By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- Jared Paredes (So., WR, West Covina, CA/Northview HS) of Willamette University grabbed six passes for 96 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown catch, but Lincoln University (Calif.) defeated the Bearcats, 34-9, at McCulloch Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Bearcats fell to 1-1 on the season.

The Oaklanders, who are competing in intercollegiate athletics for the first time, improved to 1-2 on the season. Lincoln's roster includes primarily transfer players. The Oaklanders are not a member of the NCAA or the NAIA this season, but Lincoln plans to join the NCAA.

Lincoln put points on the scoreboard first on an 18-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cameron Burston at the 10:19 mark, six plays after a 45-yard punt return by Faizon Knight. Oswaldo Ochoa kicked the extra point.

Paredes scored his touchdown on a pass from Aidan Kuykendall (Sr., QB, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College) with 4:34 left in the first quarter. The extra point by Camdin Dirnberger (Fy., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) tied the score at 7-7.

Burston added a 5-yard touchdown run with 1:28 left in the first quarter. His score ended a 5-play, 53 yard drive after Jaquez Williams-Christ returned Dirnberger's kickoff 41 yards. The key play of the drive was a 54-yard pass from Burston to Rashaun Ramsey to the Willamette 5-yard line, one play after Burston was sacked by Dom Torres (Sr., DL, North Salt Lake, UT/Woods Cross HS) and La'Akea Like (So., LB, Littleton, CO/Columbine HS) for a 9-yard loss at the LU 41.

In the second quarter, Lincoln reached WU's 12-yard line and appeared to score on a run by Mike Green, but a personal foul penalty moved the ball back to 27-yard line. On 3rd-and-13 from the WU 15, Burston was sacked by Luke Seymour (So., DL, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS) and Keaton Adams (Sr., DE, Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) for a 7-yard loss.

On fourth down, Ochoa attempted a 39-yard field goal that was blocked by Keaton Adams and recovered by the Bearcats with 1:10 left in the second quarter. Lincoln held a 14-7 lead at halftime.

Lincoln opened the second half with an 11-play, 83-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Burston to Frank Hall. The PAT attempt by Ochoa was blocked by Keaton Adams, who recovered the ball at Willamette's 10-yard line and scampered 90 yards for a defensive two-point conversion, reducing the Oaklanders' lead to 20-9.

The final play of the third quarter was a 14-yard touchdown run by Damone Drew of Lincoln. Ochoa kicked the extra point. The drive covered 10 plays and 74 yards. The Oaklanders completed the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown rush by David Teu with 0:09 left in the game, followed by a successful PAT kick from Ochoa.

Kuykendall was 13 of 25 passing for Willamette for 115 yards and one touchdown. He threw one interception. His longest play was a 49-yard toss to Paredes.

Burston of Lincoln completed 12 of 20 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown. Ramsey led the Oaklanders with three catches for 78 yards. Green carried the ball 15 times for 61 yards.

Lincoln finished with 370 yards of total offense. The Oaklanders limited Willamette to 118 total yards.

The Willamette defensive chart was topped by AJ Conrad (So., DE, Temecula, CA/Murrieta Valley HS) and Dylan Hall (So., LB, Erie, CO/Peak to Peak Charter School), each with 10 total tackles. Torres added eight tackles. The Bearcats registered four quarterback sacks for 36 yards in losses.

Keaton Adams of WU concluded the game with seven tackles, including 3.0 tackles for 25 yards lost. He earned 1.5 sacks and blocked two kicks. His 90-yard defensive two-point conversion increased his season scoring to eight points. Adams scored on a 41-yard fumble recovery return versus the University of Puget Sound in the season opener on Sept. 4.

Nick Patterson and Emmit Gooden topped Lincoln with five tackles apiece. Trey Hoskins provided four tackles.

The Bearcats will play at Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, California, on Saturday, Sept. 25. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).