Linfield Wallops Willamette, 42-14

Linfield, which rolled up a season-high 466 yards, picked off Bearcats quarterback Kevin Whipps three times and recovered two fumbles. Scharer passed for 338 yards, including two in the first half.

Photo: Linfield College

McMINNVILLE - Linfield quarterback Trevor Scharer passed for three touchdowns and ran for another during his first career start, lifting the Wildcats to a 42-14 Northwest Conference victory over Willamette Saturday at sun-soaked Maxwell Field.

The win, Linfield’s first of the 2006 season, was its 24th consecutive victory in conference play. Willamette fell to 1-4, 1-1 in the NWC.

After the teams traded turnovers deep inside Linfield territory to start the game, Scharer threw deep to Josh Vierra for a 94-yard score.

Willamette didn’t waste time, moving into the red zone once more on their ensuing possession. Ryan Hernandez scored from five yards out, capping a seven-play, 76-yard drive. Matt Bicocca’s extra point knotted the score at 7 with 8:45 left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats marched to the Linfield 1, where the Wildcats held on three straight downs. On fourth down, fullback Kevin Dean plowed into the end zone, giving the visitors a 14-7 advantage.

Linfield drove to the WU 24 midway through the second quarter, but Scharer was stripped of the ball and the Bearcats Mike Reeves recovered at the 17.

Following a Keone Tawata interception that gave the Wildcats the ball at the WU 34, Scharer found a streaking Bubba Lemon down the right sideline for the tying score. Lemon, a starting cornerback on defense, was making his first appearance on the offensive side of the ball.

The Wildcats outgained the Bearcats 243-179 in the first half, but Willamette controlled the ball for more 17 minutes.

The Bearcats marched nine plays to the Linfield 15 to begin the second half, but a fake field goal attempt on fourth down went awry. Linfield followed the change of possession with a methodical 10-play drive, capped by Scharer’s third TD pass of the afternoon, this one a 17-yarder to Jared Thomas. Linfield led 21-14 with 3:28 left in the third quarter.

Defensive tackle-turned-fullback Mike Ketler added some insurance points, scoring first career touchdown from the 1 on fourth down in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Moments later, Tawata intercepted Whipps and returned the ball 40 yards for the Wildcats’ fourth unanswered touchdown.

Scharer padded Linfield’s lead midway through the fourth, pushing into the end zone from the 1.

Whipps completed 13 of 25 pass attempts for 181 yards. But the Bearcats went without a touchdown pass and gave up two sacks.

Tawata finished with 15 total tackles, including nine unassisted, and added two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Thomas finished with seven catches for 104 yards and Vierra had three for 122. WU's Kevin Dean was the game's top rusher, gaining 36 yards on seven carries.

Linfield takes to the road next Saturday when the Wildcats visit Puget Sound.

Willamette has the week off before hosting Puget Sound on Oct. 14th.

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