Chris Forrer – For the Review. Before the kickoff of Linfield football’s season-opener against Hardin-Simmons University, expectations for the team were high.
The staff, led by head coach Joe Smith, knew that its team had potential, but many questions still lingered. From the opening drive in which senior quarterback Aaron Boehme, returning from a sidelined-season because of an injury, led the offense down the field flawlessly, however, the staff knew that this was going to be a special year.
Five games and five victories later, the Wildcats are now the No. 7 team in the nation, according to d3football.com’s Top 25 poll, and find themselves square in the middle of the national championship picture.
“I think great teams are improving all the time, and I believe we have done that this year,” Boehme said. “Our mindset has been the key for us all year.”
Offensively, Linfield has consistently been a dominant force, averaging 34.8 points and a Northwest Conference-leading 425.2 yards of total offense per game. The Wildcats rank second in the conference in scoring offense at 34.8 points per game, passing offense at 262.2 yards per game and rushing offense at 163 yards per game.
Individually, sophomore running back Aaron Williams is the leading rusher and scorer in the conference with 352 total yards and six touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Trevor Patterson, who is second in the conference with 520 yards and seven touchdowns, is also having the season of a lifetime.
“Aaron [Williams] has learned to be patient in finding the hole, and it’s paid off big time for him,” Smith said. “Trevor [Patterson] is having a career year, also. He’s arguably the best receiver in the conference.”
Boehme is the NWC leader in both passing offense and total offense with 1,447 total yards gained — 1,290 passing — and 11 touchdowns. Boehme attributes the consistent success of this year’s offense to the rock-solid offensive line.
“Our line has given me tons of time to sit back and read the defense, so I’m excited about that,” Boehme said. “They’ve been making holes for the running backs all year long, as well.”
While Smith said he has had much praise for his quarterback, he still believes his offense has yet to reach its full potential.
“The pass game has been good, but a bit sloppy at times.” Smith said. “We’re dropping passes far too often. We’re fully capable of putting up 50, 60 points a game, and I think we can get there this season.”
The Wildcats’ defensive statistics are perhaps just as impressive, if not more, than their offense’s. Linfield leads the NWC with 14 more turnovers forced than given up and is allowing opponents only 19.4 points and 271.2 yards per game. The Wildcat defense has forced 20 total turnovers, averaging five a game.
Individually, sophomore Drew Fisher and senior Jaymin Jackson are leading the conference in interceptions with three each.
“This is the best defensive staff I’ve ever had, bar none,” Smith said. “The defense is firing on all cylinders.”
The defense has also consistently harassed its opponents’ quarterbacks while protecting Boehme, acquiring 12 sacks for a total of 84 yards and giving up only two.
“Boehme hasn’t been touched in several games,” Smith said. “He’s had a ton of time to get the ball off.”
On special teams, freshman kicker Maika Kunioka leads the conference in kick scoring. So far this season, Kunioka is 7-10 on field goals and 19-20 on point-after-touchdown kicks for 40 total points. His only miss in the latter category was his first attempt as a Wildcat in the team’s season-opener against Hardin-Simmons.
The kick return defense continues to be a problem area, however.
On Oct. 10, Whitworth University returned a kickoff 80 yards against the ’Cats, one of many 50-plus yard returns they have given up this season.
“Kickoff defense is still an area of concern for us,” Smith said. “We’re looking to improve on our coverage teams.”
Now that the ’Cats have made it past a difficult four-game road stretch that took them from Spokane, Wash., to Los Angeles, one game looms ahead that is impossible to ignore much longer: an Oct. 24 date with defending national champion and No. 13 Willamette University in Salem, Ore.
“They are always going to be a tough team,” Boehme said. “They have a solid offensive scheme and have always had a tough defense. Our team is going to be extremely focused and ready for the game.”
Barring a slide in the final four games of the season, the ’Cats are poised to clinch a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. If Linfield can get past Willamette and remain undefeated at 7-0, its chances of a deep run in the postseason will improve.
“I think we can go as far as we want if we handle the playoffs like we have the regular season,” Williams said. “If we prepare well for each game, execute, stay healthy and play to our potential, I believe we can make it to the final game.”
With four games remaining, the “S” word has begun to be whispered around the locker room: Stagg, short for Stagg Bowl, or the Division III national championship. Should the Wildcats
continue their stellar performance and carry it into the postseason, a run at the Stagg Bowl could be a definite possibility.
“To be 5-0 feels great, but it’s nothing,” junior defensive end Eric Hedin said. “We have to take every game one at a time and keep focused. We want our conference title back, and we want a shot at the Stagg Bowl.”