Linfield Wallops Lewis & Clark, 66-0

Eight different Wildcats scored touchdowns in the game, including two by senior wide receiver Kyle Warner.

Wildcats starting quarterback Aaron Boehme passed for five touchdowns - all in the first half - in a 66-0 rout of Lewis & Clark on Saturday. Photo courtesy: Linfield Athletics

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Linfield held Lewis & Clark to two first downs and 43 yards of offense, drubbing the winless Pioneers 66-0 Saturday in Northwest Conference action at Maxwell Field.

With their third shutout of a NWC opponent this season, the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 NWC) wrapped up a share of second place in the conference. The Pioneers (0-9, 0-6 NWC) lost their 27th conference straight game.

Wildcats starting quarterback Aaron Boehme passed for five touchdowns - all in the first half - while completing 14 of 17 attempts in his major assignment.

Eight different Wildcats scored touchdowns in the game, including two by senior wide receiver Kyle Warner.

Pete Cruickshank scooted off tackle for a 9-yard touchdown run, capping a short seven-play drive on the Wildcats’ first possession. Scott Birkhofer made it 10-0 with a 39-yard field goal with 8:26 left in the first quarter.

Boehme, who started in place of injured all-star Trevor Scharer, tossed a picture-perfect touchdown pass to Lance Nelson with 5:34 left in the opening quarter. Boehme added to the Wildcats’ lead with a 2-yard touchdown pass over the middle to tight end Brett Smedley.

Following an interception by Tyler McCann deep inside Pioneers’ territory, Boehme needed two plays to extend the lead to 31-0.

Warner caught his first touchdown of the season, a 5-yard toss in the back of the end zone with 11:17 left in the second quarter.

Less than three minutes later, Josh Vierra caught a 23-yard touchdown from Boehme and the Wildcats led 38-0. After a short punt, Boehme threw his fifth touchdown pass of the half, an 18-yard touchdown to Tyson Banker.

The Wildcats outgained the Pioneers 341-7 in the first half and 490-43 for the game. Five different quarterbacks saw action for Linfield.

Though Linfield reserves played the entire second half, the onslaught continued early in the third quarter as third-stringer Cole Franklin threw 17 yards to Warner on the ‘Cats’ opening series. Colin Runkle booted the extra point to make it 59-0.

Moments later, P.J. Sequeria returned a punt 72 yards for yet another score.

The Pioneers didn’t get their initial first down until 10:58 of the fourth quarter when Tucker Laurence passed nine yard to Chance Martinez.

In the game, Lewis & Clark lost starting quarterback A.J. Brown and running back Joevonte Mayes to injury, further complicating matters for the depth-depleted Pioneers.

Brown completed 3 of 9 passes for 2 yards. Mayes, the NWC’s leader in all-purpose yardage, rushed nine times for -3 yards. Mayes came into the game averaging 161.5 all-purpose yards, but finished with -3 yards for the day.

Rover Andrew Bean picked up five tackles, including 2 ½ for loss. Drew Ragan and Paul Partlow each had four tackles.
Source: Linfield Athletics

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