Box Score McMinnville, Ore. – Fifth-ranked Linfield rolled past visiting Whitworth 65-13 on Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Field, piling up 719 yards of total offense while holding the Pirates to a season-low 264 yards.
The Wildcats improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the NWC, clinching their 58th consecutive winning season to extend their all-division record in that category.
Linfield sacked Whitworth QBs six times (-34 yards) to disrupt the Pirates' offensive attack. Senior QB Bryan Peterson was harassed into a rough day, finishing 17 of 37 for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked five times. Michael McCune relieved a battered Peterson in the third quarter and completed 5 of 11 passes for 73 yards and a score.
Drew Clausen caught seven passes for 45 yards and a touchdown, while Nick Kiourkas made five receptions for 50 yards and another score. Whitworth was limited to 27 net yards rushing on 28 carries.
But they were not able to keep up with the efficient Linfield attack. Wildcat QB Sam Riddle threw for five touchdowns and ran for another to spark his team. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 312 yards with only one interception in just-under three quarter of play.
Charlie Poppen caught eight passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns. The Wildcats passed for 367 yards and ran for 352. Linfield had nine different ball-carriers with Bryan Cassil and Samuel Robinson each running for a score.
The Wildcats jumped ahead 20-0 early in the second quarter, including two touchdown passes from Riddle to Poppen. But Peterson hit Clausen for a 29-yard touchdown pass to complete a 75-yard drive that benefitted from 30 yards in penalties by Linfield, pulling Whitworth within 20-7.
However the Pirates could not sustain the momentum and Riddle ran for a four-yard touchdown and hit Evan Peterson for a five-yard score to extend Linfield's lead to 34-7 at halftime.
Linfield led 55-7 in the third quarter before Whitworth got on the scoreboard again, this time a one-yard pass from McCune to Kirourkas, completing another 75-yard possession.
Taylor Roelofs led Whitworth with eight tackles and made the Pirates' only interception.
The Pirates return home to host Puget Sound next Saturday in the Pine Bowl.
