Football | 11/3/2008 1:01:34 AM

This Week: Saturday, Nov. 8 @Linfield, McMinnville, Ore., Maxwell Field, 1 pm
Last Week: WOU 34, Humboldt State 10. Linfield 32, Puget Sound 24
Records: Western Oregon 6-4 (5-3 GNAC), Linfield 5-2 (4-1 NWC)

Wolves wrap season at Wildcats: The 2008 football season for Western Oregon will come to a close this coming Saturday (Nov. 8) with a non-conference game at Linfield's Maxwell Field (1 pm). Western Oregon brings a 6-4 overall mark into the contest, while the Wildcats sit at 5-2.

Series stats: Linfield has dominated the all-time series between the two teams, as the 'Cats have with most of its opponents over the years, 42-15-3. But the Wolves have won the last two games in the rivalry, 28-14 (2006) and 32-20 (2007).

Wildcat watch: Linfield sits in second place in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference, behind unbeaten Willamette. They will wrap up their season on Nov. 15 against Pacific Lutheran. The 'Cats have already clinched a 53rd consecutive winning season, an all-divisions record.

Listen in, watch: You have a number of options to listen to the game live on the Wolves Radio Network. On the internet, link to the game from the Wolves website at www.wouwolves.com, or go directly to MidValleySports.Net. Four radio stations will also broadcast the on the Wolves Radio Network: KPJC 1220 AM (Salem), KLOO 1340 AM (Albany), KOHI 1600 AM (St. Helens) and KMVS 1610 AM (Monmouth). Russ Blunck and "The Coach" Bear Blunck will provide the call for the 12th consecutive season. The Tailgate Show begins 45 minutes before kick-off and the pre-game shows starts 15 minutes prior to the first snap. You can also watch WOU games live on your computer screen. Just click on the GNAC TV link for pay-per-view instructions.

Coach speak: You can listen or watch the WOU Coaches Show live on Wednesday nights at Rick's Place in Monmouth (Main Street) on MidValleySports.Net at 8 p.m. Catch Steve Swart and David Olson when they interview Arne Ferguson and other guests each week.

WOU seniors go out in style: Western Oregon ran out to a 27-3 halftime lead on its way to an easy 34-10 victory over Humboldt State on Nov.1 in the final home and conference game of the 2008 season. The contest marked the last time that 15 seniors will play on McArthur Field. The outcome allowed the Wolves to finish 5-3 on the year in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action, with a chance to finish tied for second place with Western Washington in the final GNAC standings.

Wolves replay: You can watch the replay of the Wolves-Lumberjacks contest on CCTV channel 22 in Salem, and in Monmouth-Independence, the game will show on channel 17 and 18 throughout the week. Past games will show at 1 am each night. For DVD copies of the game, email Russ Blunck at blunckr@wou.edu.

GNAC update: Western Washington scored right before the end of the first half to take a 20-14 lead over Dixie State, and then made that margin hold up in the second half to complete the series sweep over the Rebels (see more below). Central Washington stepped outside of conference play to take a 36-6 victory on the road over Azusa Pacific to improve to 9-1 on the season.

GNAC Standings
Central Washington 7-0 (9-1)
Western Washington 5-2 (5-4)
Western Oregon 5-3 (6-4)
Dixie State 1-5 (3-7)
Humboldt State 0-7 (2-8)

Saturday's WOU opponent results
Weber State 31, Portland State 21 (3-5)
Western Washington 20 (5-4), Dixie State 14 (3-7)
Central Washington 36 (9-1), Azusa Pacific 6
Western Oregon 34 (6-4), Humboldt State 10 (2-8)
Linfield 32 (5-2), Puget Sound 24
Southern Oregon (3-5), bye.

Rotary Bowl update: By virtue of Western Washington's victory over Dixie State and the current GNAC tie-breaker system, the Vikings will likely get the Rotary Bowl berth afforded to the conference. If WWU loses to Central Washington this week, they will finish the season tied with WOU, but WWU gets the bid based on head-to-head differential (WOU beat WWU by nine points, WWU beat WOU by 11 points). GNAC champion Central Washington is virtually assured an NCAA playoff berth, going into the final week of the regular season ranked fifth in the Super Regional Four (top six go).

Region watch: Here is today's Super Regional Four ranking (Nov. 3). The top six teams in the final poll will qualify for the NCAA playoffs at the end of the regular season. (1) Abilene Christian TX (9-0), (2) Northwest Missouri State (9-1), (3) Pittsburg State KS (9-1), (4) West Texas A&M (9-1), (5) Central Washington (9-1), (6) Tarleton State TX (8-2), (7) Nebraska-Omaha (6-3), (8) Central Oklahoma (6-4), (9) Central Missouri (6-4), (10) Midwestern State TX (6-3).

Pass-happy Wolves air it out against Lumberjacks: Western Oregon posted 589 yards of total offense, 488 of it through the air, during a 34-10 win over Humboldt State at McArthur Field on Nov. 1. The Wolves accomplished that despite a sluggish third quarter, when they had only 43 yards total and 25 via the pass in the period after halftime.

Just Josh: Junior quarterback Josh Riddell now sits atop the Western Oregon record book in three different categories. His 488 passing yards crushed the previous record by Brian Traeger (420), set in 1994 against Southern Oregon. His 493 yards of total offense also set a new WOU standard, taking down a mark that had stood for over 50 years. Jim Bowlen's 1957 record of 445 yards against Lower Columbia College was the previous best, followed by Traeger's total of 416 against Pacific Lutheran in 1996. Riddell is also now the single-season record holder for passing yardage with 2,637, slipping pass Erik Davis' 1999 record of 2,628.

