Linfield (0-0) at Western Oregon (1-0)

Sophomore running back Ben Kuenzi rushed for 206 yards on 33 carries and the Western Oregon defense stifled the Willamette run game as the Wolves opened the season with a 23-9 win over the Bearcats.

Photo courtesy: Linfield Athletics

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Sophomore running back Ben Kuenzi rushed for 206 yards on 33 carries and the Western Oregon defense stifled the Willamette run game as the Wolves opened the season with a 23-9 win over the Bearcats on Saturday night at McArthur Field.

Another local Cat from the Northwest Conference comes to McArthur Field this week when Linfield visits.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 13 nationally in the latest NCAA Division III poll, will open their season in this 6:00 p.m. encounter Saturday in Monmouth.

Ticket Time

Tickets for the game can be purchased at the gate. Prices are $14 for reserved, $9 for general admission and $7 for non-WOU students. Western Oregon students are free.

Series History

Linfield holds a commanding lead in the all-time series between the two schools at 42-14-3.

The Wolves have played only one other opponent more times than they have squared off with the Wildcats (58) -- Southern Oregon, whom they have played 70 games against.

While the Wildcats crushed the Wolves in 2004 (58-17) and 2005 (49-7), Western Oregon turned the tables last year with a 28-14 win over Linfield at Maxwell Field.

Arne's Assessment

"As always, Linfield will be a very good football team. Their quarterback (Trevor Scharer) is a quality player, and their receivers will be very solid like always. How we handle their ability to throw the deep ball will be a key, and our defensive line applying pressure is a must for us. On defense, they have good defensive backs and a relatively new defensive line. We also expect different wrinkles from them on both sides of the ball, they are well-coached."

Linfield Look

The Wildcats finished 6-3 in 2006 and were second in the Northwest Conference behind Whitworth, but missed the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

Still, the tradition-rich program produced its 51st consecutive winning season, and won five of its final six games after a 0-2 start.

In 2007, Coach Joe Smith's team returns seven starters on offense and five on defense. On the scoring side of the ball, second team All-NWC quarterback Trevor Scharer directs the team's hopes, after stepping into the starter's role early in the 2006 season, throwing for 2,060 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Scharer has two first team all-conference selections to throw to in Tyler Kaluza and Josh Vierra, who caught 37 and 35 passes last year respectively.

Jon Montalvo (247 yards rushing) is the top returning running back, but the Cats have to replace virtually their entire offensive line.

On defense, NWC first team selections Brian Mehl (safety) and Keone Tawata (linebacker) lead a group that allowed only 16 total points in their last three games of the 06 season.

Defense Dominates

Western Oregon's defense was suffocating for most of Saturday's 23-9 season-opening win over Willamette.

The Wolves allowed just 92 yards of total Bearcat offense on the night, and most of that came late in the contest.

At the end of the first quarter, Willamette had just four total yards, and at halftime the stat sheet said two yards.

Going Backwards

Nine different WOU defenders had tackles for losses in the game.

Defensive tackle Matt Cox took down Bearcats runners in their own backfield four times, while linebacker Matt Buche had two tackles for losses and had five solo tackles on the day.

Buche and middle linebacker JT Gilmore had eight total tackles each to lead the squad, and Buche also had a forced fumble.

Senior safety Zach Christopherson led a smothering pass-defend unit with an interception.

The Wolves, who had shutout Willamette in each of the past two seasons, finally gave up their first touchdown to the Bearcats on the final play of the game.

Arne on the Defense

"Other than three penalties that led to points for Willamette, I was very pleased with our defensive effort. We have to have a different game plan than normal because of Willamette's offense (Fly), but our guys adjusted well. That was as well as we have played against that offense in all of my years here. We frequently had lots of players all around the ball. We do need to cause more turnovers, and will have a stiffer challenge this week against Linfield."

Kuenzi's Chart Topper

5-10, 220-pound cannon-blast Ben Kuenzi had a collegiate career-best 206 yards on 33 carries, and two scores against the Bearcats.

In WOU's first two drives of the game, he packed the ball 10 times for 68 yards, and he had 84 yards rushing at the end of the first quarter.

The sophomore from McKay High School's (Salem) previous best was 174 yards last fall against Dixie State.

His 206-yard total tops the 2006 best of former all-star Eliot Vinzant, who had 204 yards at Southern Oregon, and is the most by a WOU back since Jason Taroli's 242-yard effort against Humboldt State in 1999.

The school record is held by Bill Volk, who had 315 yards against Eastern Oregon in 1994.

Passable Marks

WOU's passing game had its productive moments, as senior quarterback Mark Thorson went 19-for-34 for 196 yards and one score.

A few dropped balls and good Willamette coverage marred the total package.

Sophomore Sean Fullerton led pack of receivers with nine catches for 92 yards, both marks collegiate bests.

The former West Linn product had five grabs for 49 yards in WOU's first two offensive possessions of the game.

The Wolves had 388 yards in total offense, but were just two of ten in third-down conversion situations.

Arne on the Offense

"Our offensive line and Ben were phenomenal. For the most part, we controlled the football and moved the chains. Ben runs as hard as anyone that I have seen here, going back to my playing days (mid 1980's). He is very physical, and doesn't go down on first contact. We still have three other very good running backs that will see time, we just wanted to establish the running game against Willamette and go with what was working. Overall, at times our offense was great and other times we were out of sync. Part of that is getting used to game speed, so it didn't surprise me that we are not on all cylinders yet. Willamette did a nice job of pass defense, and we need to throw and catch better."

WOU players of the week (selected by the coaching staff):

Offensive MVP: Ben Kuenzi (So., RB, Salem/McKay HS)

Offensive Captain: Brandon O'Neil (Sr., OL, North Bend)

Defensive MVP: Matt Cox (Jr., DL, Salem/North Salem HS)

Defensive Captain: Zach Christopherson (Sr., DB, Portland/Wilson HS)

Special Teams MVP: Tyler Wilson (So., Dayton)

Special Teams Captain: Matt Buche (Sr., Myrtle Point)

Scout Team Offense: Miles Haley (Fr.-RS, RB, Springfield)

Scout Team Defense: Levi Smith (Fr.-RS, DE, Hermiston)

Scores of 2007 WOU Opponents

WOU 23, Willamette 9 (0-1)

Linfield, idle

Southwestern Oklahoma 7, Texas A&M-Kingsville 3 (0-1)

Texas State 38, Cal Poly 35 (0-1)

Mesa State 23, Humboldt State 21 (0-1)

Central Washington, idle

Southern Oregon (1-1) 48, Eastern Oregon 45 (4 ot)

Western Washington (1-0) 28, UC Davis 21

Dixie State (1-1) 24, Adams State 16

Experience Counts

Western Oregon returns nine players with starting experience on both sides of the football in 2007.

On offense that includes a deep and veteran offensive line, a stable of 6-8 wide receivers that will all see action, four running backs that are all break-away threats, and a veteran quarterback who will spend the season climbing the charts of various WOU's career passing lists.

On defense, the Wolves return the majority of their 06 line-up in all three area's the line, linebackers and secondary. In addition, three veterans back to handle the punting and kicking game.

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