McMINNVILLE, Ore. — David Russell tied a Northwest small college record with five rushing touchdowns and Linfield pounded Wartburg 52-15 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs at sunny Maxwell Field. The unbeaten Wildcats (10-0) held Wartburg to 205 yards of offense, winning their first postseason game in 10 years and advancing to the Division III quarterfinals. Linfield (10-0) will face St. John's at noon Saturday, Dec. 7, in McMinnville. The Johnnies defeated Coe 45-14 on Saturday to advance to the regional final.
Russell, the offensive player of the year in the Northwest Conference, rushed 29 times for 177 yards to set the Linfield single-season rushing record. His season total of 1,380 rushing yards surpassed Gary McGarvie's decade-old record of 1,322 set in 1992.
Wartburg (10-2), tri-champion from the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, couldn't match Linfield's team speed on a picture-perfect day at Maxwell Field. The Knights came into the contest having allowed just two rushing touchdowns all season but Russell accounted for five touchdowns on the ground and Tyler Matthews passed for two scores as the 'Cats amassed 490 yards, including 277 rushing.
Linfield scored on five of its first six possessions, taking advantage of two turnovers inside the Wartburg 35-yard line to build a 31-0 lead in the game's first 20 minutes.
Russell began the onslaught with a 13-yard run after the Wildcats stopped the Knights cold on their first drive. The extra point was blocked. Three minutes later, Garrett Wales booted a 32-yard field goal, cashing in a Justin Beatty fumble at the Wartburg 31. On Wartburg's next possession, Jake Olsen was intercepted by Erik Krom at the 28 and a personal foul penalty moved the ball to the Knights' 14. George Carter reached the end zone on a 14-yard sweep, making it 16-0 in favor of the Wildcats with three and a half minutes left in the opening quarter.
The Knights got on the scoreboard with 5:01 left in the second quarter. Receiver Jeff Marsh scored on a 27-yard inside screen pass from Olsen, capping a four-play, 54-yard drive.
The Knights had another golden opportunity to score in the final three minutes of the half but came away empty. Wartburg bottled up the Wildcats at their own 4 and a bad punt spotted the ball at the Linfield 30. On third-and-13 from the Linfield 33, Ryan Boatsman sacked Olsen, forcing the Knights to punt. Not content to sit on a 24-point lead, Linfield marched 80 yards in five plays for another score just before intermission. Russell sprinted 27 yards on a draw play, giving the hosts a 38-7 lead with six seconds left on the clock.
Linfield outgained Wartburg 307-103 in the first two quarters, though the Knights held an advantage in time of possession, 16:49 to 13:11.
The Knights closed the gap to 23 points when Justin Beatty cracked over from one yard out with 7:39 left in the third. Olson fired a two-point conversion pass to tight end Ryan Melin to make the score 38-15.
Wartburg moved to the Linfield 33, but Olsen was picked off at the 10 by Eric Hillison with two minutes left in the third. The Knights again pinned the Wildcats deep in their own territory, but Olson threw his third interception to Phil Marr, who returned it to the Linfield 46. On the final play of the quarter, Matthews hit a streaking Mike Cooney on a 54-yard scoring hookup that put the Wildcats comfortably in front by 30. Following the score, Hillison nabbed his second pickoff of the afternoon down the right sideline.
Russell tied the school and Northwest record with his fifth TD of the afternoon with 8:34 to go, completing a 14-play, 72-yard drive.
Matthews completed 14 of 26 for 213 yards. Tight end Luke Buchheit caught four passes for 44 yards and Carter hauled in three balls for 62 yards.
Beatty gained 61 yards on 25 carries. Olson completed 10 of 25 for 132 yards. Marsh caught four passes for 59 yards.
Linfield seventh-year coach Jay Locey won his 50th game and the Wildcats extended their winning streak to 16 games over two seasons.
Game Story
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