Menlo College (4-5, 3-2 NWC) vs. #20/22 Willamette University (7-2, 4-1 NWC)
Date: Saturday, November 14th, 2009
Location: Atherton, Calif.; Connor Field (1,000)
Time: 12 p.m.
Last Week: Menlo was defeated by Pacific Lutheran University 35-17 in Tacoma, Wash.; Willamette defeated Puget Sound 50-6, also in Tacoma, Wash.
Radio: Saturday's game will be webcast live on the Bearcat Sports Network starting at 11:45 a.m. Mike Allegre and Craig Spivey will be calling the action all game long.
Click here to listen!
Series History: Coming into this week's matchup, Menlo holds a 1-6 record against Willamette dating back to the teams' first meeting in 2002. The Oaks only victory over the Bearcats came in 2003 when they won 41-19 at home. Menlo was defeated 28-3 by the Bearcats last season in Salem, Ore.
What to Watch For:
MENLO - Offense: The Oaks offense is hoping to rebound from a disappointing performance last week that included six fumbles - one returned for a touchdown - and an interception in stormy weather at Pacific Lutheran. At quarterback, freshman Cruz Castillo will look to reconnect with fellow freshman wide receiver Kenny Cavness, who leads the team with five receiving touchdowns and averages 13.3 yards per catch on 41 receptions. The duo hooked up for 127 yards and two scores in Menlo's victory over Lewis & Clark, but was limited to only two completions for 38 yards a week ago. In addition to its problem holding onto the ball, Menlo's quarterbacks were sacked seven times last week. Senior running back Shaun Souza has returned from injury to combine with junior Payton Bell in strengthening the running game.
Defense: During a three-game winning streak prior to last week's loss, the Oaks defense held their opponents to just 27 total points. In the middle of the Menlo defense, senior linebacker Brett Klee is joined by junior Shawn Winters, who leads the team with eight sacks, and sophomore Devon Jonsson, who led the Oaks defense with 7 tackles last week, including 1.5 for a loss. In the Oaks secondary, sophomore defensive backs Beau Bussani and Boo Molinary provide punch to the pass defense while the defensive line is solidified by junior Damien Girard and sophomore Chris Tosello, who is second on the team in tackles for loss and sacks.
WILLAMETTE - Offense: The Bearcats enter this week's matchup versus Menlo ranked 20th in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and 22nd in the D3football.com Poll, and are looking to obtain one of only six at-large bids for the upcoming NCAA Div. III Playoffs with a win this Saturday. Junior wide receiver Scott Schoettgen comes into the game off a nine-catch, 135-yard performance in which he caught four touchdowns against Puget Sound. Schoettgen's four-touchdown performance tied a school record and upped his season total to TD catches. The Bearcats average just over 37 points per game, totaling 234 rushing yards and 162 yards through the air each time out. A dozen Bearcats have scored rushing touchdowns on the season and have combined for more than 2,100 yards. Sophomore running back Jamiere Abney leads the team with seven rushing touchdowns and 6.7 rush yards per carry. Freshman quarterbacks Brian Widing and Kevin Ramay have shared the position throughout the season with each holding a passer efficiency rating of above 150.
Defense: Willamette's defense held Puget Sound to just six points in last week's drubbing, limiting the Loggers to 125 total yards. The Bearcats defense consists of a solid linebacker core that features the top three tacklers on the team. Senior Andrew Ross leads the team with 82 tackles, followed by junior Ralph Pineda with 75 and sophomore Harmon Bruno with 60. Pineda leads the team with three forced fumbles and is second on the team with two interceptions. On the defensive line, junior Walter Robinson leads the Bearcats with five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Willamette has limited opponents to just over 120 rushing yards and 166 passing yards per game.
- Jefferson Bradshaw
