first time in 92 years and the day’s win marking Linfield football coach Joe Smith’s 100th win in his 11 years as head coach of the Wildcats.
Hungry from the start, the ‘Cats scored within the first four minutes off of a 2-yard carry from Bryan Cassill, ’17.
Even the defense was jittery to put some points on the board. About forty seconds after the ‘Cats first offensive touchdown, cornerback Kennedy Johnson, ’17, got his hands on a lofted ball from Bruins quarterback Grant Schroeder and ran it in for a 30-yard pick six.
“I was just covering down and just saw the ball in the air and just kind of bated it well and got a nice jump on it,” Johnson said.
Zach Kuzens, 88, runs for a 12-yard rush and a first down after catching a pass from Sam Riddle, 10.
Senior Dylan Lewis was announced at the beginning of the game as the honorary number 35 for the game. “It gets you a little bit more emotional before the game, it feels like he’s with you a little more,” Lewis said. “To a lot of guys it still feels like Parker is still on vacation, it still feels like he never really left and it’s cool to look down and see the number 35 on my chest.”
Linfield’s offense and defense combined for 43 points in the first half while George Fox failed to end their drought, though they came dangerously close on a 25-yard field goal attempt that ricocheted off the left upright, no good.
With five minutes remaining in the third quarter something happened that there can be few living witnesses to recall the last time it happened. Bruins running back Wesley Riddle punched into the end zone from the one yard line, ending the oppressive reign of Linfield’s defense over the ‘Cats cross-town competition. In fact, George Fox outscored Linfield in the second half 14-7.
“George Fox is a very well coached team that cannot be taken lightly,” Jake Handran,’18, said. “It’s a no joke program that has impressively brought in a bunch of great guys in a very short amount of time.”
For the Bruins, two touchdowns were too little too late.
The Wildcats hit the road to take on the University of Puget Sound Loggers at 1 p.m. next Saturday in Tacoma, Washington.
