FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Article updates and game previews:

PLU:



The Tacoma News Tribune:
Game Speed has Lutes QB adjusting on the fly

Lutes fall to 0-2 with road loss



UPS:



The Tacoma News Tribune:

Loggers look to Lee to carry the day again

Lee tops 100 again, but UPS suffers first loss



Willamette:



Willamette cruises past Menlo for first win



Whitworth:



The Whitworthian (student paper):

Clark, Ahsing lead Homecoming win

Whitworth/EOU game preview:

Ranked and Rested Whitworth Plays at Eastern Oregon



Linfield



Linfield/PLU game Preview:
Storied rivalry resumes Saturday



Lewis & Clark



Curtain drops on shorthannded Pioneers' home season

[criswyly]

This time last week I was having a hard time getting interested in the PLU game.  I'm thinking, "No chance the Lutes are going to beat us this year...well, at least we play the game to find out...well maybe they have a chance...after all they probably will show up...Okay, okay...so the Lutes have a chance"

That was last weeks thinking...but today...my football fever is rising.  How many hours to kickoff?  I "hope" the Lutes don't pull off any miracles this year...Then again maybe our salty D just might pitch a shutout.  I'm not even going to begin to guess what Elliot & Company will do.

In all honesty I do hope that young Westering finds his niche at PLU and has the Lutes back up to par after we pummel the Lutes for a few more years...no use being in a hurry...I hope all you Lutes coming to the game enjoy the new facilities and your after-glow...have a safe journey

[KennethK]

GHC:  Thought I would give you some hope for the J's getting to McMinnville.  Looked over the performance stats this morning and SJU is doing just fine.  Over 1700 yds total offense after 4 games..14th in the nation.  Johnnie D 5th in the nation 168 yds per game.  Have four convincing wins against good competition.  EC should challlenge in WIAC and Gustavus gave Wheaton all they wanted.  Watch for the Gusties to pull some upsets.  Kofoed is having a excellent start.  66% completions, 225 per game, 23 of 25 in the Red Zone, 5 of 7 4th down conversions, 57 passing first downs.
Tons of big plays.  The Johnnies have found a excellent punter and field goal kicker and kick off specialist.  Still need to improve on a few things (who doesn't) but we should win out giving us home field for couple of play off games.  I like our chances against the Iowa and or WIAC winner.  Oxy would be tough.  As it stands now , I think you folks in the Norwest get your wish.  A Johnnie vs Cat rematch.

[beancounter]

Kenneth....a Johnnie-Cat rematch isn't something that most Linfield boosters yearn for (some no doubt want revenge, but that isn't universal, to say the least).  Although it would be nice to reacquaint with some great people (Johnnie Red and Veek immediately come to mind for yours truly), if the Johnnies make there way here, fine.  If they don't...well, it won't make the road any different.

I'll take OAS's word for it....the Johnnies have been beating up on some sub standard competition and he is a little concerned about SJU turnovers and the quarterbacking.  As such, I'd be a little more worried about the Johnnies winning the MIAC than to flip the calendar to December this soon.

[Bubs1856]

 I agree with Cris...you can always throw out any scores/rankings/etc. when Lute week comes around. 

Wouldn't say I am worried but you never know what a massively desperate Lute team will bring to the table to protect their "streak."

Situation reminds me a little of the newspaper story that ran a few weeks ago about when the Cats streak was in jeopardy eons ago.

Go Cats...Luck the Futes.

[OregonCityCat99]

For the 1st time in a while, I'm not worried at all about this week. Maybe that's a bad thing because of the rivalry, but there's no way that PLU is going to score 30+ on a defense that has given up 1 scoring drive this season.  Not to mention, what defense are the Lutes going to present to slow down the Cat offense.

Just another bump in the road..........

Linfield 52
PLU      17 (garbage points)

[d-train]

Well I know that I'm not holding up my end of the Lute-Cat banter here...but I don't really have much to say. You guys are right, this might be the most mismatched these two teams have been in a long time. Linfield has scored 40+ with ease against fairly strong teams and shut down opposing offensives. PLU has allowed 40+ against average teams. The Lutes are very young all over the field and are learning a new defense. Sounds like they have a few young playmakers and some good kids in general, but I think this year is more about competing and rebuilding than it is about contending. I trust that the Lute staff and players are doing all that they can and that the program still has the right perspective on what's important. They'll be back in the thick of things soon enough. I'm excited that they've added a third trip to Oregon this year. It'll be interesting to track the progress.

Thanks for the tailgate invites. Depending on who's attending the game with me, I'm not exactly sure how early I'll get there. But I'll try to pop in on you guys.

The 'Cats have awesome talent right now and the coaching staff has done a great job of putting them in the right position and keeping their confidence at an appropriate level. But the game will still be played, so we do have a chance. Go Lutes!

[Lever Street]

Linfield wins this weekend in a laugher.

