FB: Northwest Conference

[bluenote]

From the Hermiston Herald:

A sea of purple uniforms invaded Kennison Field Thursday afternoon, but only a select few had ties to Hermiston High.

Division III Linfield College and NAIA College of Idaho met in Hermiston for a scrimmage between the two squads that have three combined former Bulldogs.

Those players are freshman center Dylan Caldwell, who plays for Linfield, and freshman tight end Keegan Crafton and freshman defensive end Landon Clark-Gammell, both of whom are College of Idaho players.

The teams ran drills, including seven-on-sevens and trench matchups against each other for the first hour-and-a-half, before squaring off in an 11-man scrimmage for the last hour. Hitting was permitted for everyone besides quarterbacks, though the teams abandoned kickoffs and punts, instead starting on their own 35-yard lines.

The teams didn't officially keep score, but if they were, Linfield won 14-10. Linfield scored two touchdowns – both on long passes – to College of Idaho's one touchdown and field goal converted by Kyle Mitchell.

College of Idaho head coach Mike Moroski said the experience will help his team get up to game speed. After all, his program is entering only its third year following 37 years dormant, while Linfield is coming off a semifinals trip to the 2015 Division III playoffs and enters this season ranked No. 2 in most preseason polls.

"This was way better than what we can mimic (in practice)," Moroski said. "...This is so important for our young players and experienced players alike to get ready for game one."

Crafton saw little action during the scrimmage, but caught a couple of touchdown passes from J.J. Hyde during seven-on-seven drills in the red zone. According to Moroski, Crafton is currently slotted as the third-string tight end behind senior Ringo Robinson and junior Marcus Lenhardt, who led the team with 573 receiving yards last season.

He lacks the experience of Robinson and Lenhardt, having only been on campus for two weeks, and only playing one year of high school football. Crafton is still making his way up to the speed of college football, but said his skills are comparable to the upperclassmen.

"I'm just as athletic and talented as they are, but they just have been there longer," Crafton said. "They know what to do in certain situations – cover 1, cover 2. I don't know that stuff yet. I've played one year of football my whole life."

Crafton and Caldwell met after the scrimmage to congratulate each other and take a picture together. Linfield coach Joseph Smith has Caldwell listed as a center on Linfield's roster, but took most snaps at defensive end during the scrimmage.

Clark-Gammell didn't make the trip to Hermiston in part because of an injury but also a "snafu" over his eligibility, according to Moroski.

Spectators included a mix of locals and fans of both teams who traveled in from out of town. College of Idaho fan and Sunriver resident Laurie Henberg met friends Sharron and Dave Hansen in Hermiston for the scrimmage. Dave has called Linfield games for over three decades, witnessing all four of their national championships. Henberg said she wanted to see College of Idaho test itself against a top program such as Linfield.

"For us to scrimmage a team like Linfield is a big deal," Henberg said.

[criswyly]

Bluenote,
Thanx for the report.....

[wildcat11]

Puget Sound's season preview:  http://www.loggerathletics.com/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20160829mkmah4

Whitworth's season preview/Central game preview: http://www.whitworthpirates.com/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20160829w2qi7q

Fox's season preview: http://athletics.georgefox.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/Football_Season_Preview?utm_campaign=tagged-athletics&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com

"Winning teams have positive turnover ratios," explained Casey. "If you play smart football, make good decisions, and don't beat yourself, you're going to do well. Last year we led the conference in rushing, but we had big games in the air too. We'll be balanced. We can adjust to defenses."

Actually Fox was 5th in rushing yards per game but we all know at this point, GFU isn't very good at counting....

[D O.C.]

Didn't they lead the conference in attendance as well?

[MonroviaCat]

Didn't they lead the conference in attendance as well?

Yes...for the past 60 years or something like that.....

[GustyJ]

Didn't they lead the conference in attendance as well?

We did indeed, despite our alleged counting issues. Fortunately Coach Casey doesn't also teach math.

[wildcat11]

Didn't they lead the conference in attendance as well?

Well, when "cross town rivals"  Linfield and GFU get together in Newberg you might as well throw an additional 1,500 fans on top of the pile.

[D O.C.]

GustyJ....welcome!
Stick around as long as you have internet access.

[jamtod]

Linfield Folks: How is Riddle looking/feeling this preseason? I watched part of the Linfield/St Thomas game last night and am excited to see how Linfield looks this year, as I am convinced y'all will have a dangerous team (leading to me defending you as a #1 preseason ranking at times). Best of luck and hope everyone can stay healthy for another playoff encounter in St Paul 

[wildcat11]

Linfield Folks: How is Riddle looking/feeling this preseason? I watched part of the Linfield/St Thomas game last night and am excited to see how Linfield looks this year, as I am convinced y'all will have a dangerous team (leading to me defending you as a #1 preseason ranking at times). Best of luck and hope everyone can stay healthy for another playoff encounter in St Paul 

Sam looks great and is in total command of the offense. The 'Cats biggest question mark this season (IMO) is how quickly a young but very talented offensive line can jell and if our defensive line can stay healthy enough this season.  I really like our skill players, our defensive secondary should be fantastic, great at Linebacker, and special teams should be good enough. 

Excited to kick off the season.

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome: 2016 NWC Pick 'Em Contest: Week 1

[jamtod]

Linfield Folks: How is Riddle looking/feeling this preseason? I watched part of the Linfield/St Thomas game last night and am excited to see how Linfield looks this year, as I am convinced y'all will have a dangerous team (leading to me defending you as a #1 preseason ranking at times). Best of luck and hope everyone can stay healthy for another playoff encounter in St Paul 

Sam looks great and is in total command of the offense. The 'Cats biggest question mark this season (IMO) is how quickly a young but very talented offensive line can jell and if our defensive line can stay healthy enough this season.  I really like our skill players, our defensive secondary should be fantastic, great at Linebacker, and special teams should be good enough. 

Excited to kick off the season.

A good chunk of your skill players are back, correct? Some receivers I know. I know Hoff is gone. Is Payne gone?

[D O.C.]

jamtoTommie...The Riddler posted a link to the semi-final game last year months ago.  I have had it on my desk-top with no guts to watch it. Now that September 1st is here I am going to make myself watch the whole thing. The visions of the Giants Beyond the Wall has faded enough for me to try.

Payne should be a senior this year.  I understand much of the chatter from this board has moved to twitter. If something is amiss perhaps it can be found there.

[jamtod]

jamtoTommie...The Riddler posted a link to the semi-final game last year months ago.  I have had it on my desk-top with no guts to watch it. Now that September 1st is here I am going to make myself watch the whole thing. The visions of the Giants Beyond the Wall has faded enough for me to try.

Payne should be a senior this year.  I understand much of the chatter from this board has moved to twitter. If something is amiss perhaps it can be found there.

If you have some tweeter handles I should follow, I'd be happy to lurk along there.

I imagine I got a lot more enjoyment out of watching that game than you did (and also trying to spot myself in various crowd shots). It was that or the Mount Union championship game and well, that had its moments but...

[badgerwarhawk]

 We're those the moments that you spotted yourself in the crowd shots?