Linfield's 2015 season was full of record breakers.

#55 Alex Hoff has left his name all over the Linfield Record Book.

Photo Courtesy of Brad Thompson: View Brad's 2015 Linfield Football Photos Here

The 2015 Linfield Wildcats put in one of the all-time great season in program history.  The 'Cats clinched the program's 60th consecutive winning season, a record setting 7th consecutive Northwest Conference Championship, 7th team in program history to win 12 games, tied a program record with 6 players named to All-American teams, won NWC games by an average of 49.3 points per game, and advanced to the Semi-Finals of the playoffs for the 14th time.

When you add all of that up records are going to fall and this 2015 Linfield team and individual players finished with 130 top 5 program record book finishes with 25 of those being new number ones.

Linfield Sports Information breaks the 'Cats record book into five main categories:
-Team Single Game Records
-Team Single Season Records
-Individual Single Game Records
-Individual Single Season Records
-Career Records

The Linfield Football record book is packed full of history, historic players, and incredible teams so it's a testament to this 2015 team to have had such an impact on the field and in the Wildcat's historical record book.

Team Single Game New Number 1’s

1. Most Passing yards per completion: 23.6  vs Whitworth (reg season) (14 completions – 331 yards)
1. Highest average gain per play: 10.0 yards per play vs Pacific

Team Single Season New Number 1’s

1. Punt Return for TD:  5
1. Fumble Return for TD:  2
1. PATs made: 80
1. Forced Fumbles: 20

Individual Game New Number 1’s

1. Highest average per rush:  Spencer Payne, 19.1 vs UPS
1. Most Consecutive 100 yard rushing games: Spencer Payne, 6
1. Highest percentage passes completed:  Sam Riddle, 89.5 (17-19) vs Cortland State
1. Most Points scored by kicking: Michael Metter, 18 vs UPS (tied with one other)
1. Longest fumble return: Devin Illingsworth, 86 yards at L&C
1. Most Pass Breakups: Mikey Arkans, 3 vs Whitworth (playoff)
1. Most Fumble returns: Zach Grate 2 vs UPS
1. Most Fumble return yards: Devin Illingsworth: 86 yards at L&C
1. Most Fumbles Recovered: Zach Grate 2 vs UPS & Alex Hoff 2 vs UMHB

Individual Season New Number 1’s

1. PATs Made: Michael Metter, 80 PATS
1. Punt Return for TDs: Kennedy Johnson, 3
1. Fumble recoveries: Alex Hoff, 5

Career New Number 1’s

1. PAT kick percentage: Michael Metter, 97.4
1. Punt Returns for TDs:  Kennedy Johnson, 3 (tied with one other)
1. Tackles for loss: Alex Hoff, 66.0
1. Yards from tackles for loss: Alex Hoff, 320
1. QB sacks: Alex Hoff, 35.5
1. Yards from Sacks: Alex Hoff, 231
1. Forced Fumbles: Alex Hoff, 6 (tied with 2 others)

#13 Johnny Carroll and the 2015 'Cats left a huge mark in the program's record book.

Photo Courtesy of Brad Thompson: View Brad's 2015 Linfield Football Photos Here

Team Single Game New Number 2 – 5 efforts

2. Most Passes Completed: 38 vs UMHB (tied with one other)
2. Most Passing yards per completion: 22.8 vs Pacific (20-455)
2. Most Forced Fumbles: 5 at L&C (tied with 3 others)
3. Most passing yards per attempt (10 attempts): 15.2  vs Pac (30 for 455)
3. Most TDs scored: 11 vs Pacific (tied with one other)
3. Most Punt Return Yards: 152 vs Chapman
3. Most Fumbles Recovered: 3 vs UMHB & 3 vs UPS (tied with six others)
4. Most Passing Attempts: 54 vs UMHB (tied with two others)
4. Most Total Offense Gained: 698 vs Pacific (tied with one other)
4. Most Points Scored: 77 vs Pacific
4. Most punt return yards: 151 at PLU
4. Most Tackles for loss: 17.0 vs Whitworth (reg season) (tied with two others)
4. Highest avg gain per punt return: 25.3 vs Chapman
5. Most TDs scored: 10 at L&C (tied with 3 others)
5. Most Points Scored: 73 (tied with 1 other)
5. Highest average gain per punt return: 25.2 at PLU
5. Highest average gain per rush: 7.7 vs UPS
5. Most rushing TDs scored: 6 vs Pacific (tied with 11 others)
5. Most punt returns: 8 at L&C (tied with 3 others)

