Ford Highlights Growth in 2009 Team

LAST WEEK: Pacific Lutheran dropped a 62-44 Northwest Conference decision to the unbeaten Linfield Wildcats Saturday in McMinnville, Ore. Though Saturday's final score looked relatively close, the game was over for all intents and purposes after a 28-point second quarter explosion gave the Wildcats a 41-7 halftime lead. Hanging tough and trailing Linfield 13-7, the wheels came off the wagon for PLU in the final minutes of the first half. It was a dreadful final 3:45 for the Lutes, as the Wildcats scored 28 unanswered points before halftime. It was a magical first half for Aaron Boehme. The senior quarterback picked apart the PLU secondary to the tune of 313 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the game completing 24-of-29 passes for 374 yards and five touchdowns in just a little over a half of play. While Linfield's offense was clicking on all cylinders, the defense was quietly shutting down a pass-happy PLU offense. The Lutes amassed only 84 yards of total offense in the first half. PLU got some momentum going in the second half against the Wildcats second unit. Trailing 48-7, the Lutes scored on a 13-yard pass from Rasmussen to Drew Griffin in the third quarter. The Lutes, battling to the end, scored 30 points in the fourth quarter starting with a one-yard touchdown run by Griffin. Rasmussen also connected with Greg Ford on six- and one-yard scoring passes, and with Kyle Whitford on a 20-yard touchdown aerial. Linfield gained 644 total yards, including 504 through the air, compared to 382 yards, 325 through the air, for the Lutes.

AIRING IT OUT: Rasmussen completed 31-of-56 passes for 325 yards and five scores Saturday against Linfield. His 56 pass attempts broke a PLU single-game record set by Marc Weekly in 1993.

BREAKING THE CENTURY MARK: Linfield and PLU combined for 106 points on Saturday, eclipsing the former record of 102 set in 1989 when Pacific Lutheran defeated Southern Oregon, 52-50. The Lutes' 44 points also set a new record for points scored in a loss, breaking the previous record of 42 in a 2002 loss to Azusa Pacific.

DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES: After giving up a combined 95 points through their first two games, the Lutes' defense held their next six opponents to a total of 137 points, an average of 22.8 per contest, before giving up 62 points to Linfield's explosive offense. For the season, PLU gave up 294 points, breaking the school record for most opponent points in a season (291 in 2005). The opponents' scoring average of 32.7 points per game broke 2005's school record of 32.3.

RAISING THE BAR: One year after setting a school record with 272 receiving yards against Lewis & Clark, Greg Ford posted 292 yards through the air against Gustavus Adolphus.

CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS: Ford earned first-team all-Northwest Conference honors for the second straight year after being named to the second-team his freshman year. Ford led the league with 70 receptions and 1,120 yards in nine games this season. Both totals rank third on the PLU single-season list. His 10 touchdown receptions tie for ninth most in school history. Ford's numbers have increased in each of his seasons at PLU, and he will have a chance to break multiple PLU career receiving records with a senior year comparable to either of his last two seasons. Through three years, Ford ranks sixth in school history with 2,593 career receiving yards, 914 behind Karl Lerum for the most all-time. His 145 career receptions rank eighth in PLU history, 92 behind Lerum for the top spot on the list. With 26 receiving touchdowns, Ford needs nine more to tie Mike Welk for the most in school history.

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE HONORS: Ford and senior defensive back Andy Sturza were named to the NWC all-conference first-team. PLU players named to the second team were junior quarterback Jordan Rasmussen, senior wide receiver Drew Griffin and senior defensive lineman Giustin Jenkins. Lutes named to the honorable mention list on offense were senior tight end Monroe Samifua, junior offensive linemen Sten Koos and Conor McNeill, junior wide receivers Kyle Whitford and Isaac Moog, and sophomore offensive lineman Nick Oglesby. PLU players named to the all-conference honorable mention team were senior defensive lineman Tony Slater, senior linebacker Bryan Neumiller, and sophomore defensive lineman Erik Magnussen.

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