FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

Thanks Again to Cawcdad for keeping me posted througout the game including the sad final outcome.   Sounds like the D played up to my expectations but we continue to suffer from the turnoveritis we caught during the PLU game.  Whiworth just good enough to beat us with that many turnovers while PLU and Menlo were not.  At least the Cats stayed in the game and had multiple chances to take the lead/win......more posts later when I get home and look more at what happened today.  Bring on the Pios!  Rats better tighten their straps and get ready for another tough game next week.  The loggers know how to play and will probably hold onto the ball better than our Cats did today....

[wildcat11]

I guess it's the year of the Rat.  Whitworth survived their one big mistake and the 'Cats just made way too many.

Enjoy the win and the NWC crown Whitworth (if/when you beat UPS) you did deserve it...Linfield will be looking to take that back next season up in Spokane.  Now go represent the NWC well.

As for the 'Cats...looks like the door on the playoffs all but closed today.  Great effort by the defense today.  

[speedybigboy]

Oh yeah, congrats to Whitworth on winning the conference title.  Even with a loss (doubtful) to UPS they would be 5-1 and tied with Linfield.  I guess that might be co conference champs but I'd think if we had an auto bid it would have to go to Whitworth for the head to head win.

[DutchFan2004]

I see that it was 7 TO's but what was the breakdown as far as fumbles and INT's

[speedybigboy]

I see that it was 7 TO's but what was the breakdown as far as fumbles and INT's

2 int, 6 fumbles(5 lost)

[downtown48]

First of all who cares about R. Lee, that dude is a joke.  Get some yards against a good team and then brag about it.  You can always count on him to come up small in the big games...more on the Linfield game later...

[DutchFan2004]

Ouch,  5 lost fumbles?  Does Whitworth hit that hard or did the Cats just have greasy hands and not take care of the ball?

[Lever Street]

Just returned from Maxwell Field. 

An absolute pathetic performance by Linfield.  The CATS should have won the game by 4 TD's.  They should feel completely embarassed to wear the Linfield uniform.  Instead, these pathetic Wildcats should try our for the cheerleading team.

7 turnovers.   Many penalties.  And the CATS still only lost by 4 ponts.  Whitworth is mediocre, no doubt.  Linfield was clearly the more talented team, but gave away the game, the conference title, and the playoffs. 

I hope the CATS are angry all Winter, all Spring, and all Summer.  That way they will come out strong next season.

[LogDawg]

First of all who cares about R. Lee, that dude is a joke.  Get some yards against a good team and then brag about it.  You can always count on him to come up small in the big games...more on the Linfield game later...

Why is Lee a joke? Cause he cant run against teams that his O-line cant block? Not saying that he is the best back ever, and I'll admit he has not performed well in many games against elite competition, however I dont know if that fact makes him a joke considering the unimaginative playcalling at UPS and the historical lack of surrounding talent. I would bet had Rory gone to play for your cats he would be as highly touted as he his now.  On another note, Ill admit he probably got a few more touches today after the game was out of reach, but thats more of a PW deal than a R. Lee deal, at any rate, I just thought it was funny that there was literally no response to his breaking the records that he did...at any rate not a huge deal, just thought it was funny.

BTW,
Congrats Rats on the NWC title. Its been a long time coming for y'all.

[bluenote]

Linfield drove inside the ten 3 times and Scharer drilled a pass right on the button for what should have been another TD from about the 25 in the 3rd. We fumbled it away twice at about the 5 yard line and went out on downs the last time. Frustrating to say the least. It was a very unfortunate scenerio for the 'cats because I believe Linfield is and would be a far superior playoff team. Our defense stopped Whitworth cold most of the entire game. I think Whitworth had 16 total yards in the 1st half and how many total for the game?. Linfield drove the ball down field all day but self destructed with fumbles, interceptions, etc. Whitworth touchdown in the 1st half was a take away from our running back  .... We definately had our chances to win....about 5 of them. In my opinion from what I saw today Linfield is the better team from top to bottom 9 out of 10 games...we just literally shot ourselves in the foot today. Don't count us out of the playoffs yet....you never know. We have 2 losses to two top 10 ranked teams in DIII. I haven't seen a layout of the pool B teams yet so I'm not sure how things stand, don't know if there are better pool B teams out there or not who are better. I know Whitworth will go but I'm telling you we are a better football team than they are 9 out of 10, that's why it's sooooooo frustrating....we're young too. I don't see UPS beating them though so you can forget that.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Props to the Rats for winning the NWC crown.  Time to fine tune and get ready to rep the NWC on the big stage.

Phone it in

   GHC

[pennstlbu]

First of all who cares about R. Lee, that dude is a joke.  Get some yards against a good team and then brag about it.  You can always count on him to come up small in the big games...more on the Linfield game later...

That's quite a low blow. If you don't got something good to say about the guy, don't say anything. He doesn't brag about yards he gets, he goes out and gets them. And what, UPS plays just its big games against Linfield each year? Who then does get rushing yards on Linfield in the NWC in the past 4 years? Not many guys. Lee got over 100 and a TD in '04, and got around 70 in '05. Sure he didn't play well this year, but I bet he still has averaged the most rushing yards on the Linfield D in the NWC the past few years. Still, there's no need to call a college player a joke.

[Pat Coleman]

Whit had only 85 yards of total O and 38 of it on one play. But the Rats held the ball and the Cats didn't.

Fumble returns are not part of total offense. They had 85 in addition to Clifton's touchdown return.

[pineconefan]

Well, the Pirates won.  As has been said before, there are no style points in football (thankfully).

Is Whitworth mediocre.  Maybe, but I'll take a mediocre championship that includes a win over Linfield, which seems like a contradiction.

Would Linfield win 9 of 10 times if they played ten times this year.  Maybe, but they did win the only one that counts.

Here is what I do know, Linfield (and PLU before) have done an outstanding job of representing the conference in the NCAA playoffs.  Should next week go as planned, the Pirates have big shoes to fill.

[downtown48]

I just hate not to give Whitworth credit because it sounds like sour grapes but my god talk about self-destructing!  The only thing I will say is Whitworth held on to the football in the same conditions that Linfield had to deal with and that won them the game.  I hate to say it but sombody proved why he wasn't starting and shouldn't be starting now.  Being big and fast doesn't automatically make you a big time RB.  You have to have patience and have a clue about the blocking schemes.  If I hear another "runs like David Russell" comment I'll puke.  Want proof?  56 carries for 200+ in the same weather and in the MUD with no fumbles...end of discussion...no more comparisons please.  I don't know how many times you need to watch the guy run into his lineman, bounce outside when you're kicking out the end, etc. etc. before you realize you made a bad decision and he's not ready?  The on the job training is a joke when a playoff spot is on the line.  Save that crap for Lewis and Clark.  The defense was the real deal today.  

Roast away...I've got broad shoulders and a long way to go before me and TD Tommy are on the same level.  

ps.
You didn't change my mind on Lee...he gets his yards against the L&C's, Menlo's, Colorado College's, SCIAC softy's and the Washington School of the Blind's of the world...he's wack...

pss.
Pat...they had a 38 yard pass play on the 2nd or 3rd play of the 3rd quarter...that's what cawcdad is referencing...