PLU  13
Cats 55

[Foss]

The game of interest this Saturday from a competitive standpoint should be the Whitworth vs. Eastern Oregon matchup. EOU just defeated the #7 NAIA team on the road by 2 TDs last week and is now in the top 25. Whitworth has to travel to La Grande, as well.

Willamette is going to have a least 4 losses this season, and I don't see how in the world they would ever get a playoff bid, regardless of how many ranked D3 or scholarship schools they've played. Their only chance is to win out and be the NWC champ. PLU is giving up 40+ a game and may not even have a winning season. UPS will probably win one or two against the NWC big four, but is not there yet.

With Willamette's bad start and PLU down, this is clearly Whitworth's year to step up as the NWC #2 and get into the playoffs. But with only 8 games right now, they don't have much room for error, especially knowing they are going to have a W hung on them by the 'Cats. They can't afford to stumble this weekend against EOU, even though they're non-D3. If they do (and w/ a second loss from the 'Cats) they would likely have to beat both Willamette and PLU just to get 6 wins and have a shot at the postseason.

[Pirat]

?? Foss, Fehleistung???

Every RAT I have talked with this season knows EOU is a very good football team.  I think, better than last year given the Cali JC transfers they have picked up.  This will definitely be the best test of the year so far for the RATS.

GO RATS

[bluenote]

I just don't know where to start...I guess the first thing I have to say is that I'm really sad about L&C deleting the NWC Season. I feel really bad for all the students and players who love the game and Griswald Stadium in my opinion is one of the best in the league.

The alcohol stuff....I don't know what it is, but when I was in college there may have been 3,4,5...maybe 10 or so people sitting around having a good time, but now they want to have like 50+ people or more freaking out to rap or country and bothering all the neighborhood... and alot of them are under age and they are loud and stupid..go figure. They just don't have discretion these days....

I'm really greatful to all the NWC Posters. I wish there were more posters from other schools besides Linfield because as everyone knows...variety is the spice of life.

I went to the Menlo/Willamette game....that was cool. I've got to give Menlo some credit....how do they, as such a small college come up with the funds to travel all over and play 10 games? Why can't Linfield play 10 games? It seems to me they are floating in money. Look at the revamped campus and the enrolement....it's mainly due to the success of the football program and baseball program. Come on , let the flies out of the wallet Deans. We had 4 homes games scheduled this year and now we have 3.5...no offense Wildcat11. But really, what I'm saying is that Linfield is the best team in the nation. I only hope we can play either SJU, Central, MUC or UMHB or Hardin-Simmons in the playoffs.

[Foss]

bluenote, definately makes one think, that's for sure. Linfield will be playing a powerhouse Texas team (Hardin-Simmons) next season but will still need at least one more game just to have 9. We might have to search even farther south/east to find it. We'll see.

pirat, "Fehleistung" sounds German??? Give me a Norwegian name and you'll be right on, although surprisingly I'm a horrible skier and hate the cold. Good to know the 'Rats are up for the EOU game. I'll be pulling for them in that one and am hoping they have a great year, it would be nice for the program and conference. A win in La Grande would be big and give them a boost before the showdown with Linfield the next week. I think Whitworth on the road will be the 'Cats best competition this regular season.

[rockcat]

I went to the Oxy-Cal Lutheran game last weekend with a formal Bethel U player.  After seeing CLU play we couldn't imagine how bad PLU must be this year.  CLU looked absolutely horrible.  They only had one solid offensive possession the entire game.   In fact, they would have only scored once if their kicker didn't make a 52 yard field goal just before the half.

If Cal Luth scored 42 against PLU I can't imagine what the Cats are going to do this weekend.  We honestly might see the widest margin of victory in the history of the series.  Cats in a route, win by 40.

[spiritof86]

I will be arriving in Ptld on Friday morning for all of you who want to meet me at the airport.

The game should be good this weekend, if not mismatched. The "rivalry" can generate some pts for the underdog- see 1999 when plu defeated the 'cats in mac 56-21 (or something close to that.) The 'cats trailed 21-0 early but were able to hang on until halftime.

Linfield is going to win by 4 td's or so. Tailgate in the same spot, I am leaving Beaverton around 7:45AM.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

  Don't we all love Lute Week.  It always brings out some of the best posts ever on the board.  So whats missing.  I know we are all sitting back waiting for the Cats to roll again, but this is LUTE WEEK !!!!!!!!!!  I don't remember the exact year, but somewhere in the mid 90' PLU came to the Catdome 6-0 I think.  The Cats were not supposed to give them a game, yea right, the Cats rolled PLU big I think it was a +30 maybe more.  Now I don't see that happening this year but you all know that Coach Stash will bring his bag of tricks big time,  hell he even might break out daddy's pi$$ yellow shorts for us.  D-Train-  Give us a rundown on how your Lutes are a threat.

                               GHC