FB: Northwest Conference

[raiderguy]

Just a quick comment on the PLU-UWRF game yesterday. The RF offensive line was in the neighborhood of 290-310 pounds across the front. A 6' 8" 308# guard as an example. They had a good option QB with some speed and a punishing RB and they basically ramed it down their throats. The QB took one about 50+ yards. The RF QB was the WIAC player of the week last week as a leading rusher.
PLU had some chances but they always seemed to shoot themselves in the foot at a critical tiime. I believe it was only 17-0 at the half and they had a chance to score right before the break and didn't get it done.
The team never gave up and fought the entire time but in the end the size of RF played a big factor in the game. A class group of athletes just the same. Their "After-glow" session was very inspiring and I enjoyed the insight it brough to the whole game experience. It was interesting to see so many fans for PLU from all over the country. They nearly outnumbered the home side of the field!

[Ryan Coleman]

Yeah, I saw that, too. Every time they had a change to make swiss cheese out of the pass defense of RF, they then put the ball on the ground.

If they had passed more (my quickie does say the QB was 30-44 for 434 yds and 1 TD, though) when the passes were clicking I think the result might have been a little bit closer.

That and passing before you cross the LOS helps a little bit...

Just my inexperienced two bits.

PLU had some chances but they always seemed to shoot themselves in the foot at a critical tiime. I believe it was only 17-0 at the half and they had a chance to score right before the break and didn't get it done.
The team never gave up and fought the entire time but in the end the size of RF played a big factor in the game. A class group of athletes just the same. Their "After-glow" session was very inspiring and I enjoyed the insight it brough to the whole game experience. It was interesting to see so many fans for PLU from all over the country. They nearly outnumbered the home side of the field!

[Wildcat'64]

Attended the SC/Oregon game yesterday and it showed memories of last week vs. UWSP......the National Champs started slow but once they got rolling it was all over for  the Ducks.  The running game was awsome in the second half but the passing and receiving game mirrored the Cat attack (precision  and great hands in the second half).  The first half didn't look nearly as great.
The Duck Dome surely didn't need a roof yesterday in gorgeous 73 degree sunny weather!

[raiderguy]

RyanJCole,

Should have said hello if you were there. You must have been on the home side of the field.  I had a chance to meet Pat and your dad at the MIAC baseball night this summer. Look forward to meeting you in the future. I am not hard to spot at most Johnnie games. I am the only "Scout" Mount sends to games.

[wyd]

Thanks for the game notes fellas.   I think 11 said it the best.  Still a lot of growth to do before we see remarkable improvements.  Swede.... thanks pointing out the consitency..... (hurts just a little)...   Very curious to see how this week goes.   

[back2back]

Unfortunately for the Lutes, I don't think it's look very good for Saturday. As much as I'd like to see the Lutes reboud and post their first win of the season, I don't see it happening against Elliott & Co. I know this pains us all to see a great program like PLU suffer through a down season. Let's just hope that they can keep their proud winning tradition intact and keep their consecutive winning seasons alive even if Saturday isn't going to be the kind of result that helps them along this path. If the guys all help each other up after each play and offer a lot of Ataways, it'll make everyone feel good and we'll all know that this is indeed what D3 football is all about.

[wyd]

I guess it was only a matter of time until we heard from back2back...

[wildcat11]

Nice article on Linfield starting guard James Holan in his hometown paper, The Marin Independent Journal

'Big Jim' anchors line at Linfield

Excerpts:

---"I feel like this year I'm on a personal mission because of what happened last year (a torn labrum that caused Holan to miss the second half of the season and playoffs)," Holan said. "I want to make sure I can play every game, every down and that I can do everything my team needs me to do."

---Things were so bad that Holan earned the nickname "Fat James." After two unhappy seasons spent as a sparring partner in practice for the Wildcats' starting defense, Holan roomed with Thomas Ford, Linfield's starting tailback, in Oregon during the summer of 2004.

In a move of enlightened self-interest, Ford spent that time helping to turn Holan into the man now known around campus (and on his voice mail) as "Big James."

"He took me under his wing, and he had me in the weight room all the time," Holan said of Ford. "I went from 330 to 310 and lost a lot of body-fat weight."


Keep up the good work Big James.  Go 'Cats!

[shane falco]

Wildcat 64,

I was at the game as well.  Autzen was rockin for two quarters then at half time everyone goes out and drinks beer at their tailgate, and is late getting back for the third quarter, brutal fans.

By that time all that energy from the fans that the defense was feeding off of was gone.  SC dropped 3 td's on the duck's in the third and it was done.  I blame those fans for the shift in momentum.

I'm sure that sounds naive but I've been to enough games there to know that the defense raises there level of play because of the fan's noise and passion.

I went down on the field after the game with a buddy and watched SC do there victory salute to their fans.  It was really cool, everyone was dancing, Pete Caroll was dancing in the front of everyone, while the band played.  I got some good pictures.

[woufan]

Rumor out is PLU has added Southern Oregon to this year' schedule and the game will be played at either Hillsboro Stadium or Lewis & Clark. Interesting.

[beancounter]

WOU fan....the PLU-SOU game is no longer rumor.....it will be on October 22 at Hillsboro Stadium.

Comments about USC.....it was good to see the USC offense be a bit mortal for a quarter and a half.  Once they got their pass protection schemes worked out, USC showed they have way too much offensive talent to stay in the 20's.   

[desertcat1]

Lutes week;  Sorry Lutes it's going to be 0 for 4 come Sat. At The Catdome..

  GO CATS...

Early morning line from Arizona, Cats by 3,  that's 3 scores...
Lutes going down again...

Wyd, is the black and white still parked down the street?  Remember      "KLOOTPO"    Not this year, no way.. BIG SMILE...

Go Cats 

50 in 05

[OregonCityCat99]

Shane-
I was also at Autzen on Saturday and couldn't agree with you more.  Some fans missed 7 minutes of game action and 3 USC TDs.  I don't think it would have mattered anyways since Reggie Bush is absolutely sick!!

After going to Autzen on Sat and the Seahawk game yesterday, it's time to recharge the batteries for the big PLU tailgate this weekend.

Early line says the Cats by 35.......Spirit of '86 makes his big return to the Dome this weekend also!

[wildcat11]

The 2005 GHC pre-season Picks for the CATS
PHONE EM IN BOYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Western Oregon.  Cats are a +44 in the opener.  As it was last year its over at the half.  Cats showcase what will be the roadshow that goes Back to Back in 05.
Final  Linfield  50-6

Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Cats are a +31 here. The difference this year will be the Cat SALTY D--- The Pointer Pups keep it close early but clearly are not a match for the Cats
Final  Linfield  44-13

PLU.  Cats are a +34.  The stash pulls out the whole bag-o-tricks for this one but to no avail.  Cats run away with it early in the second half.
Final  Linfield  51-17

GHC put his Linfield season pics up at the beginning of the season and took some major crap for his scores.  However, he's been pretty dang close after the first two games of the year.  Will his PLU score be close to reality??  Developing.......

[Tuxguy]

So who didn't go to the SC game?  My thoughts...... It took so long for the fans to get back after half that they missed 2-3 scores! From SC that is, and like others have said, they took the crowd out of the game eary in the second half. I think it was one of the loudest 1st halfs I've been too. Bush is the real deal, he does it all! .......... The Trojans, Like the Wildcats, showed why they are #1. Not once did they panic when they got down. Like the Cats they feel like they can score on any given play! Was a fun game to watch. Now on to the PLU game this week. GO CATS!