Grant Lucas

Review staff writer

Linfield football completed a rout of the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers on Oct. 18, racking up 509 total yards and giving many of its younger players a chance to shine. Head coach Joe Smith said all of the team’s reserve players who suited up got a chance to play and earn some in-game experience.

On Oct. 25, the 23rd-ranked Wildcats take on 16th-ranked Willamette University at Maxwell Field. The winner of this game will stand alone at the top of the rankings and likely win out to earn the conference.

The Wildcats currently have the number one defense in the NWC, allowing a mere 1141 yards and 71 points through five games.

The win brings the ‘Cats to a 3-0 conference record, 4-1 overall, and keeps them tied with Willamette atop the league standings.

Sophomore Cole Bixenman made his second career start, completing eight passes on 13 attempts for 169 yards.

“All week the coaches wanted us to focus on sitting in the pocket, making our throws and not leaving too early,” Bixenman said. “I think we did a pretty good job of that.”

Senior running back Reggie Ford started the scoring onslaught in the first quarter, scoring three touchdowns from eight, five and three yards out.

The Wildcats were relatively quiet in the second quarter. Freshman running back Ash Gibson tallied the only score when he powered his way into the end zone with 25 seconds left, putting the ‘Cats ahead 28-0
at the half.

In the third quarter, sophomore running back Simon Lamson picked up a touchdown from 11 yards out, extending the lead to 35-0.

Senior placekicker Scott Birkhofer added two field goals, each from farther than 50 yards, at the end of the third quarter. The second, a 56-yarder, broke his own school record of 54 yards set earlier this season.

The ‘Cats were able to get contributions from younger players in the fourth quarter. Freshmen quarterbacks Andy Hunthausen and Ryan Cook each threw for a touchdown. Hunthausen threw for 54 yards on six passes, and Cook accounted for 47 yards through the air on his only two attempts.

Lewis & Clark got on the scoreboard with a little more than seven minutes left in the game when sensational sophomore running back Joevonte Mayes punched an 11-yard run into the end zone.

Mayes completed the day with 118 yards rushing, the most productive game any running back has had against the Linfield’s stingy defense
this season.

“The big thing we wanted to get out of the game was to stay healthy,” Smith said. “We wanted to work on not turning the ball over and give a chance for our young guys to play.”