Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Visiting Whitworth was never able to get untracked offensively or stop big plays on defense as Linfield rolled to a 42-7 win over the Pirates in a Northwest Conference football game on Saturday at Maxwell Field.
In a game between nationally-ranked programs, the Wildcats (4-0 overall, 2-0 NWC) were much better than the Bucs (4-1, 1-1) on this day, especially in the first half when they took a 35-0 lead.
Linfield set the tone on the first play of the game when Connor McNabb ran 64 yards for a touchdown. The Wildcats added a second touchdown on their second possession when Wyatt Smith completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Connor Morton to complete a 71-yard drive.
Linfield scored three more times in the second quarter, starting when Sam Parris caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Smith with 10:41 left to compete a 49-yard drive. Then Smith found his brother Colton for a 31-yard touchdown, finishing off a 55-yard possession set up by a Whitworth interception. Smith finished off the half by running 48 yards for a score on fourth and one with 28 seconds left.
The statistics backed up Linfield's big halftime lead. The Wildcats outgained the Pirates 343-79 over the first two quarters, including 195 through the air and 148 on the ground. Whitworth had only seven rushing yards, thanks to three sacks for 22 yards in losses.
Smith threw a 51-yard touchdown to McNabb, who was streaking free out of the backfield, at the end of the third quarter.
Nate RaPue had a chance to get the Pirates on the board with just under nine minutes to play in the game with a 26-yard field goal attempt, but it was just wide to the left.
Whitworth avoided its first shutout since Nov. 9, 2002 when Jaedyn Prewitt scored on a one-yard option carry with 1:04 left in the game. That touchdown was set up by a 38-yard completion from Prewitt to Jarvid Natividad.
Linfield ended the game with a 508-246 edge in total offense. The Wildcats threw for 317 and ran for 191. Smith completed 24 of 35 passes for 308 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 66 yards and a score. McNabb ran for 86 yards and caught six passes for 77 yards, while scoring twice.
Prewitt completed 13 of 21 passes for 159 yards, mostly in the second half. Caleb Christensen, making his first start, went 11 for 18 for 72 yards with an interception. Hines ran 13 times for 40 yards, but Whitworth was limited to 15 net yards rushing. Jerusalem To'oto'o caught seven passes for 77 yards.
Derrick Platt and B.J. Mullin each had seven tackles for the Pirate defense, Mullin in a cast on his left hand. Jaylen Gonzales had five tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup. Whitworth did not have a sack for the first time this season.
Travis Swanson had five tackles, two sacks and two pass deflections at the line of scrimmage for the Linfield defense.
Whitworth will return home to host Pacific Lutheran during Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities next weekend.