Menlo vs. No. 8 Linfield - Game Stats

Menlo Season Stats

ATHERTON, Calif. - It was going to take a huge effort for Menlo College to come away from Saturday's game versus No. 8 Linfield with a victory. Unfortunately for the Oaks, the biggest plays were made by the visitors in a 31-7 Northwest Conference loss at Connor Field.

After Menlo tied the score at 7 early in the second quarter, the Wildcats scored 24 consecutive points to end the game despite giving the Oaks plenty of chances to get a surprise victory. Menlo is now 0-1 in NWC play and 1-4 overall while Linfield is 1-0 and 4-0.

It took no time at all for Linfield to assert itself and establish a lead, forcing the Oaks offense into a quick three-and-out before marching 72 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Quarterback Aaron Boehme weaved his way through the final 38 yards and Menlo's defense on a scramble for the score. The Wildcats led 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.

The Oaks offense punted again before the defense came up with its first big play, a Steven Lopes interception of a tipped Boehme pass. On the very next play Menlo gave the ball right back when quarterback Nick Ruhl and running back Shaun Souza couldn't connect on a handoff.

Backed up against its own redzone, Menlo defense stood firm and forced a field goal attempt that Maika Kunioka bounced off the crossbar from 45 yards. The Oaks still trailed by just one score.

The teams traded punts before Menlo's offense struck for its only points. A pair of short runs around a 7-yard completion from Ruhl to wide receiver Brad Wilkinson moved the ball to the Linfield 30 yard line. Running back Payton Bell then took a handoff, broke through a tackle at the line of scrimmage, swept around to the right sideline while breaking another pair of tackles and reached into the endzone for a score. Eddie De Leon added the extra point to tie the game with 13 minutes, nine seconds left in the half.

What happened on the Wildcats ensuing offensive possession killed Menlo's renewed vigor and, ultimately, its chances.

Facing a third-and-29 from its own 18 following an offensive pass interference penalty, Boehme dropped a screen pass to running back Kevin Abbott who ran nearly untouched down the sideline 82 yards for a touchdown. Instead of having possession of the ball with the score tied, the Oaks trailed 14-7 with more than 11 minutes left in the second quarter.

The Oaks followed with a 14-play, 67-yard drive fueled by a pair of 15-yard completions from Ruhl to Kenny Cavness. James Bassett caught two passes for 19 yards on the drive, but a fake field goal attempt was foiled on a fourth down play from the Wildcats 12 yard line.

Menlo's forced a Linfield punt moments later that was blocked by Beau Bussani and set up its offense at the Wildcats 17. After three plays netted three yards, the Oaks went for it on fourth down and Ruhl's pass to Lance Walkup was dropped.

It was 14-7 in the third quarter when the Oaks gave away any chance they had at an upset. Ruhl was intercepted one play after a missed field goal by Kunioka then lost a fumble after Kunioka's third missed field goal.

This time the Wildcats weren't so kind to Menlo's tiring defense. Linfield hit paydirt when Boehme lofted a 21-yard scoring pass to Trevor Patterson in the front corner of the endzone. It was 21-7 Linfield with six minutes, 19 second left in the third quarter.

Taylor Avritt ran for a 12-yard score late in the quarter and Kunioka made a 29-yard field goal midway through the fourth for the final margin.

Menlo was outgained 367 to 159 and turned the ball over four times to Linfield's one interception. The Oaks defense deserved better once again as it limited the Wildcats powerful offense to its lowest point total and yardage output of the season.

Brett Klee led Menlo with seven tackles, including one for a loss, Beau Bussani had six tackles, and Chris Tosello had five tackles with one for a loss.

Bell ran the ball 11 times for 46 yards while Ruhl completed 14-of-28 passes for 105 yards. Cavness caught five passes for 36 yards while Walkup caught four for 28.

Boehme led Linfield with 205 yards through the air, though he completed just 14-of-36 passes. Abbott had 63 yards rushing on 18 carries with Patterson catching five balls for 57 yards.

Menlo plays at Puget Sound next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Tacoma, Wash.