Linfield QB Scharer Shreds Hardin-Simmons, 52-42

In an offensive shootout, both teams surpassed the 500-yard plateau, with Linfield gaining 629, to Hardin-Simmons’ 562.

Trevor Scharer had a career-high 511 yards and 6 TDs in Linfield's 52-42 win over 19th-ranked Hardin-Simmons. Photo courtesy: Linfield Athletics

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - A battle between two nationally ranked teams Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Field lived up to its billing.

The No. 15 Linfield Wildcats outgunned 19th-ranked Hardin-Simmons 52-42, led by a career day from quarterback Trevor Scharer, who piled up 511 passing yards and six touchdowns.

Linfield moves to 1-1 on the season while Hardin-Simmons drops to 0-2.

Scharer spread out 32 completions to 10 different receivers, surpassing his career-high of 443 yards against Southern Oregon in 2006.

In an offensive shootout, both teams surpassed the 500-yard plateau, with Linfield gaining 629, to Hardin-Simmons’ 562.

Just as Linfield did last weekend against Western Oregon, it fell behind to start the game.

Hardin-Simmons struck first when receiver Mychal Carrillo took a Justin Feaster shovel pass 44 yards to the end zone, giving the Cowboys a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

Linfield was able to play a field-position battle during the first 15 minutes, due in large part to the punting efforts of Stan Fisher.

Fisher had two punts for a combined 94 yards, including one that was downed on the Hardin-Simmons one-yard line.

The Wildcats, however, were unable to convert the opportunities into points.

Linfield’s first scoring drive of the day was jump-started when Scharer hit Jordan Boustead for a 32-yard gain to the HSU 35.

After a timeout, the Wildcats scored the equalizer at the 13:40 mark of the second quarter.

Running back Drew Ragan floated out of the backfield to receive Scharer’s screen pass, taking it 35 yards for the score.

The Wildcats took their first lead of the day with 8:27 left in the half, when Scharer hooked up with Josh Vierra from 8 yards out.

The extra-point attempt was blocked and the Wildcats had to settle for a 13-6 lead.

Throughout the next five minutes, the Wildcats would score twice more.

The first of the two scores came on Ragan’s second touchdown of the day, a 6-yard sprint up the middle. With 3:39 left in the half, Linfield would widen its lead with a 21-yard touchdown catch by Tyler Kaluza.

After the two-point conversion failed, the Wildcats owned their biggest lead of the day, 26-7.

With Linfield seemingly in control, Hardin-Simmons quickly erased all thoughts of a blowout.

After Kaluza’s score, the Cowboys marched 72 yards on 10 plays, before Josh Sepeda capped off the drive with a rushing touchdown, cutting the Linfield lead to 26-14.

Sepeda’s score with 46 seconds left in the half gave Hardin-Simmons the momentum it needed to slash away at the Linfield lead.

The Wildcats aided the Cowboys’ comeback, giving away two fumbles during the first eight minutes of the second half.

Both fumbles led to scores, one on a 60-yard run by Quinton Jones, followed by a Mychal Carrillo 19-yard touchdown catch, which would give HSU its first lead of the day at 27-26.

Jones was the workhorse for the Cowboys, totaling 140 yards rushing on 17 carries.

After both teams exchanged touchdowns, it was Boustead that made the big play of the day for the ‘Cats.

Trailing 35-32, Linfield faced a fourth-and-10 situation from the Hardin-Simmons’ 36.

That was when Scharer connected with Boustead, who raced in for the touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 39-35 lead, one which they would never relinquish.

The Wildcats put more distance between them and the Cowboys on Scharer’s sixth touchdown pass of the day to Travis Masters with 11:23 to go.

An interception by Andrew Bean gave Linfield the ball back with just over seven minutes, allowing the ‘Cats to seal the game with two late Scott Birkhofer field goals.

Birkhofer’s last attempt was from 51 yards, breaking the school record previously held by John Gray.

NEXT

Linfield is idle next weekend, before opening Northwest Conference play at Willamette the following Saturday.

Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at McCulloch Stadium.

Hardin-Simmons travels home to Shelton Stadium, when the Cowboys host Louisiana College Saturday.

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