Team Single Season New Number 2 – 5 efforts

2. Total Offense: 6,310 yards
2. All-purpose yards: 7,660
2. Total points Scored: 622 (83 TD, 80 Pat, 14 FG)
2. TDs scored:  83 (31 rush, 43 rcv, 9 ret)
2. PATs attempted: 82
2. Field Goals Attempted: 24
2. Punt Return Yardage: 658
2. Punt Returns: 50
2. Fumble Return yards:  139 (5 -139)
2. Unassisted Tackles: 585
2. Yards from Tackles for loss: 540
2. QB sacks: 57.0
2. Yards from QB Sacks: 371
2. Fumbles Recovered: 18
3. Passing Yards: 3,864
3. Pass Efficiency: 167.3
3. PAT kick percentage:  97.6 (80 of 82)
3. Field Goals Made: 14 (tied with two others)
3. Tackles For Loss: 123.0
3. TDs responsible for: 124
4. Pass Completions: 261
4. Passing TDs:  43
4. Pass completion pct: 62.3 (261 of 418)
4. Total Offense per game:  485.4
5. Pass Attempts:  418
5. Average yards per pass: 9.25
5. Passing yards per game: 297.3
5. Total offense per play: 6.54

#6 Kennedy Johnson exploded into the 'Cats record book in 2015 with his punt returning efforts.

Photo Courtesy of Brad Thompson: View Brad's 2015 Linfield Football Photos Here

Individual Game New Number 2 – 5 efforts

2. Most Passes Completed: Tom Knecht, 38 vs UMHB (tied with one other)
2. Total offensive plays: Tom Knecht. 63 vs UMBH (tied with two others)
2. Most PATs: Michael Metter, 10 at L&C
2. Longest Punt Return: Kennedy Johnson, 77 vs Chapman
2. Most Punt Return yards: Kennedy Johnson, 112 vs Chapman
2. Most Fumbles Recovered, Alex Hoff, 2 vs UMHB, Zach Grate, 2 vs UPS
3. Most Passes Attempted: Tom Knecht, 54 vs UMHB
3. Most Passing Yards per completion: Tom Knecht, 24.6 vs Pacific
3. Most TD Receptions: Johnny Carroll, 3 vs UPS & Eric Igbinoba, 3 vs Whitworth (playoff game) (tied with 16 others)
3. Most PATs: Michael Metter, 9 vs Pacific & Michel Metter, 9 vs UPS (tied with 5 others)
3. Most Extra Points Attempted by kicking: Michael Metter, 10 at L&C (tied with one other)
3. Most Punt Return yards: Kennedy Johnson, 111 at PLU
3. Highest avg gain per kick return: Spencer Payne, 48.3 vs UPS
4. Most Passing Yards: Tom Knecht, 492 vs UMHB
4. Most Total Offensive yards gained: Tom Knecht, 496 vs UMBH
4. Most All-purpose yards gained: Spencer Payne, 246 vs UPS
4. Highest average gain per punt return: Kennedy Johnson, 35.5 vs Pacific
4. Most Tackles For Loss: Alex Hoff, 4.5 vs L&C, Alex Hoff, 4.5 at GFU (tied with 3 others)
4. Most Field Goal Attempted: Michael Metter, 4 vs UPS (tied with 11 others)
5. Most Net yards Rushing:  Spencer Payne, 210 vs UPS (11 carries)
5. Most Extra Points Attempted by kicking: Michael Metter, 9 vs UPS & 9 vs Whitworth (reg season) (tied with 8 others)

Individual Season New Number 2 – 5 efforts

2 Passing completion percentage:  Tom Knecht, 66.7 (86 of 129)
2. All-purpose yards: Spencer Payne 1,831 yards
2. PAT kicks attempted: Michael Metter, 82
2. Field Goals Attempted: Michael Metter, 23
2. Fumble recoveries: Zach Grate, 4 (tied with 6 others)
2. Fumble returns: Zach Grate, 2 (tied with one other)
3. Field Goals Made : Michael Metter, 14
4. Passing efficiency: Sam Riddle, 167.8
4. Average yards per pass attempt: Tom Knecht, 9.6
4. Total Off per play: Tom Knecht, 8.17 per play
4. PAT kick percentage: Michael Metter, 97.6 percent
5. Passing efficiency: Tom Knecht, 167.0
5. Average yards per catch: Eric Igbinoba, 19.54
5. All-purpose yards per game: Spencer Payne, 140.8 per game
5. Total points scored: Michael Metter, 122 points
5. Average yards per punt return:  Kennedy Johnson, 15.17
5. QB sacks: Alex Hoff, 14.0

#10 Sam Riddle has a great chance to finish #1 in multiple career categories at the end of the 2016 season.

