The Linfield Wildcats football team is looking forward to taking on long time local rival Willamette University in a home matchup at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Maxwell Field.

Among Northwest Conference teams, Linfield is ranked second behind number one seed Whitworth University. The Willamette Bearcats sit at fourth place in the NWC standings.

“Our goals for the game are to come out and play and execute Linfield football right from the start,” receiver Erick Douglas III, ’17, said.

The last time the Bearcats came to Wildcat territory during the 2014 football season Linfield was upset by Willamette 28-31, defeating the Wildcats on their home turf.

During the 2015 season the Wildcats were able to regain their crown, stomping the Bearcats 49-7 in Salem, leading to Linfield’s 60^th straight winning season.

“We all have one goal this season, and that’s to win a national championship,” Douglas III said.

The Wildcats say they plan to prepare for Saturday’s game like any other.

“We all need to focus on our individual jobs. It will take a full team effort and four solid quarters,” running back Spencer Payne, ’17, said.

Linfield is coming in with the same mindset and goals they would have against any other team and are using this time to prepare for the end of the season expectations.

“We just need to keep improving each week and get where we need to be to be ready for playoffs,” Payne said.