2012 Linfield vs Pacific Game Highlights

Our last regular season highlight video of the 2012 season came in the form of a 51-17 shellacking of the Pacific University Boxers.  The 'Cats exploded late in the 1st half to post up 23 consecutive points to take a commanding 37-10 lead at the break.  Pacific capitalized on two Linfield turnovers to keep the game close early before bending to the 'Cats' will as constant pressure and hits in the backfield took Pacific off the tracks for good midway in the 2nd quarter.  Linfield's offense had an electric day throwing the rock around the 'Catdome as the Purple, Red, and White combined for 425 passing yards and 5 passing TD's.  The Linfield defense feasted on the Boxer offense line in piling up 7 sacks, a number of QB hits, and 15 tackles for loss.  The end result was 68 yards lost rushing and Pacific only managing 150 total yards on the day.

Pacific spun the game as a tell of two games with one with their 1st string QB (kept it close) and one without their 1st string QB (getting opened up on) but the bottom line is that the Boxer QB couldn't do anything about the Boxers getting shredded up front and having Linfield racking up yards via the air almost at-will.  It was only a matter of time before Linfield smashed the gas peddle and sprinted to a big lead (ask Willamette about that).

Not to get totally down on Pacific as they are an improving program that's taking steps each season to be a consistent top half player in the Northwest Conference.  The Boxers are returning their 1st true senior class since rebooting their program in 2010 and have close to high single to double digit starters on each side of the ball with 2-3 years of starting experience.  The maturity has seen the Boxers toughen up greatly vs the run and allowed Pacific to be more balanced on offense.  Pacific is going to be a team next season that others in the Northwest Conference are going to have to worry about as the Boxers have already passed Puget Sound and Lewis & Clark and have their eyes on the next rung in the NWC ladder.  As for the Linfield vs Pacific 2013 match-up in mid-Novermeber?  Well, Pacific better find an answer for the 'Cats defensive front quickly if they have a true desire to take down the conference's flagship program.