Linfield vs California Lutheran Playoff Game Preview!

I have to tell you that it's so sweet to have playoff football back at the Catdome. Linfield has played 9 playoff games at Maxwell field this decade (10 at home if we include the 2003 vs. Wartburg game played at Willamette) and there is something so pure about these types of games during the second season. The combination of cold weather, the top level of competition, the intensity from the Catdome crowd, and the knowledge that it's win or go home, just makes each of these games something to cherish. I'm pumped up for this Saturday and it's going to be a good one.

California Lutheran, the Champions of the SCIAC, will be Linfield's first round opponent and they are a good one. From watching their games on KadyTV.com, Linfield is playing a complete team that has speed, play makers, and is well coached. This is no gimme for our Wildcats and if Linfield thinks that CalLu is going to just roll over because we're Linfield then it's going to be a long day.

It's going to be a classic mid November day in the Northern Willamette Valley (To all those Wine Snobs, I refuse to call if Yamhill Valley) and by classic I mean wet and cold. ADvantage Catdome's offical weather service, Accuweather.com, is calling for rain and wind with a high of 46 on Saturday during game time so there is an added story line to the ball game in regards to how each team can handle the elements.

This is going to be the Wildcats biggest test to date. Is this Linfield team going to be able to elevate their play even a step further and handle what looks like to be a evenly matched opponent? I believe that Linfield is going to answer the bell and I hope our 'Cats prove me right.

Wildcat11's Key To Victory:

Start strong: Linfield needs to continue to get out of the gates playing great football. I've said this over and over again, the 'Cats don't need to be so jacked up that they're bouncing off the walls or so low that they are not ready....but just find that right tension where Linfield is ticking away like a Swiss watch. That readiness comes from good preparation so I hope the 'Cats have been having a heck of a week so far.

MUST limit the Cal Lutheran running game: The Kingsmen has a balanced offense but their most explosive weapon is Senior running back Brian Stuart. The speedy and powerful Stuart, is avg 5.2 yards a carry, racks up over 100 yards a contest and has punched in 14 rushing TDs on the year. Linfield has to put a premium on trying to take away Stuart and the running game and try to force a balanced offense to turn to the air. The Wildcat defensive line has to have a big day.

Linfield has to force their will on the ground: Linfield has been pretty balanced throughout the year, and while we need to limit Cal Lutheran from running the ball, this is something Linfield has to be able to do effectively in order to make the other aspects of our offense click. The Cal Lutheran defense likes to play with a 3 man front and really bring blitz after blitz (run blitz and pass blitz). If the Wildcats can get the run game going that will create all sorts of issues for Cal Lutheran in trying to defend the play action passing game.

Special Teams has to match Cal Lutheran: The Kingsmen have a pair of outstanding kickers that avg 39.3 yards punting and have hit seven touch backs on kickoffs. This is a phase of the game that Linfield needs to have a great effort in with regards to pushing back Cal Lutheran's starting field position on kickoffs. I'd love to see the Kingsmen not start a drive past the 35 yard line all game long. The deeper Linfield can push them back the better off 'Cats will be.

Contain Jericho Toilolo in the pocket. Well, that was easy to type, but I'm not sure how easy it will be in practice. The 'Cats need to try to take away the legs of Cal Lutheran's quarterback. Toilolo is Cal Lu's second leading rushing and in all the video I've watched I haven't seen one designed run for the QB. He's very unconventional with his play and that has to give defensive coordinators fits. This is sort of a "darned if you do" type of situation because Toilolo has a capable arm and good receivers but I'd rather make him beat us throwing the ball in the pocket than killing us with his legs.

Which team will be better on 3rd down? Linfield has converted 46% of 3rd down situations this year while Cal Lu has converted 44% percent of the time. This will be a huge stat on Saturday in determining who's going to be moving on.

The Linfield passing game vs Cal Lu's play making defensive backfield. Aaron Boehme and the Wildcat receiving corp have their work cut out for them in the passing game this weekend. The Kingsmen has a fantastic set of DBs and they're touted as one of the best groups in the country. Linfield's passing game has been stellar all year but this is where the rubber meets the road. The conditions are not going to be ideal for passing the ball but Linfield has to find success in making plays in the passing game.

Overall:

'Cats by 7. Beyond the above there are other things that could impact the outcome (turnovers, ball control, penalties, etc) but the bottom line is that the team that comes out and is better at executing, handling adversity, and is able to make more plays is going to win. I think this is a special Linfield squad and has a chance to go deep this post season but they are facing an excellent team this weekend. This will be a good game for 60 minutes but in the end I just think Linfield will have enough to move on. It's going to be a battle but I see Linfield playing a home game over the Thanksgiving holiday.