By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com
As one of small-college football’s most storied programs, Linfield probably belongs in the same breath with Division III elite like St. John’s, Mount Union and Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran. Wildcat players are as classy as they are talented, and speak of the playoffs with both confidence and awe.
The thing about the playoffs, though, is that they’re where national respect is earned. The Johnnies, Purple Raiders and Lutes have each made runs to the Stagg Bowl since the Division III playoffs expanded to 28 teams in 1999. Linfield, despite its 48 consecutive winning campaigns and tremendous success in recent regular seasons, has yet to advance beyond the national quarterfinals since joining Division III in 1998.
For the 11-0 Wildcats to be among this year’s final four, they’ll have to avenge a 21-14 home loss to the Johnnies in last year’s semifinals by winning 1,700 miles from home in Collegeville.
“I don’t think we’d have it any other way,” said quarterback Tyler Matthews, a third-year starter who’s thrown for 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine starts this season. “They’re an awesome football team, and there’s so much history there. It’s exciting for us to have this opportunity.”
Matthews said he and some of his teammates, without trying to look past anyone, were talking about getting another shot at St. John’s as early as Week 1.
“We were saying ‘how much fun would it be to go up to their neck of the woods and play?’” Matthews said. “Playing Division III football, you don’t (often) have the luxury of going across the country and playing different teams from different states.”
The Wildcats get their wish, and they don’t want to play the Johnnies again simply to see what monks sitting in the bleachers looks like. There’s some hurt from last December to get over.
“Last year, it sucked,” Matthews said. “We didn’t play the way we wanted to play.”
In the seven-point loss to St. John’s, the Wildcats turned the ball over five times in front of a home crowd at Memorial Stadium in McMinnville, Ore.
“I think we had some turnovers that were uncharacteristic of us,” Matthews said. “I think I was responsible for a couple of those. You never want to play like that in a game like that.”
A loss in the playoffs is never easy, but when the Wildcats faltered last year, it was almost as if they robbed destiny. Last year’s Linfield squad featured 21 seniors and 18 returning starters, plus a chip on its shoulder from being left out of the 2001 playoffs.
“Leave no doubt,” was their motto. Many thought they would be the team to face Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl, but St. John’s beat them and Trinity (Texas) beat the Johnnies for that right.
“We were disappointed as heck,” Matthews said. “We felt like we had a team that could have done better.”
This year’s Wildcats lost two D3football.com all-Americans to graduation (running back David Russell, guard Daryl Agpalsa) and another to injury (defensive back Ray Lions), but swept through the regular season with a different offensive style.
“Last year with David running the ball, we were more of a power team,” Matthews said. “If we needed three yards, we just gave it to him and watched.”
This year, Matthews is throwing to five receivers (George Carter, Casey Allen, Josh Amstrong, Brad McKechnie and Brandon Hazenberg) and a tight end (Marcus Ward). Each has at least 22 catches, and the 6-4, 215-pound Carter’s 67 for 1,059 and 11 TDs paces the group.
Linebacker Harrison Bertsch, who went to Idaho for a year, leads the defense with 89 tackles. Defensive end Kelly Bertrand has 20 tackles for losses and Ty Smith has five picks in nine games.
This year’s team also has a new motto: Believe.
“That’s what it takes at this point in the year,” said Matthews, acknowledging that every team that makes it this far is more than just talented. “You have to have heart, determination and you’ve got to believe.”
And though this year’s Wildcats may not compare to last year’s in terms of experience, Matthews says they aren’t all that different.
“As far as being better or worse, I think we’re every bit as talented and every bit as determined,” he said.
And Matthews says they still have a point to prove.
Quarterfinal glance
Around the Nation takes a quick look at Saturday’s four playoff games and who should win:
West Region final: No. 2 seed Linfield (11-0) at No. 1 St. John’s (11-0), 1 p.m. ET
Fast fact: The Johnnies beat the Wildcats 33-0 in the 1965 NAIA national championship.
What you need to know: The smart pick is St. John’s, which is at home, has the legendary coach in John Gagliardi and has been winning more convincingly than Linfield. The Wildcats had five seniors on last year’s offensive line, but if its young line can hold up and the defense can slow Johnnies wideout Blake Elliot, they’re in good shape. The Johnnies will need a good effort from their secondary as well, but no matter what, this should be one of those games that goes to the team that plays best in the fourth quarter. Against all logic, I like Linfield.
Pick: Linfield 28-27.
East Region final: No. 6 Ithaca (10-2) at No. 5 RPI (10-1), 12 p.m. ET
Fast fact: Only Mount Union (six) and Augustana (four) have won more championships than Ithaca (1979, 1988 and 1991), which is 27-10 in 14 Division III playoff appearances. RPI is 2-2 in three playoff appearances.
What you need to know: The Engineers are rolling up 461 yards per game, 297 of that through the air. The Bombers haven’t given up more than 16 points since Oct. 4, but that came in a 51-22 loss to Springfield, the team RPI beat this past Saturday. Ithaca’s either going to have to play great defense or match RPI’s firepower. Keep an eye on what the Bombers do after halftime. They outscored opponents 59-12 in the third this year.
Pick: RPI 31-21.
North region final: No. 2 Wheaton (12-0) at No. 1 Mount Union (11-0), 12 p.m. ET
Fast fact: With a win, Mount Union can match its own college football record of 54 consecutive wins. The Purple Raiders have won 107 of their past 108.
What you need to know: The Thunder have as good a chance to beat Mount Union as anyone the Purple Raiders have played since these teams met in last year’s second round, a 42-21 Mount Union win. Wheaton, at 38.5 points per game, has outscored opponents and seemed suspect on defense until they held Baldwin-Wallace scoreless in the second half of a 16-12 win last weekend. The experience against the Yellow Jackets should help them against Mount Union, but now that Larry Kehres has seen Wheaton once (last year), the Purple Raiders should undoubtedly make things tough. This isn’t the most talented Mount Union team ever, but Wheaton would either have to force several mistakes or play a tremendous game to knock them off.
Pick: Mount Union 34-20.
South region final: No. 3 Bridgewater (11-1) at No. 1 Lycoming (9-1), 12 p.m. ET
Fast fact: With Frosty Westering retired, Lycoming’s Frank Girardi is Division III’s second-winningest coach. In 31 seasons, Girardi has won 241 games.
What you need to know: Lycoming’s biggest asset is traditionally its toughness, especially on defense. Against East Texas Baptist, the Warriors were both tough and opportunistic, forcing five turnovers and holding the Tigers on their overtime possession in the 13-7 win. ETBU’s only score came on its opening drive. Bridgewater has great team speed and experience in close games. Look for Jermaine Taylor to lead the defense and Nicholas Lehto to make the biggest plays on offense. Lycoming will likely hold Bridgewater off the board for most of the game, only to be stunned by a big play late.
Pick: Bridgewater 17-10.
