N-R 12/5/2014 about Linfield at Widener football game

‘Cats prep for East Coast clash

By Robert Husseman of the McMinnville N-R/News-Register

Linfield head football coach Joseph Smith took a step back from coaching the Wildcats this summer and took his family on a trip around the eastern United States and New England.

With its coach as tour guide, the Linfield football team paraded around Philadelphia today in preparation of its game against Widener University in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals on Saturday. The Wildcats will visit such national landmarks as Independence Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Linfield players will follow the same steps that Sylvester Stallone did in the movie “Rocky.”

“I’m sure we’ll take a million pictures,” Smith said.

Before seeing the sights, the Wildcats practiced earlier today at the Novacare Complex, the practice facility for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Through some mutual coaching friends, Eagles head coach and former University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly gave Linfield the go-ahead to use the facility.

“That’s nice,” Smith said. “Giving us some Oregon love.”
In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Wildcats’ place is similar to that of the Eagles – a top team with some questioning their championship bona fides. Like Rocky Balboa, however, Linfield is the people’s champion.

Since the events of Nov. 15 – clinching a share of the Northwest Conference championship with a victory over Pacific and losing sophomore linebacker Parker Moore in a fatal stabbing – the Wildcats have earned nationwide respect for upsetting No. 2-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor in the D-III second round on Nov. 29. Linfield enters its quarterfinal game against the Pride ranked No. 10 nationally by d3football.com; Widener comes in at No. 11.

Saturday’s 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time contest represents the first game between the Wildcats and any opponent from the Middle Atlantic Conference. Widener, located in Chester, Pennsylvania – south of Philadelphia and along the Delaware River – is the conference’s champion, carrying a 12-0 record into the game under first-year coach Mike Kelly.

“They seem to be doing some great schematic things on offense and defense,” Smith said. “Very frenetic pace on offense with motions and shifts, and really great systems, I think.”

Defense has gotten the Pride to this point. Widener is the top run-defense team in Division III, allowing 61.3 yards per game and holding two opponents to negative rushing yardage. The Pride rank third nationally in tackles for loss per game (10.1), fourth nationally in turnover ratio (36 created against 10 lost) and sixth in sacks per game (3.67).

“Their defense is pressure-oriented, very much like the (Pittsburgh) Steelers with the heavy pressure, zone concepts, guys dropping in and out of coverage,” Smith said. “They roll the dice pretty heavily, but they have great athletes.”

The Wildcats’ greatest revelation in recent weeks has been the play of its offensive line. Set back by injuries, the line has been strong in its last three games, paving the way for 5.3 yards per rushing attempt against UMHB.

“I could not be more pleased with how our tackles played,” Smith said. “Steven Schultz, I think, has really battled all year long some shoulder issues; he really hasn’t had the year he expected to have. Now he’s really coming into his own, and he was dominant.

“Jacob Hanke went against their best pass rusher, I thought – maybe one of the best ones we’ve seen all year – on the right side and did awesome.”

Senior guard Kekuapono Kalua played in place of starting left guard Eric Pitassi (undisclosed) and anchored the interior of the Wildcats’ line, along with senior center Jeremy Patrick and senior right guard Owen Fritz.

“He’s been a mainstay so you kind of take him for granted, but he’s been such a steady force for us,” Smith said. “Really cerebral football player; another coach on the field. He knows (offensive line coach Doug) Hire’s mind maybe better than Coach Hire does.”

Linfield proved itself physically up to the challenge of its trip to Belton, Texas, on Nov. 22. Philadelphia belies a different set of conditions.

“We’ve got to get on a plane again. That takes a toll,” Smith said. “The three-hour time difference is a real issue.  Not crazy about playing a 9 o’clock game – I don’t think that’s really right – but we’re going to go do it and make the most of it.”

Linfield football watch party at Evergreen Theater

A watch party for Linfield’s NCAA Division III quarterfinal game against Widener will be hosted at the Evergreen Theater at the Evergreen Aviation Museum on Highway 18 in McMinnville on Saturday.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the game begins at 9 a.m. Admission to the watch party, and the rest of the museum, is free on Saturday in honor of Evergreen Aviation Inc. founder and longtime Linfield supporter and trustee Delford “Del” M. Smith, who died last month.
Fans and community members of all ages are invited and encouraged to wear Linfield apparel. Food and beverages will be available for purchase; outside food and drink is prohibited.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP through the Alumni Events section of the college’s website.
A webcast of the game will also be available through the Linfield athletic department’s website, linfield.edu/sports