CLU vs. Linfield football Nov. 19, 2011. Part of story and Rest of story

CLU VIDEO:
'Cal Lutheran Football NCAA Playoffs Trip to Linfield'
The Cal Lutheran football team traveled to Oregon for its 2011 NCAA Championships first-round game. Uploaded by CalLutheran on Mar 12, 2012


WILDCATVILLE VIDEO:

Cal Lutheran played in McMinnville at Linfield on Nov. 19. 2011. The Wildcats won the game, 30-27. Read Linfield Sports Info news release about the game here.


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CLU football team enjoys trip to postseason

By Rhiannon Potkey
Ventura County Star
Friday, November 18, 2011

PORTLAND, Ore. — Daniel Mosier boarded the plane, grabbed his own row of seats and stretched out his legs.

The Cal Lutheran senior running back was flying charter for the first time, and he planned to enjoy the entire experience.

Sure, the CLU football team would love to have hosted an NCAA Division III playoff game, but it's not exactly like the Kingsmen are roughing it on the road.

"We're flying charter, eating good food and sleeping in nice beds," Mosier said. "There is nothing wrong with that."

Eighth-ranked CLU (8-1) will play at No. 5 Linfield (9-0) in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Kickoff today is at noon with the temperature expected to be 40 degrees with rain and possible snow showers.

CLU lost to Linfield in the previous two playoff meetings, and suffered another road loss to Linfield in the season opener this year.

But rather than view it as a disappointment to travel again, the Kingsmen are trying to embrace the opportunity.

"This is actually who I wanted to play first," said Mosier, a Royal High graduate. "Losing to them just left a sour taste in my mouth and that is all I have been thinking about. I am really just focused on the game."

The Kingsmen arrived at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank on Friday morning and their buses drove straight onto the tarmac next to the chartered plane.

They didn't have to wait in long lines to get their tickets or congregate at any gates.

They received a motivational sendoff from the bus driver and a personal message from the flight attendant as the plane touched down in Portland.

"Whip 'em good," she said over the loudspeaker. "Those Wildcats don't know what's coming."

Immediately after arriving in Portland, the Kingsmen went through a light practice in chilly conditions at Lewis & Clark College.

Although the teams met in the season opener in early September, CLU head coach Ben McEnroe notes a lot of things have changed since the 24-14 Linfield victory.

"I think both teams have gone through a natural growth and maturation process from the first week," he said. "Looking at them they are still an excellent defensive football team and they are the best defense we have faced. That hasn't changed, and their quarterback is no longer a first-game starter. He is nine games into it and has managed their offense pretty well and got them to an undefeated season."

CLU senior defensive back Justin Haulcy-Bateman believes the Kingsmen are more prepared to face Linfield than ever before.

"I feel really good about the team we have come up with this time and we are all confident and ready to go," said Haulcy-Bateman, a Hueneme High graduate. "We know their scheme and what they want to do and have prepared very well throughout the week to go do great stuff."

Since rallying to beat Redlands on Oct. 1, the Kingsmen have hardly been challenged in their last six games. They scored 52 or more points in each victory and their starters haven't played a full four quarters.

But McEnroe isn't worried about CLU not being battle-tested enough for the playoffs.
"All the games start 0-0. It's just a matter of who can play the best faster and who can get to the point where they are clicking the fastest when good teams face each other," McEnroe said. "Our guys look at everybody on the schedule as a competitor and they don't have any arrogance or cockiness. I know they will prepared."
The Kingsmen have always enjoyed the flight to Oregon, but they are hoping to finally enjoy the flight home for the first time.

Instead of contemplating another first-round loss, they want to be celebrating a first-round win.

"This is why you play and coach, to be in games like this," McEnroe said. "You want to put everything on the table and say, 'Let the better team win and the loser go home and sit on it for the offseason.' It's going to be a lot of fun."