FB: Northwest Conference

[Bill McCabe]

UMHBalum-n-Catland, care to hazard a prediction on next week's game?  It looks like it could be a good one.

[cawcdad]

Good game Wildcats, Better hope you get things together or they will be no RAT killing...let the trash talk begin. . . .

So here we go.
The QOW index has been updated. Whitworth is 42nd (9.429) while Linfield is way ahead of the Rats in the QOWI ranking at 26th 10.200.

From pinceone fan

A solid performance by the Pirates today.  This defense continues to impress.

I did some searching. Whitworth hasn't played a team with a winning record yet. Their opponents have a combined record of 17 - 43. Although the Rats average giving up only 10 ppg, their opponents average combined scoring 17 ppg. Take away usually one big point game for each team (read Lewis & Clark) and that average goes down. Take away the L&C and Menlo games from Whit (who have been anemic offensively as of late) and the Rats ppg D goes up. Not very impressive to me,
Let's go Cats. Show the Rats what real football is!!!

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Anyone could be 8-0 if you had the FRICKIN  cream-puff cupcake schedule that the Rats did in 06.  Injury report from Whitworth.

Lots of shoulder strains from impressing ones self and patting yourself on the back. 

never did  and NEVER will. 

If you don't want to play us save the expense, just pick a score and

PHONE IT IN

   GHC

[MonroviaCat]

Cawcdad:  Nice stat about Whitworth's opponents and while I am a big Cat fan I think it should be noted that the Cats are 1-2 vs. oponents with a winning record this year (I nearly forgot about the loggers).    The Cats at least have had the benefit of playing three winning teams and no what is like to lose and to be behind from those experiences.  Whitworth has been behind (and nearly lost to UW-Stout who is now 3-5 I think) but has yet to lose.  My take is losing taught the Cats something that Whitworth has yet (hasn't needed to) learn this season.  Should be an interesting game.  Linfield certainly has the higher powered offense but Whitworth (on paper at least) has the stingier defense and has a more balanced offense.  I think this could be a real battle!   So seriously, who's texting me next Saturday (you can do it through email free of charge!)

MC
Go CATS

[(509)Rat]

Pineconefan did a good enough job summarizing the game, so on to the good stuff.

I did some searching. Whitworth hasn't played a team with a winning record yet. Their opponents have a combined record of 17 - 43. Although the Rats average giving up only 10 ppg, their opponents average combined scoring 17 ppg. Take away usually one big point game for each team (read Lewis & Clark) and that average goes down. Take away the L&C and Menlo games from Whit (who have been anemic offensively as of late) and the Rats ppg D goes up. Not very impressive to me,
Let's go Cats. Show the Rats what real football is!!!

You have some valid points but you didn't really do enough searching, so before you question the RATS D and the "cupcake" schedule, here's something to think about...Whitworth has played two teams whose losing records are very decieving.  Redlands gave Oxy their only close game of the season until this weekend, they've lost to 3 teams who are or have been ranked in the top 25, and Whitworth beat up on Redlads worse than Oxy did.  Stout has lost 4 games in the toughest conference in the nation, blowing at leat 3 big 4th quarter leads.  They are much better than their record indicates and would maybe have 1-2 losses if they were playing in the NWC (after playing linfield and whitworth), and this is a game Whitworth COULD have won about 35-7 if it weren't for those 3 picks thrown while Whit was in the redzone (hey, if Mcat can use it as an excuse so can I).  Whitworth beat up on La verne, PLU, LC, and Menlo...not much else you can ask for there.

and now onto Willamette...Willamette had 17 first downs, 270 total yards, 4.7 yards per play against linfield.  Against the Pirates they had 13 first downs, 189 total yards, and 3.3 yards per play.  Advantage Whitworth.  Linfield's Offense however had a yard advantage per play (7.1 to 6.1) over whitworth against willamette.  Advantage Linfield.  The willamette game was played pretty evenly by both linfield and whitworth, strength of schedule should be the last thing you use to try and compare these two teams and decide who will win.

I think this game hinges on Whitworth's offense or Linfield's D (however you want to look at it).  I think the Rat D will keep them in this game and force some turnovers giving the offense opportunities...but if they have trouble scoring like they have several times this year then whitworth is in trouble.  Can't wait till this game is over though, especially to see the look on GHC's face...haven't seen a grown man cry in awhile.

[cawcdad]

Is holding the ball for 43 minutes to PLU's 17 minutes and only winning 19-7 beating up on the Lutes? Keep away maybe. I was at the Menlo game and they didn't beat up on the Oaks. Only 2 offensive TDs? They stalled twice in the red zone and settled for field goals. The game really came down to the DB's stop at the half of the Menlo play from the one. If (I know, coulda, woulda, shoulda)the Oaks score on that with the way Menlo started the second half, the Rats would have found themselves down to Menlo. Not exactly beating them up.

In fairness, Linfields opponents are a combined 26 - 27. Three teams have winning records and 4 have losing records. The Cats average 29.4 ppg on offense while their opponents have given up a combined 23.1 ppg. On defense, Linfield averages giving up 19 ppg while their opponents have scored a combined average of 26.2 ppg.

[D O.C.]

STREAK!

[Catville Commissioner Elect]

Great to meet Swede, LND, Mr&Mrs Coco, Mrs Tuxguy at the game....Even got to briefly meet Ad just before the national anthem.

The Cats really made me nervous the first half....from what I could see it looked like all three interceptions came off of deflections.

