Linfield Wins NWC Title with Victory Over Bearcats

SALEM, OR Linfield College affirmed its hold on the nations #1 ranking and won the Northwest Conference title as the Wildcats defeated the Willamette University football team (5-4 overall, 3-1 NWC), 63-21, at McCulloch Stadium Saturday night.

Scoring on its first five possessions, the Wildcats (8-0, 4-0 NWC) proved why they are the defending national champions as they played their final regular season game of a second straight undefeated season. Quarterback Brett Elliot, with an NFL scout watching him from the press box, passed for 330 yards and four touchdowns.

Seniors Greg Goodenough (pictured above), Cameron Walton and Quentin Brock, all playing in their last home game for Willamette, scored touchdowns.

Walton raced 66 yards with 5:02 left in the third quarter for the Bearcats first score. Brock ran 9 yards for a score mid-way through the fourth quarter.

Brock also threw a 9-yard TD pass to Goodenough late in the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats broke on top on their first possession, taking over on downs on their own 40 yard line. Linfield marched 60 yards in six plays, highlighted by a 33-yard pass from Elliot to Casey Allen. Mordecai Kotler punched in te first Linfield TD on a 3-yard run.

Elliot and Allen hooked up for the first of Allens three TD catches on the Wildcats next possession, hauling in a 46-yard TD pass from Elliot. Allen also caught an 89-yard TD pass, the longest pass play in Linfield history.

Pete Cruikshank ran for two other Linfield scores.

For the game, Elliot completed 14 of 22 passes for 33 yards and four touchdowns. Allen caught five passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Cruickshank, Montalvo and Kotler combined for 135 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

For Willamette, Brock rushed for 88 yards in 24 carries, scored one TD and threw for his first collegiate touchdown.

Walton was 10-24 for 130 yards and one interception. Walton also carried 20 times for 75 yards. Tony Davis caught five passes for 57 yards.

Defensively, senior Megdy Khoury, also playing in his last home game, led the Bearcats with ten tackles.

Brandon Olsen led Linfield with 12 tackles.