By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Running back Gabriel Herrera (Jr., San Jose, CA/Adrian C. Wilcox HS/Foothill College) and tight end Mason LaPlante (Fy., Great Falls, MT/Great Falls HS) each scored a touchdown for Willamette University against nationally ranked Linfield University on Saturday, Sept. 30 in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams at Maxwell Field. Linfield won 70-14 to improve to 3-0 on the season, 1-0 in the NWC. The Wildcats are ranked #8 in this week's D3Football.com Top 25. Willamette fell to 1-3 overall, 0-1 in the NWC.
Both of Willamette's touchdowns were on short drives of just two plays, with each drive covering fewer than 10 yards. The Bearcats scored the first touchdown following a sack and fumble forced by Michael Moreno (Jr., LB, Brawley, CA/Brawley Union HS/Whittier College) for a loss of 15 yards from the Linfield 22 with 1:10 remaining in the second quarter. Moreno recovered the fumble by quarterback Blake Eaton at the Linfield 7-yard line.
On first down, Micah Ho'Omanawanui (Fy., QB, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) threw an incomplete pass to Justin Genovia (Sr., WR, Aiea, HI/Iolani School), but the Wildcats were penalized for pass interference. With a new first down at the 2-yard line, Herrera carried the ball and was stopped at the 1-yard line. Herrera rushed again on second down and scored. Camdin Dirnberger (Jr., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS) kicked the extra point with 36 seconds to go in the first half.
Willamette's second touchdown was set up by a fumble on a Linfield punt return. WU punter George Wiles-Koehler (So., P, Monrovia, CA/St. John Bosco HS) kicked the ball 43 yards to the Linfield 10-yard line, where Reid Gary fumbled the ball. Javi Rodriguez (Fy., LB, Gervais, OR/John F. Kennedy HS) recovered for Willamette at the Linfield 6-yard line at the 11:32 mark in the fourth quarter.
The Bearcats scored on second down, with LaPlante hauling in a 6-yard scoring strike from Max Grizzell (Fy., QB, Park City, UT/Park City HS). Dirnberger kicked the conversion with 10:45 left in the game.
Linfield built a 26-0 lead in the first quarter. Passes from Eaton to Devon Murray covering 44 yards and 8 yards resulted in the first two touchdowns of the game. Place-kicker Gavin Dalziel missed both extra points, leaving the Wildcats with a 12-0 margin less than three minutes into the game.
Eaton scored on a 23-yard run with 8:17 to go in the quarter and Dalziel kicked the PAT to give Linfield a 19-0 lead. The final score of the opening quarter was earned by Connor McNabb on a 16-yard run on the fifth play with 1:18 on the clock after the Wildcats recovered a blocked punt at the Willamette 29-yard line. Linfield increased its lead to 40-7 at halftime.
Herrera finished the game with 17 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown for the Bearcats. Ho'Omanawanui was 7 of 14 passing for 37 yards, while Grizzell was 7 of 10 for 35 yards and one touchdown. Genovia caught five passes for 31 yards, while Nik Goff (Sr., WR, Phoenix, OR/Phoenix HS) hauled in two passes for 22 yards, including an 18-yard catch.
For Linfield, Eaton was 15 for 19 passing as he tossed for 174 yards and five touchdowns. Colton Smith grabbed five paseses for 44 yards and one score. Murray caught three passes for 56 yards and three touchdowns. McNabb rushed seven times for 104 yards and one touchdown.
The Wildcats gained 516 total yards and 26 first downs. Willamette earned 154 total yards and 11 touchdowns. The Bearcats lost two of three fumbles on offense, while Linfield lost three of four fumbles. The teams combined for 62 passes without an interception (32 by Willamette and 30 by Linfield).
WU's leading tacklers were Hogan Smith (Jr., DB, Prineville, OR/Crook County HS) and Michael Wong (Jr., LB, Apple Valley, CA/Apple Valley HS). Smith registered 11 total tackles, including seven solo tackles. Wong accumulated six total tackles, including four solo stops. Moreno added three tackles, to go with his forced fumble, fumble recovery, and 15-yard sack. Alex Threeths (Fy., DB, San Jose, CA/Santa Teresa HS) and AJ Conrad (Sr., DL, Temecula, CA/Murrieta Valley HS) also forced a fumble.
Johnny Miller achieved six total tackles for Linfield. Caiden Biege-Wetherbee contributed five tackles for the Wildcats.
Willamette will play its home opener next weekend against Whitworth University on Saturday, Oct. 7 as part of Family Weekend. Game time against the Pirates is scheduled for 1 p.m. PDT.
