The distance from Portland to McMinnville, Ore., is negligible, but the gap between Lewis and Clark (preseason No. 219) and Linfield (preseason No. 3) is expansive. Lewis and Clark athletics photo

Jay Locey knew when he took over the Lewis and Clark football program in December that it would take a lot of work to resurrect the program.

He inherited a Pioneers team that went winless a year ago – extending a losing streak that dates to October 2013. And the program has just one winning season since moving from the NAIA to NCAA Division III in 1998.

However, Locey believes he can turn things around at Lewis and Clark. Perhaps the best evidence indicating that he can lead the Pioneers to success will be across the sidelines Saturday when Linfield visits Griswold Stadium.

Locey coached at Linfield from 1996 to 2006, guiding the Wildcats to the 2004 national championship.

“Coach Locey was an extremely successful coach there,” Lewis and Clark tight end C.J. Appleton said. “We see where they’re at, and itit gives us more confidence in Coach Locey as a coach because if he was able to get Linfield to such heights, then we truly believe that he’ll be able to do the same thing here.”

When Locey was hired, he said the first thing he did was craft a mission statement, construct a coaching staff from existing personnel and new hires and begin recruiting.

“One thing that I believe in, in terms of a mission statement, is to help make men of excellence in school, life and football, and in that process, create a brotherhood,” Locey explained.

He used that message to attract 35 new players to the program. Those recruits joined 35 veterans from last year’s program – raising the roster size from 58 players to 70.

“We were able to get, what we think is, a really good freshmen group of kids and a really special group of guys,” Locey said, noting his staff will try to continue that growth with future recruiting classes.

Locey reached out to his veteran players and asked them to make football a priority, demonstrate excellence, have a positive attitude and “leave a mark of class everywhere they go.”

“I think they’ve bought into those things real well,” Locey said.

Locey explained the school’s academics, location, campus and facilities were all positive attributes to attract new players to the program.

“There was a lot of excitement,” Appleton said of Locey’s hire. “There were credentials that came with it. Coach Locey has a pedigree. Coach (Jim) Nagel has a pedigree. All these coaches have accomplishments.”

With his first team in place, Locey has stressed having the right attitude and work ethic to improve every day.

“It’s a lot about habits. You don’t want to get too focused on scoreboard results,” Appleton explained. “If we shore up our habits … that will change the way we play football.

“That’s been the main message.”

“The players, from my perspective, have been outstanding – as good of a work ethic as I’ve been around. I think they’re eager to learn, receptive to coaching and energetic in every drill,” Locey said. “I think we’ve been on a great path.”

Despite the team’s development, the Pioneers have lost their first two games – extending the program’s losing streak to 16 games. Locey said the team played timidly against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, but showed a lot of improvement against Pomona-Pitzer.

“All of our pieces are new, so we have a goal that every single week we polish up more and more,” Appleton said.

When perennial Northwest Conference leader Linfield visits Portland on Saturday, it will pose a bigger challenge. Yet, Locey said he is looking forward to the matchup with his former team.

“It’s a great opportunity for us. It’s always good to go against one of the best programs in the nation to test yourself,” Locey said. “It’s fun and it will be enjoyable going against them and competing against friends.”

Locey uses examples from his time coaching at Linfield, as well as at Oregon State, to deliver messages to his current team. What he told players at previous coaching stops, and what he is currently portraying to the Pioneers, is they should be focused on the effort more than the score.

“I try not to be enamored with the scoreboard as much as being enamored with doing our absolute best,” Locey said. “That’s what we’re going to stay grounded to short-term and that’s what we’re going to stay grounded to long-term.”

That message appears to be sinking in at Lewis and Clark.

“The reality is none of us, as players, have been where we want to go. In order to get to where you want to go, you need someone to show you the way,” Appleton said. “And Coach Locey and his staff have been where we’re trying to go. So the goal, I believe, is falling in line with that and see where that takes us.”

No. 1 vs No. 1

On a rainy night in Sioux City, Iowa, UW-Whitewater – the No. 1 ranked NCAA Division III team – defeated Morningside – the No. 1 ranked team at the NAIA level – 33-30, Thursday.

