CLU Sports

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - On a chilly Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Field the Cal Lutheran football team forced three Linfield first half turnovers but fell short in its comeback attempt, 38-17 in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs.

Box Score: LC 38, CLU 17 - F

There were a lot of hugs and emotional embraces in the CLU team meeting following Saturday's contest. It was more about what this team accomplished this season and can look forward to in the future.

"It was a great experience coming up here to play in the postseason," said Head Coach Ben McEnroe about the team's first appearance in the NCAA tournament in school history.

Early on the Kingsmen experienced issues on defense with no answer against the Linfield offense, proving costly as the Wildcats put up 31 points in the opening half-10 more than any CLU opponent had achieved in full regulation.

"You can't give a team of that caliber opportunities like we did and expect to win," rationalized McEnroe. "They did not surprise us with anything...those guys just did it better than we thought and executed very well today."

The Linfield defensive effort was just as strong recording eight sacks and snatching four interceptions including a pair by Wildcats defensive back Drew Fisher.

"There's no excuses, it just wasn't a good performance," said Toilolo. "They were able to get pressure up front and when they drop eight into (pass) coverage it's hard to find anyone open."

After by far his best outing last week with a three-TD performance against Redlands, the Wildcat defense held Toilolo and the CLU aerial attack to only 155 yards on 34 throws.

It was a shaky start for the host Wildcats as a botched handoff from LC quarterback Aaron Boehme to tailback Aaron Williams on the opening offensive play of the game was pounced on by freshman nose guard Rian Younker at the 20-yard line.

The CLU offense used a second down 11-yard screen pass from quarterback Jericho Toilolo to running back Brian Stuart to set up first-and-goal at the five-yard line. It would be longest completion of the first half and only one of two catches to net positive yardage.

However the Kingsmen running game that had provided 21 rushing touchdowns this season netted no yards on the drive and were forced to bring on Jackson Damron who converted a 22-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

It marked the first time Linfield had trailed in a game since week two against Occidental--and it would not last very long.

The Linfield option worked to perfection on its ensuing possession highlighted by a 43-yard quarterback keeper from Boehme. However a third down tackle by Jordan Barta forced a fourth-and-one at the CLU 20-yard line.

A struggling kicking game and strong headwinds prompted the Wildcats offense to attempt and convert with a Williams rush up the middle. The LC running back eventually capped off a nine-play, 74-yard drive with one-yard rumble across the goal line.

It would be the opening score to a 31-0 run that lasted through midway of the second quarter.

Following a heavy run-oriented offensive first quarter, Wildcats wide out Ryan Henderson found open space behind the CLU defense in center field grabbing a 22-yard touchdown pass to open the second quarter.

The LC offense put together touchdown drives of 74, 73 and 51 yards to build its 18-point lead. LC continued to pour it on connecting for a season-high 38-yard field goal by Maika Kunioka and another touchdown pass of four yards to Trevor Patterson.

CLU came up with three big plays late in the first half, starting with a 68-yard kickoff return following the final LC score of the second quarter down to the 21-yard line.

The running game was able to get on track after Stuart, who was held to zero yards on four first quarter carries, capped off the short field with a three-yard scoring run to end a streak of 31 unanswered Wildcat points.

LC looked to regain its momentum before the half when an errant throw was snatch by senior safety Garrett Redd who scampered 51 yards setting up the Kingsmen in the final minute of the half at the 15-yard line. On the ensuing play, No. 15 went the distance for his second score of the day providing a 31-17 halftime score.

Cal Lutheran scored 14 points after getting its running game started over the final six minutes of the half, forced three turnovers on defense and would receive the second half kickoff to possibly pull within a single possession.

However the offense was unable to get going in the second half as the Linfield defense shutout the Kingsmen over the final 30 minutes.

The lone score of the second half was created by Boehme's ability to elude a pair of CLU rushers and throw a strike to the near right corner of the end zone finding Gunnar Cederberg midway through the third quarter.

Amidst the final result was Stuart becoming only the fourth Kingsmen in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season doing so during the second half of Saturday's contest.

"It's a testament to the team-the coaches, offensive line and the talent we have as a unit," Stuart summed up. "It felt good to do it for those guys."

The senior transfer finished his lone season at CLU with 1,025 yards on the ground and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Linfield (10-0) will play Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.