My eleven year old son Rock gave the Catdome turf a heavy workout with the security guard's son after the game.
If all goes as planned they have agreed to repeat the workout after next week's game with Whitworth.  Hope to meet more of you before and after.

criswyly, Sorry I couldn't make it to the tailgate yesterday (had to work which I know that Tuxguy will find hard to believe), but you can make sure I will be there with Mrs. Topcat next Saturday.  Brother Swede said he really enjoyed meeting you and I am sure I will too.  He spoke quite highly about all the new posters he met, so you must be a pretty nice guy.

Since I had to work, I hope somebody took care of the high octane.  If not, maybe that is why the cats looked kind of sluggish.  I know that I sure was at game time.  Had to have some cough elixer from one of great Cat fans that sits by me since GHC wasn't able to attend and I had to grieve for him during the game .  Both him and his wife seem to be really great people.  I told them they were welcome to show up at the TG and have a good time.  He really doesn't have any ties to Linfield but comes from the Scotts Mill area for all the games.  He is really a true fan.

[CalCat]

The latest QOW is out and the least points for an undeafeated D3 team goes to....WHITWORTH !

[ClassicCat]

Been away. I see things are back to normal, Cats whipping up on league opponents. Upcoming game with Whitworth. Nice. As I see it now, forget the statistics men, it will come down to three or four plays that determines the outcome of the game. Moreover, it boils down to Tully and Smith and how they direct their staffs in controlling the emotions of their players during the week of preparation. Coach Tully has the biggest obstacles to overcome. There's a chance of snow in Spokane this week, an obvious distraction. There's dealing with the pressure of playing Linfield, a demon in his mind. And, there's the Catdome. He has to deal with being undefeated. When was the last time Whitworth (or Tully) was 8-0?  It's hard living in a world in which one is unaccustomed.

Linfield on the other hand has been here before. Taking care of business is part of the job description in maintaining The Streak!! Coach Smith and the Cats have worked their way back to respectability, only to be tested if we're next level worthy. We have been there done that. Winning is tradition.  Linfield was last 8-0  in 2005, Whitworth in 1960.

I think we're up to the task of defending the NWC title, it's in our blood.

Have a story for you RATS. Back in the 70's during the great UCLA basketball era, Sidney Wicks and the Bruins went to Corvallis to play the Beavers. This was during their 88 game win streak episode. OSU played a great game. The Beavs, ahead by one, had the ball out-of-bounds at center court with 5 seconds left in the game. All they has to do was safely inbound the ball and history would be made. Guess who won?

[MonroviaCat]

  Stout has lost 4 games in the toughest conference in the nation, blowing at leat 3 big 4th quarter leads.  They are much better than their record indicates and would maybe have 1-2 losses if they were playing in the NWC (after playing linfield and whitworth), and this is a game Whitworth COULD have won about 35-7 if it weren't for those 3 picks thrown while Whit was in the redzone (hey, if Mcat can use it as an excuse so can I).

In response:  First of all---I did not use this as an excuse for anything.  I simply pointed out that had we scored those 3 times inside the redzone instead of giving the ball to Menlo the score would have been doubled. 


Second, while UW-Stout plays in a tough conference the bottom line is they have lost those games.  Moreover, their 3 wins this year were all very close (within a touchdown or less) so I wouldn't use them as the example for much better than their record indicates as they could have easily be 0-8 if those 3 teams they beat managed a last second or overtime comeback. 

That brings me to point 3-UW-Stout had 2 chances to beat the Rats in regulation and another shot in overtime.  Yeah, had the Rats not thrown the 3 picks it would have been a different game but if the Rats had not pulled in some picks againt other teams (I'm thinking of PLU) the results of those games could have been different as well (the should of, could of, would of theory nearly always works for whoever uses it). 

Now, let me agree with you on a few things:  First--QOW does not really matter because while Whitworth has a pretty crappy QOW score that is not their fault as much as it is the fact that their opponents can't seem to win much.  However, the point it does bring up is that we don't really know what the Rats can do against a good team (we'll see this weekend).

Second---I agree the Rat O/CatD thing is a key to the game.  The Rats are facing a pretty good Cat D which could keep their points low.  The other side of things is that this game presents the biggest challenge the Rat D has seen to date.  On paper the Rat d looks great--next week we'll get to see what they do against a pretty good offense in the Cats. 

Finally, I agree that your call on the UPS-CC game was amazing   I gave you props yesterday and give them to you again.  Nice call!

[RedandPurple]

Congratulations to the Linfield Wildcats....51 winning seasons! Wow, best in all of the NCAA!
Yesterday was a good game and fun to watch.

How cool was it to see and meet Meadowlark Lemon at the game!

Abby....the Pep Band is sounding GREAT! Thank you.

See you all next week.

[swede]

The latest QOW is out and the least points for an undeafeated D3 team goes to....WHITWORTH !

Does this mean a cat win Saturday will drop the 'cats QOW ranking?

[OregonCityCat99]

'Rat traps all over the CatDome on Saturday.

The Cat D has made an improvement every week this season and it looks like we've found a RB in Ragan.

Spirit is making the journey from STL for the "playoff game" .  Early forecast shows 50s and rain.............perfect for a Rat killing.

[Kelly Boggs]

Here goes for my first prediction since I began posting on D3football.com. Drum roll please......... LC 27   Whitworth 17

GO CATS GO