PLU and UPS game days
No. 2 LINFIELD COLLEGE (8-0, 6-0 in NWC)
at PACIFIC LUTHERAN (2-6, 2-4)
1 p.m. Saturday, Sparks Stadium, Puyallup
Series: Linfield leads, 41-21-4. The Wildcats have won the past 15 meetings, including a 41-14 victory in McMinnville, Oregon, last season. PLU’s last win came in 2001 — 31-20 at Maxwell Field. The Lutes’ last home win was in 1998 (14-9).
What to watch for: The way that Linfield has recently dominated both Tacoma-area universities — the Wildcats have won 40 consecutive combined games against PLU and Puget Sound — is there any reason to hope for an upset Saturday? Both of the offensive and defensive lines of the Wildcats should dominate, and running back Spencer Payne (85 rushes, 715 yards, eight touchdowns) is averaging a whopping 8.4 yards per carry. … Freshman Walker LaVoy (22 of 37, 258 yards, two TDs) will make a second consecutive start for the Lutes at quarterback. He was a tidy 14 for 23 for 175 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in last week’s 26-7 win at Lewis & Clark.
What’s at stake: Linfield is going to the NCAA Division III playoffs, and PLU isn’t. The only thing the Lutes could shake up with a win is the Wildcats’ hope of hosting games through the national semifinals.
TNT pick: Linfield, 45-10.
PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (6-3, 4-2 in NWC)
at PUGET SOUND (5-3, 4-2)
1 p.m. Saturday, Baker Stadium, Tacoma
Series: Pacific leads, 18-14-2. The Boxers have won the past four games, including a 44-17 victory last season in Tacoma. The Loggers’ last victory came in 2010 — 36-19 — in Tacoma. That was the season football returned to Pacific.
What to watch for: Hate to say it, but heavy rains are expected to pummel the grassy surface, likely bringing the “Baker Bog” mud pit back into play. It will make for some interesting play-calling on the east end of the field — and would seemingly favor the Boxers’ power rushing attack, led by running backs Bronson Barretto (133 rushes, 672 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Kamana Pimental (446 rushing yards, four TDs). Quarterback Warner Shaw (165 of 243, 2,182 yards, 22 TDs) makes a living off play-action passes. … UPS quarterback Hans Fortune (197 of 331, 2,468 yards, 20 TDs) is 255 passing yards away from breaking Duncan White’s single-season mark of 2,722, set in 2010.
What’s at stake: The winner will take third place outright. No Loggers team has finished that high since the NWC formed in 1998.
TNT pick: Pacific, 6-2.
Todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 8:56 PM with the headline "PLU and UPS game days."