Boxscore

Northwest Conference powerhouse Linfield College lived up to its national ranking as it amassed 461 yards on offense en route to a 52-3 victory over the University of La Verne in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Oregon.

The nation's No. 6 ranked team in Division III, the Wildcats scored on eight of its 11 offensive possessions.

Most of Linfield's damage occurred through the air as it totaled 299 passing yards against the Leopards.  Wildcat quarterback Mickey Inns passed for 210 yards and three scores while receiver Diedre Wiersma hauled in a game-high seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.

In the first quarter, the Wildcats began their opening drive at the Leopard 36-yard line. Six plays later, fullback Bryan Anderson pounded his way into the end zone from a yard out to give Linfield an early 7-0 lead.

Inns led Linfield on a seven-play, 60-yard march to the Leopard 17 on the next possession, but the Leo defense held the Wildcats out of the end zone, resulting in a 34-yard field goal by Josh Kay to push the advantage to 10-0.

The Leopards put together a 12-play, 74-yard drive on their third possession, collecting five first downs.  The Leos eventually reached the Linfield four-yard line, setting up a fourth-and-goal, but the ensuing pass attempt was deflected to end the scoring threat.

Linfield scored twice in the second quarter, first on an Inns 19-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Poppen to cap a five-play, 69-yard drive.  The second came with Inns passing to Erik Koczian for a 2-yard score to push the Wildcat lead to 24-0 at halftime.

At the start of the second half, Linfield's Stephan Nasca returned the opening kickoff 61 yards down to the La Verne 9. On the next play, Wiersma hauled in a pass for the score.  Later in the period, Stephen Nasca scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 59-yard drive to put the Wildcats up 38-0.

La Verne got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter as it marched 55 yards on 12 plays.  The Leos picked up five first downs during the march before stalling at the Wildcat 17.  From there, Alex Miller booted a 34-yard field goal at the 1:47 mark for the Leopards' first and only score of the afternoon.

Linfield (2-0) would add a pair of fourth quarter scores for the final margin.

Offensively, La Verne produced 322 yards on the day while collecting 22 first downs.  The Leos finished with an edge in time of possession at 33:32 compared to Linfield's 26:28.

The Leopards finished with 227 passing yards, led by Thomas Arguello who completed 24 of 40 attempts for 195 yards.  Cedric Ho was the main target with nine receptions for 75 yards.  Freshman running back Tanner Thompson enjoyed a productive outing, rushing for a game-high 92 yards

Defensively, Fillip Marcelin totlaled 10 tackles, including a 5-yard sack for the Leopards.