SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior wide receiver Scott
Schoettgen (Sr., WR) scored three touchdowns on catches of 13, 50
and 48 yards -- all in the first half -- helping the Bearcats
defeat Menlo College, 32-15, on Saturday, Oct. 23 in driving rain
at McCulloch Stadium. Willamette improved to 5-2 overall, while
Menlo fell to 3-5 on the season.
Schoettgen now has 32 career touchdown catches, giving him sole
possession of Willamette's all-time record. He entered the game
tied for the record with Justin Pate, who caught 29 touchdowns from
1990-93.
Against Menlo, Schoettgen hauled in a total of seven catches for
157 yards. All three of his touchdown receptions were thrown by
Brian Widing (So., QB). Widing was 8 of 12 for 183 yards.
Cody Pastorino (So., S) of Willamette blocked a punt for the third
game in a row. WU scored on the play, with Kyle Yatabe (So., ILB)
recovering the ball at the Menlo 3-yard line and taking it into the
end zone for a 32-9 lead just 41 seconds into the fourth
quarter.
The blocked punt and strong play by the Willamette defense kept
Menlo's offense in check for most of the night. The Oaks did not
put together a sustained scoring drive.
Menlo scored its first touchdown on a 28-yard drive in the opening
quarter and added a 28-yard field goal following a 20-yard drive in
the third quarter. The Oaks scored their second touchdown on a
controversial 67-yard punt return with 10:33 left in the game.
Willamette limited the Oaks to 162 total yards. Menlo rushed for
66 yards on 35 carries and completed 13 of 28 passes for 96
yards.
Schoettgen's first touchdown catch covered 13 yards and finished
the game's opening drive. The Bearcats marched 73 yards on 13
plays, including three third down conversions.
The touchdown was scored on 3rd-and-goal. Schoettgen provided an
outstanding catch on the play, as he came down on the pylon at the
right edge of the goal line. Menlo blocked the extra point.
A 68-yard punt by Kevin Kurtz at the end of Menlo's first
possession started a sequence of events that led to a tying
touchdown by the Oaks.
Willamette took over at its own 20-yard line following a touchback
on the punt. Four plays later, a fumble by Widing was recovered by
R.J. Rivera of Menlo at the WU 38 with 4:50 left in the first
quarter.
Menlo achieved a net of zero yards on three plays after the
turnover. On fourth down, a punt by Kurtz was downed at the 1-yard
line by the Oaks' Jaronimo Wright.
The Bearcats managed to net five yards out of three plays before
Mitchell Rowan (Jr., PK/P) set up to punt out of the end zone.
Rowan faced a heavy rush, but managed to kick the ball. Menlo
gained control at the WU 28.
Four plays later, quarterback Taylor Congdon hit Devin Young with
a 13-yard touchdown pass. Kurtz missed the extra point kick,
leaving the score 6-6.
WU answered with a three-play, 57-yard drive that included
Schoettgen's second touchdown catch. Terrell Malley (So., TB)
opened the drive with a 4-yard run. Aaron Cavette (Sr., FB) added
an 8-yard run off left tackle.
After a false start penalty, Widing threw deep to Schoettgen, who
scored on a 50-yard reception. Kyle Derby (Fr., PK/P) kicked the
extra point with 13:22 remaining in the second quarter.
Later in the quarter, the Oaks pinned the Bearcats deep in
Willamette territory with a punt downed at the 7-yard line.
Four plays later, Rowan punted from the end zone for the second
time in the game. The 35-yard punt went out of bounds at the WU 40,
but Menlo lost the ball less than a minute later.
Congdon fumbled on a pass play on 3rd-and-9 at the Menlo 48. Reed
Warner (So., OLB) recovered the ball for Willamette.
On the next play, Widing connected with Schoettgen for a 48-yard
touchdown strike. A bad snap on the extra point led to holder Ryan
Whitcomb (Sr., QB/WR) being tackled. Even so, WU held a 19-6 lead
at halftime.
Menlo gained just one first down to start the third quarter. Kurtz
responded by kicking a 54-yard punt that rolled to the WU 1-yard
line before it was downed by Beau Bussani. The Bearcats were unable
to move the ball and Rowan managed a 30-yard punt after kicking
from the back of the end zone.
Five plays later, the Oaks faced 3rd-and-1 at the WU 9. Payton
Bell, who gained 36-yards on 14 carries during the game, was
stopped on the play for a 2-yard loss. Kurtz kicked a 28-yard field
goal to pull Menlo within 19-9.
Touchdowns from the special teams and defense extended the
Bearcats' lead to 32-9. The first score was a 12-yard interception
return by Warner with 0:58 left in the third quarter. Widing
attempted a pass on the conversion, but the ball fell incomplete.
Willamette owned a 25-9 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Pastorino's punt block at the MC
16-yard line led to Yatabe's 3-yard return for a score. Kerby
kicked the extra point.
Menlo's final touchdown was in doubt for several minutes as
officials discussed the play.
A 44-yard punt by Rowan was fumbled by Menlo at the MC 33. A group
of players went for the ball and formed a pile near the 33. The
play appeared to be over when James Yoder of Menlo grabbed the ball
and went 67 yards for a touchdown. Jeff Kahler (Sr., CB, Honolulu,
HI/Whitworth Univ.) blocked the PAT attempt by Kurtz.
Ralph Pineda (Sr., ILB) led Willamette's defense with 11 tackles.
He also intercepted a pass at the WU 9 late in the first half and
returned it 35 yards. Walter Robinson II (Sr., DE) finished with
seven tackles for the Bearcats, including 3.0 tackles for losses
and one sack.
Marcus Alvin (Fr., ILB) of Menlo registered 12 tackles. He earned
5.0 tackles for losses, achieved 2.5 sacks and forced one fumble.
Beau Bussani (Jr., FS) compiled 11 tackles for the Oaks.
The rainy weather contributed to both teams committing four
turnovers. WU lost the ball on three fumbles and one interception.
The Oaks lost one fumble and threw three interceptions. Warner,
Pineda and Tyson Giza (Fr., CB) picked off the passes for the
Bearcats.
Willamette will play at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., on
Saturday, Oct. 30. Game time for the NWC match-up is scheduled for
1 p.m. (PDT) at the Pine Bowl.
For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503)
370-6110
Schoettgen Scores Three TDs as Willamette Downs Menlo, 32-15
/seasons/2010/boxscores/20101023_yh3q.xml
2010
Menlo
15
Willamette
32
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menlo (3-5) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
| Willamette (5-2) | 6 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 32 |
Oct 23, 2010