Photo Courtesy of Brad Thompson: View Brad's 2015 Linfield Football Photos Here.

Career New Number 2 – 5 efforts

2. Average yards per rush: Spencer Payne, 6.23
2. Pass efficiency: Sam Riddle, 163.4
2. Total Offense per game:  Sam Riddle, 223.6
2. Total Offense per paly: Tom Knecht, 8.19
2. PATs made: Michael Metter, 150
2. Average yards per punt return: Kennedy Johnson, 14.21
2. Fumble return yards: Devin Illingsworth, 85
2 Fumble Returns: Zach Grate, 2 (tied with 2 others)
3. Passing TDs:  Sam Riddle, 65 (tied with 2 others)
3. Pass Completion percentage:  Sam Riddle, 60.5
3. Average yards per pass: Sam Riddle, 8.7
3. TDs responsible for: Sam Riddle, 83
3. PAT’s attempted: Michael Metter, 154
4. Total Offense per play: Sam Riddle, 7.38
4. Field Goals Made: Michael Metter, 27
4. Average Punt per attempt:  Kevin McClean, 37.89
4. Punt Return yards: Kennedy Johnson, 597
4. Kick Return for TD: Spencer Payne, 1 (tied with 6 others)
5. Passing yards per game: Sam Riddle, 195.0

16 Years of Northwest Conference Dominance

They keep coming and Linfield keeps sending 'em back.

On December 31st 2009, we review the first full decade of the realignment of the Northwest Conference (The NWC regrouped in 1996 as the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges (NCIC) and then officially named back to the Northwest Conference in 1998). Each season we take a look at the numbers but one thing has remained the same, Linfield on top.
 

It’s still staggering how Linfield has absolutely dominated what is an very good conference on the division III level. There is nothing any other team in the NWC that can dispute what Linfield has continued to accomplish year after year.

 
154 victories since the 2000 season.  Whitworth actually just overtook PLU this past season in overall number of victories with 101 and 57 NWC wins but that's still nearly 30 less conference victories that the 'Cats during that time.  Along with that, only 6 NWC losses over a 16 year period? That's truly remarkable.

There are others stats that leap out at you in terms of where Linfield has made their mark.  24 playoff victories (next closest is PLU with 3), 13 NWC titles (nearest team is Whitworth with 3), 189 1st team conference honors (that’s more than the next two teams combined (Willamette/PLU = 162)), and has Linfield's won 89.9% of their home games (Whitworth is next at 67.5%).

Another area to look at is the D3football.com All-American totals since 2000.  Linfield has 21 1st-Team All-Americans since 2000, the rest of the Northwest Conference has 6 combined.  Wow.

The data is staggering to me when you considered that the Northwest Conference is a darn good conference.  There's no secret why this has happened. It's been consistence that's the program reaches on a yearly basis on the back of hard work.  No shortcuts, no gimmicks.  Linfield will continue to be the team to beat year after year because of the commitment of this staff, players, administration, and support community that do things the right way....the Linfield way. 

Decade Records (2000-15) (I've now included Pacific’s data from the past 6 seasons into the mix.  Their percentages are big enough now to include and slot them accordingly.)

 
Overall Record (Winning Percentage)
Linfield.............154-24  (86.5%) 
Whitworth.........101-56   (64.3%)
PLU.................92-58    (61.3%)
Willamette........90-67    (57.3%)

Pacific……….23-33   (41.7%)
UPS................42-103    (29%)
L&C................32-107     (23%)

NWC Record
Linfield............85-6     (93.4%) 
Whitworth.........57-34   (62.6%)  
PLU.................56-35   (61.5%)
Willamette.......52-39  (57.1%)

Pacific……….16-22  (42.1%)
UPS..............19-72   (20.9%)
L&C...............13-73   (14.3%)

Home Record
Linfield............86-10   (89.9%)
Whitworth......54-26  (67.5%)
Willamette......50-32  (61%)
PLU................43-28  (60.5%)

Pacific……….11-15   (42.3%)
L&C................19-50  (27.5%)
UPS................22-52  (29.7%)

Road Record
Linfield..........68-15  (83%)
PLU...............49-25  (66.2%)
Whitworth.......50-30  (62.5%)
Willamette.....40-36  (52.6%)

