Linfield pounces on Cortland State, advances to quarterfinals

Malia Riggs/For the Review

Dylan Lewis ’17 celebrates after intercepting the football from Cortland State quarterback Steven Ferreira in the fourth quarter.

Jonathan Williams, Editor-in-Chief
November 28, 2015

The Wildcats football team clawed through the ice-cold breeze at Maxwell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 28, capturing the win against Cortland State 38-22 in the second round of NCAA Division III playoffs.

The team now advances to the quarterfinals where they will face the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

What started out as anyone’s game in the first quarter turned in the Wildcats favor, as they dominated the second half of the game.

After a fumble that gave the ball to Cortland, Zach Kuzens’17 scored the first touchdown of the game off of a 24-yard pass from quarterback Sam Riddle ’17.

The Linfield defense continued to provide support for the team as the rest of the game unfolded.

Cortland State sophomore Jake Smith caught a 54-yard pass from junior quarterback Steven Ferreira at the end of the first quarter, leaving the scored tied 7-7 going into the second quarter.

#17
John Adam ’19 and Levi Altringer ’16 celebrate after a Wildcats touchdown against Cortland State.

Five and half minutes into the second quarter, Johnny Carrol ’18 scored the Wildcats second touchdown off a 1-yard pass from Riddle, moving the score to 14-7 Linfield after a successful field goal kick from Michael Metter ’17.

Linfield received a 15-yard penalty later in the second quarter, before Cortland junior Shane Cronin scored a 38-yard field goal, moving the score to 14-10 Linfield going into the second half of the game.

This was Linfield and Cortland State’s first matchup in Division III playoffs.

Suffering a leg injury during the second quarter, Riddle did not go back in to the game during the second half.

Eight minutes into the third quarter Metter kicked a 45-yard field goal, moving the score to 17-10 Linfield.

Covering for Riddle, Tom Knecht ’16 threw a five-yard pass to Levi Altringer ’16, leaving the score 24-10 Linfield at the end of the third quarter.

#8
Spencer Payne ’17 carries the ball during the Wildcats matchup against Cortland State. Payne rushed 89 yards during the game.

Helping the Wildcats in the third quarter, Skylor Elgarico ’17 intercepted a pass from Cortland State quarterback Ferreira.

The Wildcats made the final push in the fourth quarter, with touchdowns from Eric Igbinoba ’17 and Knecht, leaving the score 38-10 Linfield with three minutes left in the game.

Cortland, putting it all on the line at the end of the game, scored two touchdowns in the same minute leaving the score 38-22 Linfield.

Linfield now prepares to take on playoff rival Mary Hardin-Baylor at 12 p.m. next Saturday, Dec. 5, at Maxwell Stadium.