Linfield quarterback Sam Riddle passed for 215 yards and a touchdown while Tavon Willis rushed for 50 yards and two scores and Spencer Payne added 49 rushing yards. Erick Douglas III had six catches for 86 yards for Linfield, which improved its all-time record in home games against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference schools to 17-0.
Linfield defensive end Alex Hoff had two quarterback sacks for 18 yards as the Wildcats finished with eight sacks and 14 tackles for lost yardage. Rover Keanu Yamamoto led Linfield with nine tackles, two behind the line of scrimmage.
On Saturday, the Wildcat defense limited Redlands (0-2) to just 72 yards total offense and four first downs through the first three quarters as Linfield built a 44-0 lead. The Bulldogs' score came after a fumble by the Linfield reserves set Redlands up with a short field in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to 10-0 early in the second quarter with a 26-yard field goal by Michael Metter. The 47-yard drive was kept alive by a Riddle run on fourth-and-2 from the Redlands 35. The possession was the result of a fumble that it appeared Jake Reimer had returned 57 yards for a touchdown, but the 'Cats were called for a personal foul that negated the return
Another turnover led to Linfield's third score, as Kennedy Johnson picked off a Kevin Russell pass and, after a Wildcat penalty on the play, Linfield took over at the Redlands 46. Riddle passes of 16 yards to Altringer and 15 yards to Eric Igbinoba – who made a tiptoe catch at the right sideline – helped move the ball to the Bulldog 4. From there, Payne went over the left side and hurdled into the end zone for a 17-0 lead 1:34 before halftime.
Linfield had missed out on a scoring chance late in the first quarter, set up by Johnson's 53-yard punt return to the Redlands 24. Five plays later, the Wildcats appeared to have reached the 1 on a Riddle scramble but it was wiped out by a holding penalty; the possession ended with Metter missing a 38-yard field goal try wide left.
At intermission, Linfield had gained 231 yards but had six penalties for 61 yards, many wiping out big gains. Meanwhile, by halftime Linfield's defense had allowed just 83 yards and four first downs.
Redlands ran just three plays in Wildcat territory in the first half. One of those came after a bad snap turned into a Linfield fumble and Redlands recovered at the 'Cat 37. A penalty on the ensuing play moved the ball back into Redlands' end of the field and the Bulldogs fumbled it away on the next play. The other two plays in the half both came from the Linfield 49.
At the outset of the second half, Linfield scored touchdowns on its first three possessions to put the game out of reach, with two of those coming after Redlands turnovers.
After the opening kickoff, Kyle Belcher intercepted a Russell pass at the Bulldog 34. From there, it took the 'Cats six plays to score. Willis carried up the middle and cut right for the last two yards for a 23-0 lead with 11:49 left in the third quarter.
The Wildcat defense then forced a three-and-out and Linfield took over at midfield. Riddle's 32-yard pass to Reed Peterson took the ball to the 7 and a roughing the passer penalty moved it to the 3. Willis bulled in from there for the touchdown, making it 30-0 at the 8:19 mark of the period.
Redlands' next drive ended in a fumble with Jake Handran recovering at the Bulldog 21. On third-and-goal from the 10, Riddle was forced to scramble to his right. He dove and managed to touch the ball to the pylon for the score, putting Linfield ahead 37-0 with 5:44 remaining in the third.
Linfield tacked on another score later in the quarter, with Choisser's one-yard run capping an eight-play, 45-yard drive guided by backup quarterback Tom Knecht. That made it 44-0 with 16 seconds left in the quarter.
Redlands scored with 4:47 left in the game, Patrick Neville getting the touchdown on a one-yard run to finish a six-play, 21-yard drive.
AHEAD: Linfield (2-0 overall) has next Saturday off before beginning Northwest Conference play at Lewis & Clark on Oct. 3. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.