Pacific………12-18 (28.1)
UPS..............20-51 (28.1%)
L&C...............13-57  (18.6%)

Playoff Record
Linfield.........24-11
PLU.............3-3
Whitworth......1-3
Willamette.....1-2

NWC 1st Place Finishes
Linfield............13 (2-tie)
Whitworth.......3 (1-tie)
Willamette......1
PLU..............1 (1-tie)

Pacific………1 (1-tie)

Conference Honors (2000-15)

Coach Of The Year
Linfield..........13
Whitworth......3
Willamette......1

Offense Player of the Year
Linfield.........9
Whitworth.....4
Willamette....3
PLU..............2
Lewis & Clark...1

Defensive Player of the Year
Linfield........12
Whitworth....4
Willamette....4
PLU............ 2

NWC 1st Team Players
Linfield.......189  (11.8 per year)
Willamette....89  (5.6 per year) 
Whitworth....73 (4.6 per year)
PLU.............69 (4.3 per year)

Pacific…….13  (2.2 per year)
UPS.............22 (1.5 per year)
L&C..............15 (.09 per year)

D3football.com All-American Players
Linfield.......42
PLU....11
Willamette....11
Whitworth.............9
L&C.............1
UPS..............0

Pacific……..0

D3football.com All-American 1st Team Players
Linfield.......21
Whitworth....2
PLU....2
L&C.............1
Willamette..............1

UPS.............0

Pacific……..0

Team Statistics (Averages) (2000-15)

(I excluded the 2005 stats from L&C since they only played 4 non-conference games and canceled their NWC games.  Their total numbers were divided against 14 season (rest of the teams total numbers are divided against the 14 previous seasons.  Also, I've now included Pacific's first 5 seasons (2010-14) into the avg totals.  Comparing 15 seasons worth of data against 5 may not be very fair but they had to join the party at some point.) We’ll add GFU once they have a larger sample size (at 3 seasons)

Points Per Game
Linfield..........40.0 PPG
Willamette...............30.1 PPG
PLU......29.4 PPG
Whitworth......29.2 PPG
Pacific...........26.9 PPG
UPS...............21.9 PPG

L&C...............20.5 PPG

Points Allowed Per Game
Linfield..........16.8 PPG
PLU...............22.9 PPG

Whitworth....23.1 PPG
Willamette....24.2 PPG
Pacific............33.0 PPG
UPS...............34.8 PPG
L&C..............41 PPG

Pass Offense Per Game
Linfield.........275.1 YPG
Pacific........... 254.1 YPG
PLU..............238.5YPG
Whitworth.....222.9 YPG

L&C..............219.5 YPG
UPS..............190.1 YPG
Willamette....152.9 YPG

Pass Defense Per Game
Linfield........186.9 YPG
PLU..............197.9 YPG
Whitworth.....206.6 YPG
Willamette....212.7 YPG
L&C..............221.6 YPG
UPS..............226.8 YPG
Pacific..........247.6 YPG

Rushing Offense Per Game
Willamette....238.3 YPG
Linfield.......167.6 YPG
Whitworth.............155.7 YPG
PLU.............149.6 YPG

UPS........144.8 YPG
L&C.............122.0 YPG
Pacific............106.3 YPG

Rushing Defense Per Game
Linfield........106.4 YPG
Willamette....137.8 YPG
PLU.............144.7 YPG
Whitworth....154.6 YPG
Pacific.........161.0 YPG
UPS.............182.9 YPG
L&C.............222.1 YPG

Total Offense Per Game
Linfield........442.7 YPG
Willamette...391.2 YPG
PLU............388.0 YPG
Whitworth..378.6 YPG
Pacific.............360.3 YPG 
L&C.........341.4 YPG
UPS.........335.0 YPG

Total Defense Per Game
Linfield........293.0 YPG
PLU.............340.4 YPG  
Willamette....355.5 YPG 
Whitworth....356.7 YPG
Pacific.........403.7 YPG
UPS.............408.5 YPG
L&C.............442.7 YPG

Avg. Sacks Per Season
Linfield........37.0
PLU.............24.2
Willamette....22.4
Pacific...........20.8
Whitworth......18.4
UPS.............12.9

L&C.............12.8


Avg. Turnover Margin Per Season
Linfield........+10.9
Whitworth...+9.9
Willamette...+4.8
PLU............0.1
Pacific...........-0.2  
UPS............-4.8
L&C..... -6.1