FB: Northwest Conference

[RedandPurple]

From oAs:
"Can't Wait to Get to OREGON!!! Should be a fantastic game!
Story ideas, anybody?  I don't want to just write a game recap!"
oAs.

A film crew at the game was doing an article on the Lemon brothers. All four of them play football for the Wildcats and their dad is a coach.
Grandfather Meadowlark was at the game also. Click here for more: http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=2176

[RFB]

MonroviaCat....I've seen Oxy play this year and I'm confident the Wildcats can power past them. Especially if our defense keeps getting better. Oxy had some good athletes but they will not have seen anything like a Linfield team on a roll.

We need to handle Menlo and then go up to the Pine Bowl for the NWC shootout. Whitworth will be a BIG GAME!

RFB....any chance you could put a bug in your athletic directors ear and have him/her schedule Linfield next year? You guys seem to be looking pretty good and need a challenge.

I'm far removed from the Redlands football program. As much as I would like to see that game get scheduled I will not hound the Redlands AD or Coach Maynard to do so.

[MonroviaCat]

MonroviaCat....I've seen Oxy play this year and I'm confident the Wildcats can power past them. Especially if our defense keeps getting better. Oxy had some good athletes but they will not have seen anything like a Linfield team on a roll.

No doubt blue---I think if the Cats play like they did yesterday for all 4 quarters then they are hard to beat.  However, my point was that if the Cats have a bad game they are beatable by any of the three other teams mentioned.  The same goes for any of these teams---they are all good enough to beat each other when the oponent makes mistakes or has an off day.  In comparison, a team like Lewis and Clark would lose to these teams even if if they had a +4 turnover margin and made minimal mistakes.  I like the way the Cats are playing now but they have not yet displayed consistent dominance for a whole game (the D did yesterday but the O sputtered in the first half). 

[Proud Papa Joe]

The Cats defense has actualy played three good games in a row. If the defense hadn't withstood SOU's late charge then the CATS could be 3-3. The only flutter the defense had agianst SOU was the 90 yard run for a TD. Other then that I felt they played very well. Don't forget the goal line stance.

GO CATS things are coming together. I fell a visit to OXY is approaching.

PPJ

[MonroviaCat]

From the game recap:
PLU did not cross the 50-yard line in the second half.

Way to go Defense!

CATDOME

PLU's offense only crossed the 50 yard line once in the entire game (quarter changes not included) and were pushed back to their side of the field to end the drive.  They also started one drive on the Linfield side of the 50 but gained only 6 yards.  Cat D just dominated this game!

[bluenote]

OK...the Wildcats must win out. Here's how it pans out:

Whitworth vs: Willamette, Linfield, UPS (projection: 2-1)
Linfield vs: Menlo, Whitworth, L&C (projection: 3-0)
Willamette vs: Whitworth, L&C, PLU (projection: 1-2)
PLU vs: L&C Willamette (projection: 2-0)
UPS vs: Menlo, Whitworth (projection: 1-1)

Linfield is in control of it's own destiny!

[Proud Papa Joe]

Bluenote:

You are absolutly right.

It's great to control our own destiny.

GO CATS

PPJ

[bluenote]

Thanks Proud Papa Joe... I wish I could have met you at the game. I'm delighted that your wonderful son had a part in the festivities! But just being on the team is well worth it!

PS....I'm liking this back-up qb we've got. Maybe he could pass to himself next year......

[Proud Papa Joe]

Right agian.

Like I said earlier. Wife and I will be there for the L&C game. Looking to crash some tail gate party's.

Hope to see you there. Just look for the guy with the big smile.

PPJ

[George Thompson]

Great game Wildcats!     

Linfield is getting better and better.    They were much improved yesterday than the first 3 games.    Still some areas of concern, but less than 3 weeks ago.

Whitworth will be no picnic; but, the Cats have a good chance of winning in Spokane.

Playoffs:  Still a little early, but Linfield or Whitworth could be going to the Midwest.    Although a Calif. trip is the most likely, the NCAA might surprise us.   Regardless, the playoffs will not be easy.   The West again is loaded with top quality teams.    Then, Mary Hardin Baylor and Mount Union look unstoppable.

The overall strength of the Northwest Conference still looks suspect to me.

Nevertheless, Linfield is on an improving roll and Whitworth is the defending league champ.    I wish I could go to Spokane for that game.

GO CATS! GO!

George

[downtown48]

Great effort by Linfield yesterday...The offense did a great job adjusting to the usual difficult PLU mix of stunts and twists and general heavy pressure.  Definitely not easy to pick up right away if you haven't seen it live before. 

Defense was great like everybody has been saying, but the one thing that stuck out to me was the SPEED of the defense.  Linfield usually has undersized guys that are fast and just fly around but being the first time I've seen them live this year, they are on a different level this year.  PLU had plays set up a couple of times that guys just ran down and blew up...WC11, I think you hit it on the head, those young guys are improving and they are going to be a force if they keep getting better!  Should be a fun next few weeks...

[criswyly]

I wish we were in control of our own destiny....but even if we win out....we have to hope and pray that the NCAA selection committee doesn't send somebody else to party.

[MonroviaCat]

IF we win out we will be the only team in the NWC with a shot at the playoffs-  The Rats will have 2 in region losses and even though we'll be co-champs the Cats will be higher ranked for playoff considerations.  I think we do have to worry about Redlands and/or some of the WIAC teams getting in ahead of us but I would bet a NWC-SCIAC will be in the works if Linfield or Whitworth can win the rest of their games.

[RedandPurple]

swede:
I'm sorry I missed you at the tailgate, but tuxguy took good care of me.

[d-train]

I think we do have to worry about Redlands and/or some of the WIAC teams getting in ahead of us...

Not really the way it works. The Whitworth-Linfield winner will be a strong Pool B candidate. They'd only be aced out if there are 3 better Pool B candidates (which I doubt); in which case they'd still have a chance at a Pool C bid. Redlands and any WIAC or IIAC runner-ups would be Pool C candidates. They would only compete against the Whitworth-Linfield winner if Pool B is too crowded for the NWC champ. Meanwhile, you Cat and Rat fans might want to pull for Salisbury this week and Case Western next week and read the Pool B thread on the General Football board.