FB: Northwest Conference

[LuavilleCat]

River,
 One word
  Nope  The only rings I see worn are for national championships

I agree GHC. A ring should be worn for being an "Eagle" not an "Armadillo."

An act just as intrusive as being rewarded with a ring for a conference championship in my thinking is when a defensive linemen makes a QB sack and then struts around celebrating and raising his finger gesturing "we're #1" when his team is down 35-0.

Stay focused Cats. UPS is capable of winning this Saturday until we convince them otherwise!

CATS SHINE IN 09

[bluenote]

...what about ring around the collar? 

[coco]

...what about ring around the collar? 

There you go, bringing up Rowan again.

[wildcat11]

...what about ring around the collar? 

There you go, bringing up Rowan again.

Coco,

Brining up Rowan NEVER GETS OLD!!! 

[D O.C.]

It does not!
Thank-you for letting me see THE CUT again by matador Hazenberg. That poor Ferdinand just fell over at the end after he grasped air. 

[Bearcat Press]

FURIOUS BEARCAT RALLY COMES UP INCHES SHORT

Tim Walsh
Sports Editor

With 21 seconds remaining and Linfield College clinging to a three-point lead, Willamette's onside kick skipped quickly towards an onrushing line of Wildcats. Remarkably, the ball took a sudden bounce over the Linfield players' heads, and as it sailed towards the sideline, Willamette cornerback Bubba Lemon leaped as high as he could, desperately trying to keep the ball inbounds.

It sailed inches over his outstretched palm.

"Inches," Head Coach Mark Speckman said. "We were inches away from a couple of interceptions ... from knocking down that screen pass ... from that onside kick ... from winning that game."

Despite falling behind by as many as two touchdowns, 22nd-ranked Willamette (6-2, 3-1 Northwest Conference) clawed its way back, closing within three points on three separate occasions in the third and fourth quarters. But a tiring Bearcat defense could not hold fifth-ranked Linfield (7-0, 4-0 NWC) out of the end zone, and the Wildcats went on to claim both a 30-27 victory and the inside track to the NWC title.

Saturday's atmosphere was electric, as well over 3000 fans crowded into 2400-seat McCulloch Stadium. Overflow seating for Linfield supporters was set up behind the north end zone, while Willamette's student section saw its biggest turnout of the season. But within minutes of kickoff, the home fans' cheers quickly turned into gasps, then stunned silence.

Cornerback Jeff Kahler read a Wildcat pass perfectly, but a sure interception went right through his hands – straight into the arms of a Linfield receiver, who ran untouched for the touchdown. Though the extra point attempt failed, the Wildcats still led 6-0 just over a minute into the game.

"It was a routine play gone ridiculously wrong," Speckman said. "Like, 'you gotta be kidding me.'"

After two Willamette drives stalled, Linfield picked up right where it left off, handing the ball to running back Aaron Willams on six of eight plays before quarterback Aaron Boehme faked out everyone and scored the touchdown himself.

This time, the Bearcats came back. Brian Widing squeezed a long pass to Scott Schoettgen between two Linfield defensive backs, but confusion on third down at the Linfield 12 led to an incomplete pass and a field goal from Mitchell Rowan. Rowan, one of the few bright spots in Willamette's first half, also landed a crunching hit on the ensuing kickoff – a play that earned him a helmet sticker.

Still, the Wildcats were moving the ball easily and often on the Bearcats' defense, and only two huge Willamette fourth down stands kept the deficit at 10. After the second – on fourth and inches deep in Bearcat territory – Willamette drove all the way down to the Linfield two-yard line, but backup quarterback Kevin Ramay was sacked on third and goal, and the Bearcats had to settle for three more points from Rowan just before halftime.

"Honestly, I was happy to be down just a touchdown," Speckman said. "Though I was mad at myself for not scoring at the end.  We were lucky just to be down seven."

Unfortunately, Willamette's string of bad luck continued to start the second half, despite retired basketball coach Gordie James leading his impassioned "Ooh Aah Bearcats!" chant during the break. Widing fumbled after converting on fourth down, and Boehme, who continually burned Willamette for long gains on quarterback scrambles, turned the mistake into a field goal.

"We knew about his [scrambling] ability, but we didn't contain it at all," Speckman said. "He was killing us."

Linfield's subsequent kickoff set the Bearcats up at their own four-yard line, but four huge plays got Willamette right back in the game. Two draws by Widing went for 36 yards, a sweep by Mikey Lemon went for 40 more, and on fourth and forever from the 27, Schoettgen boxed out a Linfield defender to haul in Widing's touchdown pass, sending the cardinal and gold fans into a frenzy.