Jordan Ratliffe rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 38 seconds play.

“He’s just a workhorse,” first year head coach Kevin Bullis told the Wisconsin State Journal, while also praising the efforts of the offensive line. “You can hang your hat on him and let him go.”

Morningside, which entered the game averaging 70.7 points per game, took its first lead of the night on a Tyler Kavan touchdown run with 6:45 to play. However the two point conversion failed. Then UW-W’s defense held the Mustangs to a field goal after a fumble gave Morningside possession at the Warhawks’ 17. Following the kick, UW-Whitewater needed nine plays to march 75 yards in 3:41 for the go-ahead score.

Number of the week

17,327: as in the number of people in attendance at Clemens Stadium where St. Thomas defeated rival St. John’s, 35-14. Jordan Roberts racked up 230 yards rushing on 31 carries to pace the Tommies. Saturday’s turnout is the highest reported attendance in Division III history – although the NCAA does not recognize an official D-III attendance record. Previously, the highest reported attendance was 16,421 spectators at the Tommie-Johnnie game at SJU on Oct. 2, 2010. Matchups between St. John’s and St. Thomas now hold three of the top four highest reported attendances. The teams have drawn crowds of more than 12,000 six times.

The rest of the West

Latif Adams broke scoring runs of 64 and 57 yards in the fourth quarter to rally Westminster (Mo.) past Greenville, 30-20. Adams finished the game with 270 yards and three touchdowns. … Cody Mowery rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown and Tory Beger added a fourth quarter score to help Buena Vista picked up its first win of the year, 14-10, over Waldorf. … Trey Anderson threw more touchdowns (4) than incompletions (3) as Bethel opened a 38-0 first half lead and rolled to a 58-21 win over Carleton. … Charles Miller returned an interceptions 63 yards for a touchdown to help MacMurray earn its first win of the year, a 13-10 decision over Eureka. … George Fox doubled its win total from last year by topping Arizona Christian, 45-27. … UW-Stevens Point became the latest WIAC team to score a lopsided win over upstart Finlandia. After giving up the first touchdown of the game, the Pointers reeled off 77 unanswered points. Eight different UW-SP players scored touchdowns in the 77-6 victory. … Matt Boyce caught eight passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns in Gustavus Adolphus’ 59-42 win over Augsburg. … Dalin McDonnell recorded two of Whitworth’s three interceptions. The Pirates also recovered two fumbles while shutting down Chapman, 37-7. … Chad Johnson scored four rushing touchdowns in Concordia-Moorhead’s 37-7 win at St. Olaf. … UW-River Falls earned its first win of the year. Ryan Kusilek threw three touchdowns and kicked five PATs in the Falcons’ 35-20 win at Southwestern. … Northwestern (Minn.) racked up 34 fourth quarter points in a 55-14 win at Martin Luther. … Pacific out-scored Occidental 27-7 in the second half to win the non-conference game, 41-23. … Three different St. Scholastica players registered passing touchdowns in a 45-0 win over Crown. … Minneosta-Morris used 20 fourth quarter points to rally past Iowa Wesleyan, 33-25. Kyle Petermeier caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Rank ‘em

Eight teams from the West Region were ranked in the Top 25 week this week, and a pair of others received attention from voters.

UW-Whitewater and Linfield remained ranked Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. The Warhawks received 21 first place votes while the Wildcats secured two of the top votes.

Wartburg checked in at No. 6 for another week. St. Thomas moved up three spots and into the top-10. The Tommies are ranked No. 9.

UW-Platteville rose three spots to No. 14, while St. John’s tumbled eight spots to No. 16. UW-Oshkosh is ranked No. 17, and Bethel is listed at No. 20.

Gustavus Adolphus (12) and Whitworth (11) received votes this week.

Be heard

Do you have a story idea for the Around the West column? Contact me about approaching milestones, broken records, break-out players or any other storylines in the Region. Or just drop me a note to let me know what you think of the column. All ideas and feedback are welcome. Email me at josh.smith@d3sports.com or follow me on Twitter @By_Josh_Smith.