2009-10 Football News
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team is ranked #17 in the nation in the NCAA Division III Preseason Rankings included in the Lindy's college football guide. The Bearcats enter the 2010 season with a combined record of 19-3 over the past two years, including 11-1 in 2008 and 8-2 in 2009.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University football Head Coach Mark Speckman has announced the 2010 schedule for the Bearcats. The schedule features four home games and six games on the road.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University inside linebacker Ralph Pineda (Jr., Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS/San Jose State Univ.) has been chosen Third Team All-America by D3Football.com. Overall, a total of 101 NCAA Division III athletes were selected for All-America recognition, with 26 players on the First Team and 25 players each named to the Second Team, Third Team and Honorable Mention.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University inside linebacker Ralph Pineda (Jr., Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS/San Jose State Univ.) has been chosen First Team All-West Region by D3Football.com. The Bearcats also have three players -- Scott Hirschberger (Sr., C, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS), Joe Penkala (Sr., OT, Niles, Illinois/Loyola Academy) and Ron Carter (So., DT, Atwater, CA/Buhach Colony HS) -- who have been named Third Team All-Region.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior football players Scott Hirschberger (C, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) and Cory Lowe (DE, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS) have been selected to play in a new NCAA Division III All-Star game near Mexico City, Mexico, later this month. The Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) will match the United States team, featuring players from Division III colleges and universities, against the Tec Monterrey All-Stars on Saturday, Dec. 19.
SALEM, ORE. -- A total of eight Willamette University football players have been chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2009 season in voting by the NWC head coaches. Willamette also placed seven players on the Second Team and five players received Honorable Mention. Inside linebacker Ralph Pineda (Jr., Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS/San Jose State Univ.) of Willamette was chosen NWC Defensive Player of the Year.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University, which concluded the year with an 8-2 overall record, moved up one spot to #21 in the final regular season D3Football.com Top 25 for 2009. The Bearcats defeated Menlo College, 48-10, to end the season and improve to 5-1 (2nd place) in the Northwest Conference.
SALEM, ORE. -- Following a successful season, the Willamette University football team, 8-2 overall, remained #20 in the final regular season NCAA Division III Coaches Poll released by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The Bearcats averaged 402.8 total yards per game during the season, while allowing just 279.2 yards per contest.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team is not among the 32 teams selected for the 2009 NCAA Division III Playoffs. Twenty-three of the teams chosen for the playoffs received automatic bids by winning conference titles. Three bids went to independents or teams from conferences without an automatic berth. Just six of the teams selected received at-large bids.
ATHERTON, CALIF. -- Willamette University scored 35 points in the first half and shut out Menlo College in the second half, as the Bearcats defeated the Oaks, 48-10, in Northwest Conference action on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Bearcats, ranked #20 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and #22 in the D3Football.com Top 25, finished the regular season at 8-2, including 5-1 in the NWC (2nd place).
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior wide receiver Scott Schoettgen (Columbia, CA/Sonora HS) has been selected as the Northwest Conference Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts against the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 7. Schoettgen hauled in a career-high nine passes against the Loggers for 135 yards. Willamette defeated Puget Sound, 50-6.
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University moved two spots higher to #22 this week in the D3Football.com Top 25 released on Sunday, Nov. 8. The Bearcats returned to the position they held two weeks ago, before dropping two spots after an open date on Oct. 31. Willamette's 50-6 win at the University of Puget Sound on Saturday improved the 'Cats to 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University have jumped to #20 in this week's NCAA Division III Coaches Poll released by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Monday, Nov. 9. Willamette was ranked #22 each of the past two weeks.
TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University amassed 552 yards of total offense and wide receiver Scott Schoettgen (Jr., Columbia, CA/Sonora HS) scored four touchdowns, as the Bearcats rolled past the University of Puget Sound, 50-6, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Nov. 7. Willamette, ranked #24 in the D3Football.com Top 25, upped its record to 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 0-8 overall, 0-5 in the NWC.
SALEM, ORE. -- For the second consecutive week, the Willamette University football team was ranked #22 when the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll was released by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Monday, Nov. 2. The Bearcats are 6-2 overall, 3-1 in the Northwest Conference.
SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team had its only open date of the season this past week, but the Bearcats dropped two positions in the D3Football.com Top 25 from #22 a week ago to #24 this week. Willamette, 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Northwest Conference, will return to action at the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. (PST).