Linfield Throws it’s Way Past PLU, 44-21

The Wildcats outgained PLU 221-82 in the opening two quarters, including a 191-31 edge through the air.

Photos: Linfield College

PUYALLUP, Wash. - Scott Birkhofer booted five field goals and Tyler Kaluza scored three touchdowns as No. 16 Linfield soundly defeated Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran 44-21 under sunny skies at Sparks Stadium.

The six-time defending NWC champion Wildcats improved to 3-0 in the conference and 4-2 overall with their fourth consecutive victory. PLU dropped to 2-5, 1-3 in conference play.

Wildcats quarterback Trevor Scharer completed 17 of 34 passes, six of which went to Kaluza, who finished with 97 yards receiving. Drew Ragan started in the backfield for the ‘Cats and rushed for a game-high 64 yards on eight carries.

After falling behind 7-3 in the first quarter, Linfield erupted for 41 unanswered points. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that PLU scored its final 14 points to make the final score closer than it seemed.

The Wildcats vaulted to a 28-7 halftime lead as Scharer tossed three touchdown passes. After Birkhofer gave Linfield a 3-0 lead with a 44-yard field goal, the Lutes scored their only TD of the half on Chase Reed’s 42-yard scamper with 6:52 left in the first quarter. Kaluza caught a 3-yard TD from Scharer four minutes later, then Birkhofer added a 25-yard field goal to make it 13-7 five minutes into the second quarter.

Kaluza and Scharer hooked up again for 38-yard catch-and-run with 5:22 left in the half. Josh Vierra caught the two-point conversion pass from Scharer and the Wildcats led 21-7. With 58 ticks left before intermission, Scharer hit Travis Masters down the left sideline on an 87-yard bomb, lengthening the lead to 28-7.

The Wildcats finished with 453 yards of offense.

Birkhofer, who scored 18 points in the contest, opened the second half with matching field goals of 40 yards. Then Kaluza made it 41-7 in favor of the ‘Cats with a 22-yard TD from Sharer in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Birkhofer’s fifth field goal from 28 yards came away with 6:26 to play. The Lutes made the score respectable with a 75-yard TD catch by all-star Craig Chiado from backup quarterback Chris Maine, and a 34-yard interception return by Robert Thomsen.

The game was marred by 12 turnovers, seven by PLU. Both teams coughed up four interceptions.

PLU was led by the five receptions of Chiado, four of which came in the second half. Lutes starter Brett Gordon was 10 of 17 for 62 yards but was sacked three times, threw two interceptions and fumbled once. Maine completed 6 of 13 for 147 yards in relief.

Rover Andrew Bean and end Taylor Summers each made five tackles to spur a Wildcats’ defensive charge that held the Lutes to 294 total yards. Michael Greenberg, Ryan Caffall and Scott Olsen all contributed sacks in the game.

Linfield returns home to Maxwell Field to face new NWC member Menlo Saturday at 1:30 PM in the annual Hall of Fame Game.

The Oaks dropped a 26-7 decision to unbeaten and nationally ranked Whitworth on Saturday.

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