No. 23 Linfield Routs Puget Sound, 37-0

The Wildcats outgained the Loggers 473-182, including a 256-67 advantage through the air.

Photo courtesy: Linfield Athletics

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Receiver-turned-running back Travis Masters rushed for 149 yards and Dan Lever scored two rushing touchdowns to pace No. 23 Linfield to a 37-0 Northwest Conference shutout of Puget Sound Saturday at Maxwell Field.

Masters and Lever sparked a maligned Linfield running game, helping the Wildcats net a season-high 217 yards on the ground.

The hosts came into the game averaging a 68 yards rushing a game, fewest in the NWC.

Linfield evened its season record at 2-2 and 1-1 in the NWC. UPS (2-3, 0-2 NWC) dropped its third straight game after a 2-0 start.

The Wildcats outgained the Loggers 473-182, including a 256-67 advantage through the air.

The ‘Cats forced four turnovers while giving the ball up twice.

Linfield built a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. An interception by Andrew Bean at the UPS 37 set up Linfield’s first touchdown, a 1-yard blast off right tackle by Lever three minutes into the game.

The Wildcats converted another early interception into points. Bubba Lemon intercepted quarterback Spencer Crace inside UPS territory.

After Linfield’s drive stalled, Scott Birkhofer booted a school-record 53-yard field goal, eclipsing his own mark set earlier this season.

The Loggers marched to the Linfield 22, but Crace’s fourth-down pass to Brian Eggers was just out of reach, spoiling the Loggers’ best field position of the first half.

Lever scored his second TD on a 4-yard run up the middle, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 16-0. Birkhofer’s extra point was blocked by Daniel Mensondies.

After linebacker Jaymin Jackson picked off Crace at midfield, the Wildcats needed just three plays to take a 23-0 lead just before intermission.

Masters raced 17 yards down the left sideline with a pass from Trevor Scharer with 28 seconds left in the period.

The third quarter was scoreless. Linfield’s last two scores came on a 2-yard TD pass from Scharer to backup quarterback Aaron Boehme, and a 2-yard run by Pete Cruickshank, who finished as the game’s second-leading rusher with 53 yards on 12 carries.

Crace, replacing injured starter Kavin Williams behind center, completed 6 of 17 passes for 67 yards.

His longest completion, a 29-yarder to Eddie Behringer, came with less than a minute to play.

Scharer, the NWC’s passing leader, threw for 239 yards, completing 21 of 36 attempts without an interception or a sack.

Linfield’s defense was led by safety Brian Mehl and linebacker Paul Partlow, who both tallied 11 tackles.

Trevor Beck led the Loggers defensively with 9 tackles, including two for loss. Beck also recovered a fumble.

Source: Linfield Athletics

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