By Robert Husseman • Sports Editor • 

Linfield survives Panthers' scare

ORANGE, California -- Linfield enjoyed a rare night game against the host Chapman Panthers, but the Wildcats took a while to wake up.

Trailing 14-7 at the half, Linfield quarterback Sam Riddle engineered a pair of touchdown drives to lead the Wildcats over the Panthers, 21-14, Saturday night at Ernie Chapman Stadium for Linfield's first victory of the season.

Riddle, a sophomore from Hillsboro, threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns and ran in from two yards out for Linfield's (1-0) third score of the ballgame. His rushing touchdown was preceded by a 73-yard catch and run by Charlie Poppen, who finished with five receptions for 119 yards and a score.

Evan Peterson had four receptions for 41 yards for the Wildcats (ranked No. 5 nationally by d3football.com), and Brian Balsiger added 38 receiving yards on four catches. Sophomore Erick Douglas III caught the first touchdown pass of his career in the second quarter.

Panthers quarterback Michael Lahey had 153 passing yards (19-for-28) with one touchdown. Running back Cody Chapple paced Chapman (0-1) on the ground with 87 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Linfield returns to the Golden State on Sept. 20 for a game at the University of Redlands.

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