Bearcats are Ranked #14 in AFCA Coaches Poll

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team is ranked #14 in this week's NCAA Division III Poll as released by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Monday, Oct. 19. Willamette, which defeated Pacific Lutheran University, 35-17, this past weekend, is 6-1 on the season, 3-0 in the Northwest Conference.

AFCA COACHES POLL

The Bearcats will host Linfield College (6-0, 3-0 NWC) at McCulloch Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, starting at 1:30 p.m. (PDT). Linfield is ranked #8 in this week's AFCA Poll. Willamette moved up two spots from last week's poll, while Linfield advanced one position.

Mount Union College (Ohio), 6-0, received 39 of 40 first place votes and 999 points for a nearly unanimous #1 ranking. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 6-0, received the remaining first place vote and 960 points for #2 in the poll.

Wheaton College (Illinois), 6-0, was #3 with 895 points, while Wesley College (Del)., 6-0, was #4 with 862 points. St. John's University (Minn.), 7-0, rounded out the Top 5 with 826 points.

Central College (Iowa) held the #6 spot with a 7-0 record and 749 points. Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.), 6-0, was ranked #7 with 740 points, while Linfield was #8 with 723 points. The Top 10 was completed by Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) at #9 with 611 points, and by Monmouth University (Illinois) at #10 with 610 points.

Willamette has won six consecutive games. The Bearcats have been led on offense by the running of senior tailback Deon Horne (Issaquah, WA/Liberty HS), the passing for freshman quarterbacks Brian Widing (Oregon City, OR/Canby Union HS) and Kevin Ramay (Simi Valley, CA/Grace Brethren HS), and by the receiving of Scott Schoettgen (Jr., WR, Columbia, CA/Sonora HS).

Horne has rushed for 456 yards and three touchdowns on 83 carries. He is averaging 5.5 yards per rush. He has earned 1,444 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns since the start of the 2008 season.

Widing has completed 32 of 55 passes (58.2%) for 497 yards and four touchdowns. Ramay has connected on 19 of 33 passes (57.6%) and four touchdowns.

Schoettgen has hauled in 24 passes for 467 yards (19.5 avg.) and five touchdowns. He has caught 55 passes in his career for 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns.