McMINNVILLE, Oregon – The Puget Sound football team kept within one score of No. 8 Linfield at halftime, but the Wildcats pulled away for a 23-0 win Saturday afternoon.

Despite the 23 points allowed, Puget Sound's defense had one of its best games of the season. The Loggers registered six sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. Both William Geary and Brent McCoy finished with two sacks, apiece. Geary also tied with Keanu Songcuan for the team-lead in tackles for a loss (2.5).

Songcuan and McCoy tied for a team-high 11 tackles, while Jason Clayton notched his second interception in as many games. Clayton leads Puget Sound with three picks this season. 

Geary forced a Linfield (7-1, 6-0 NWC) turnover late in the second quarter. The Logger linebacker broke through the offensive line and hit quarterback Wyatt Smith for a strip-sack. Washam scooped up the ball on Puget Sound's five-yard line, and returned it 91 yards down to Linfield's four-yard line with 40 seconds left in the first half. During the ensuing possession, a Puget Sound penalty for an illegal block backed up the Loggers 15 yards, and they eventually settled for a 24-yard field-goal attempt. However, the kick was blocked and the Loggers entered the midway point in a 7-0 deficit.

Linfield (7-1, 6-0 NWC) scored the game's first points midway through the second quarter with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Smith to J.D. Lasswell. Nine of the Wildcats' second-half points came via field goals.

Both defenses entered Saturday's contest tied for the Northwest Conference lead in forced turnovers with 15 apiece. The Loggers committed three turnovers on the afternoon, and the Wildcats committed two. 

Puget Sound's last game of the 2017 season is Saturday, Nov. 11, when the Loggers host George Fox for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Baker Stadium.

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube