Grant Lucas – Sports editor. After a 6-3 overall record in 2008 and a third-straight runner-up finish in the Northwest Conference, Linfield football aims to start this season right with a win against nationally fourth-ranked Hardin-Simmons University.
“HSU is a very well-coached team with good discipline, good technique and sound strategies,” head coach Joe Smith said. “They play very hard and they believe they will be very successful. They mirror ourselves in many ways. We need to execute and do so with good technique for a win.”
The Cowboys are coming off a win against Whitworth University, but it didn’t come easily. After trailing 24-13 at the half, HSU stormed back, winning 48-31. Junior quarterback Justin Feaster led the way with 282 passing yards for four touchdowns while rushing for 72 yards.
“Feaster is as good as we have ever seen,” Smith said.
Junior quarterback Aaron Boehme will start under center for Linfield. Boehme went down with a broken collarbone against HSU last season after throwing for 116 yards and rushing for 21.
The Wildcats’ defense will be tough to penetrate after leading the NWC in scoring, passing, rushing and total defense last season.
“Our focuses are the only two things we can control: this week’s preparation and our effort during the game,” Smith said.
Following the contest against HSU, Linfield will travel to Los Angeles to face Occidental College, which is ranked 22nd in the nation. Three more road games will follow before returning to McMinnville.
A 54th consecutive winning season is on the horizon for Linfield. But while the Wildcats face a 2009 schedule that’s perceived as the toughest in Linfield’s history, they remain optimistic and have high expectations.
The ’Cats’ run for an NWC title, potentially its first since 2005, begins at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 12 against HSU at Maxwell Field.