Recognition for Riddle: For the second time this season, Josh Riddell was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Salem, Ore. native (McKay HS) connected on 26 of 43 passes, and for the second time this season, threw four touchdown strikes. The 6-0, 205-pound junior has now completed 60 percent of his passes on the season (172-285) for 2,637 yards and 24 scores. He is just one TD pass shy of tying the single season WOU record of 25, held by Tony Burris (1985).

Team throwing: The 488 yards passing was also a WOU team record, while the 589 yards of total offense is the second highest total ever for the Wolves, second only to the 630 yards posted against Eastern Oregon in 1987.

3 x 100: Riddell spread the wealth on Saturday, throwing four scores to four different receivers. Three of those wideouts tallied over 100 yards in receptions, the first time that has happened in a WOU game or in a GNAC contest. Shaun Kauleinamoku had nine catches for 129 yards, Demario Ballard had seven for 129 and Justin Ore grabbed three for 106. Isaiah Smith also had a TD grab, and finished with four catches for 49 yards.

Tremendous trio: On the season, senior Isaiah Smith leads the Wolves with 38 catches for 696 yards. He also has six TD catches. Shaun Kauleinamoku has 36 catches for 541 yards and a team-best eight TD's, while Demario Ballard checks in with 33 catches for 508 yards and six scores.

Running game thin: One of the reasons the Wolves went to the air so much was because two of WOU's top three runners were slowed or out with injuries. DJ Jackson missed his fourth consecutive game, while Patrick Fuller began the contest with a couple of carries, but then quickly excited and did not return. Ben Kuenzi carried the bulk of the load the rest of the day and ground out 72 yards on 18 carries. Kuenzi, the junior from McKay HS (Salem), has 675 yards on the season, an average of 4.9 a carry.

Matt's monster year: Senior defensive tackle Matt Cox had another tackle for loss on Saturday, giving him 56.5 career TFL and 27.5 QB sacks. No one in GNAC history has more TFL than Cox, and he is half a sack short of the same mark in that category. This year, he has 18 TFL for 96 yards and ten QB sacks for 72 yards.

Anti-rush: Western Oregon gave up just 38 yards rushing on 24 Lumberjack carries. The Wolves allow just 68.4 yards per game in that column. They ranked seventh in the nation last week, but should move up in the next listings.

Thieves: The WOU defense has 18 interceptions on the season, adding two more on Saturday against HSU, courtesy of Bryan Huber and Miguel Gonzalez. Outside linebacker Gavin Romanick leads the team with five, followed by Caleb Singleton with four and Huber with three.

Getting defensive: Middle linebacker JT Gilmore leads the Wolves in tackles with 89, followed by outside backer Andrew Jackson with 79. Gavin Romanick is next with 68 tackles, and is second on the team to Matt Cox in TFL (eight) and QB sacks (three). Bryan Huber leads the team in pass break-ups (eight), with Miguel Gonzalez next with six.

GNAC leaders: Running back Ben Kuenzi ranks third in the GNAC yards-per-game rushing category with 67.5 and is second in rushing touchdowns with five. Josh Riddell is third in passing yards a game (263.7) and pass efficiency (154.6). Senior receiver Isaiah Smith is fourth in receiving yardage a contest (69.6). Shaun Kauleinamoku is sixth in receiving yards per game (54.1) and is fifth in TD scores (eight). Jon Dowd is fourth in the conference in kick-off returns with 21.2 per return and Patrick Fuller is fifth at 20.4. Cory Dickson is second in punting at 37.5. JT Gilmore ranks third in the GNAC in tackles with 8.9 per game (89 total). Gavin Romanick is second in the GNAC in interceptions with five, with Caleb Singelton (four) right behind him. Matt Cox leads the league lead in quarterback sacks (1.00 a game), and the senior defensive tackle leads the loop in tackles for loss with 1.80 a game. Bryan Huber leads the GNAC in passes defended with 1.10 a game, while Miguez Gonzalez is fourth (0.89).

Touting the team: Western Oregon leads the GNAC in Rushing Offense (145.1), Pass Defense Efficiency (126.6), Rushing Defense (68.4), Interceptions (18), and Punt Coverage (34.7 net).

Career tallies: Junior running back Ben Kuenzi now has 1,902 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons, both of which rank ninth on WOU's career lists. Senior wide receiver Isaiah Smith has 111 catches for 1,909 yards and 15 scores. The yardage totals put him sixth on the career list, the 15 TD grabs is eighth and the 111 catches is ninth all-time at WOU.

Ferguson facts: Head coach Arne Ferguson is in his fourth season at WOU as the program leader. The Vale, Oregon native was a three-time All-CFA defensive back for the Wolves from 1986-88, and began his coaching career at Western in 1989. He has been WOU's defensive coordinator since 1997. In Ferguson's first season at the helm in 2005, he took over a program that finished 1-9 the year previous and pushed them to a 5-6 mark, finishing the season on a three-game win streak. In 2006 they finished 6-4, with all four losses coming by a total of 21 points. His career head coaching mark is now 26-16.

To the nines: WOU's nine wins in 2007 (9-2) was only the fourth nine-win season in 78 years of Western Oregon University football. The last one was a Bill McArthur club in 1976 (9-1). McArthur's 1975 squad also went 9-1, and his 1949 team holds WOU's top all-time mark at 9-0. Coach Arne Ferguson's Western Oregon football squad finished the 2007 season with a 26-12 Dixie Rotary Bowl victory over Colorado School of Mines on Dec. 1 in St. George, Utah.

Oregon's team: Western Oregon has 98 players from the state of Oregon on its 2008 roster. 74 percent of the squad hails from the state, a percentage more than double of any other football roster in the Oregon University System. Here's the breakdown.
Western Oregon 74%
Portland State 32%
Eastern Oregon 31%
Southern Oregon 30%
Oregon State 29%
Oregon 16%