The joy didn't last. In an eerie déjà vu moment, another would-be interception bounced off linebacker Matt Banta's hands. Two plays later, Boehme's screen pass went for 11 on fourth and 10, and three plays after that, the Wildcats scored again to make the score 23-13.

But the emotional roller coaster still was not over. Two Jamiere Abney rushes, 56 yards and 33 seconds later, the Bearcats were back within three.

"I can't say enough about Jamiere, both as a young man and as a player," Speckman said. "He made both those runs go."

The next Linfield possession could have been the back-breaker, as Boehme and Williams slashed a gassed Willamette defense on an 11 play, 73 yard touchdown drive that put the Wildcats ahead 30-20 with just over three minutes left. But the never-say-die Bearcats mounted one last comeback, covering 69 yards in just 2:57. Jose Green pulled in a one-handed catch on fourth down, and Tony Krikorian made a remarkable sideline grab to set up Ramay's one-yard touchdown toss to Schoettgen that pulled Willamette within 30-27 and set up the onside kick attempt.

After taking possession, the Wildcats took a knee, then danced in the north end zone to celebrate all but clinching their first NWC title since 2005.

"Credit Linfield, they came in with a great game plan," Speckman said. "It was a fun game. I wish I could have watched it as a fan."

With the NWC's automatic bid to the playoffs out of the question, Willamette will need a strong finish – and significant outside help – to be considered for one of the NCAA's six at-large bids. The Bearcats will have to wait an additional week to take the field themselves, as next Saturday marks the team's bye.

"Everyone's excited for the bye, especially the coaches' wives," Speckman said. "We get to heal some guys, rest, go back to some fundamentals ... and we forget about the Linfield game at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday."

Editor's Note: Game Day will return next week to preview the Puget Sound Loggers.

[coco]

...what about ring around the collar? 

There you go, bringing up Rowan again.

Coco,

Brining up Rowan NEVER GETS OLD!!! 

They should have been on the poll about the ugliest unis.
That video has to be one of your best, just like that game was one highlight after another.

Another nice job on the article, BCP.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

11  A perfect way for me to start my Friday.  Watching the 52 zip Rowan game.  Total domination by the Cats.  good Stuff

[cawcdad]

Pick 'em people, don't forget to get you choices in.

[BearcatFan]

Good article, Press. As usual! Enjoy the BYE!

[wildcat11]

...what about ring around the collar? 

There you go, bringing up Rowan again.

Coco,

Brining up Rowan NEVER GETS OLD!!! 

They should have been on the poll about the ugliest unis.
That video has to be one of your best, just like that game was one highlight after another.

Another nice job on the article, BCP.

As much as I'd love to I can't take credit for that video.  I didn't start putting clips together until 2006.  It was the Linfield staff that did everything from 2001-05.  But I'll agree, that Rowan clip is one of my all time favorites! 

Go cut down the Loggers this weekend.  Linfield is just INCHES away from the NWC crown and playoffs, let's get it done.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

BC Press,
  After your season is over you should come over to the dark side and write for us.  After spending some time at the REAL Catdome you would transfer for sure.  That way you won't have to worry about the inches deal, you could hang with the stud Cats.

GHC out

[Bubs1856]

Plus BCP...you wouldn't have to worry about getting TRUCKED by Boehme.

[Tezbaseball]

...what about ring around the collar? 

There you go, bringing up Rowan again.

Coco,

Brining up Rowan NEVER GETS OLD!!! 

They should have been on the poll about the ugliest unis.
That video has to be one of your best, just like that game was one highlight after another.

Another nice job on the article, BCP.

As much as I'd love to I can't take credit for that video.  I didn't start putting clips together until 2006.  It was the Linfield staff that did everything from 2001-05.  But I'll agree, that Rowan clip is one of my all time favorites! 

Go cut down the Loggers this weekend.  Linfield is just INCHES away from the NWC crown and playoffs, let's get it done.

Great stuff....Was that Mike Rhodes footage? I just realized that my rain coat that day was the same color as Rowans. 

[wildcat11]

...what about ring around the collar? 

There you go, bringing up Rowan again.

Coco,

Brining up Rowan NEVER GETS OLD!!! 

They should have been on the poll about the ugliest unis.
That video has to be one of your best, just like that game was one highlight after another.

Another nice job on the article, BCP.

As much as I'd love to I can't take credit for that video.  I didn't start putting clips together until 2006.  It was the Linfield staff that did everything from 2001-05.  But I'll agree, that Rowan clip is one of my all time favorites! 

Go cut down the Loggers this weekend.  Linfield is just INCHES away from the NWC crown and playoffs, let's get it done.

Great stuff....Was that Mike Rhodes footage? I just realized that my rain coat that day was the same color as Rowans. 

It is.  Mike is a fantastic videographer and I wish he was still around the area.  I think we would be a pretty tough combo with his video and my editing!