Willamette Football Honors Seniors in Final Home Contest

By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore. – The Willamette University football team honored its seniors before the final home game on Saturday, Nov. 6 at McCulloch Stadium. The Bearcats put together a strong drive in the first quarter, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Dante Chaney (So., QB, Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Legacy HS) to Noah Niblett (Fy., WR/TE, Coos Bay, OR/Marshfield HS) to put Willamette on the scoreboard against the nationally ranked Wildcats of Linfield University.

Linfield, entering the game at #7 on the D3football.com weekly poll, would come out on top, posting a 77-7 win to improve to 8-0 on the season and 6-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette slipped to 1-8 overall and 0-6 in the NWC.

The Wildcats scored on its first play from scrimmage as Wyatt Smith tossed 49-yard scoring strike to Colton Smith to take an early lead. The senior quarterback tossed three more touchdown passes in the opening quarter, including another to Smith as time ran out.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats tacked on four scores with Smith adding three more touchdown passes, including another to Colton Smith, while Connor McNabb broke away for a 70-yard touchdown run.

Willamette's defense had a strong third quarter, limiting Linfield to just one touchdown and holding the Wildcats scoreless until the three-minute mark. The Bearcats closed out the game by allowing just a pair of scores in the fourth quarter.

On Linfield's first drive of the second half, Keaton Adams (Sr., DE, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) recorded an 11-yard sack, and classmate Dylan Streett (Sr., DB, Santa Barbara, CA/Bishop Diego HS) picked off Dawson Lieurance on the Willamette two-yard line.

Sam Adams (Sr., WR/P, Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) boomed a 51-yard punt in the third quarter as well. Despite allowing a pair of touchdowns, the Bearcats kept Linfield in check for most of the fourth period as well.

Wyatt Smith finished the day 20-of-24 for 315 yards and seven touchdowns for Linfield. Colton Smith made eight receptions for 124 yards and three touchdowns while Joel Valadez caught seven passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns as well. Connor Morton reached the century mark with 102 yards rushing on just four carries.

Hogan Smith (Fy., DB, Prineville, Ore./Crooks County HS) led the Willamette defense with 11 tackles while Dylan Hall (So., LB, Erie, CO/Peak to Peak Charter School) added six. Keaton Adams added a forced fumble to his sack, adding two tackles. Sam Adams added a 54-yard punt on the day as well, averaging 38.4 yards on 10 attempts.

Willamette is on the road next Saturday, traveling to the University of Puget Sound to close out the season. The Bearcats topped the Loggers, 48-35, in a non-conference match-up in the season opener on Sept. 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).