McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Cal Lutheran running back Wayne Chapman had his second-straight 100-yard rushing game and scored his first career touchdown but it wasn't enough as No. 3 Linfield racked up 655 yards of offense in a 52-14 victory over CLU Saturday in McMinnville, Ore. It marks the first time the Kingsmen have started the season 0-2 since 2007.
Linfield opened the game with an 11-play, 75 yard drive that was capped with a seven-yard touchdown run by running back Josh Hill but CLU responded with a scoring drive of its own to close out the first quarter.
CLU wide receiver Jacob Scott caught a 34-yard pass from fullback Vance Cramer on a trick-play to open the drive and then two plays later Cameron Deen found Kiyle Playter for his career catch and 12 yard gain that got the Kingsmen down to the Linfield nine yard line. Chapman would carry the ball on the next three plays getting down to the LC two-yard line. On third-and-goal, Deen found Alix Moise in the back of the end-zone for the game-tying touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Kingsmen, national-contender Linfield reeled off 38 straight points including two touchdown passes from Wildcats quarterback Josh Yoder as it pushed the score to 45-7.
Chapman found the end-zone midway through the fourth quarter after a being set-up by a Ryan Zirbel 35-yard reception from Deen, making the score 45-14.
Mikkel Smythe capped the game's scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left to play.
Cal Lutheran compiled 361 yards of offense against a vaunted Linfield defense with Deen passing for 147 yards on 13-of-25 passing. The senior quarterback also rushed for 40 yards. Chapman was the leading rusher for the Kingsmen with 113 yards on 17 carries including a long of 56 yards. Zirbel was third on the team with 37 yards.
Thomas Asaije had a breakout game with four catches for 50 yards including one for 24 yards. Playter had three receptions for 37 yards while Cramer had one catch for 34 yards.
Defensively, CLU got two interceptions from Ed Davis and Derrick Romo. Christian Bradley led the Kingsmen in tackles with 9.5 tackles including a sack while Chris Cabrera had two tackles for loss.
However, the Linfield offensive attack, proved too much for the CLU defense. Yoder threw for 322 yards with three touchdowns. Yoder's main targets were Brian Balsiger who had seven catches for 113 yards and Charlie Poppen who hauled in five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Dom Forrest led Linfield on defense with 11 total tackles with two coming for loss.
Cal Lutheran (0-2) has a bye this week and will look to get its first win of the season in two weeks when it takes on Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opponent Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1:00pm.
Box Score: Linfield 52 CLU 14
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