Linfield to play host in first round of playoffs

On a day when the hearts and minds of the Linfield community were far from the football field, the Wildcats learned their NCAA Division III playoff fate.

Linfield will host Chapman, the champion of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, on Saturday, Nov. 22, at noon at Maxwell Field in McMinnville. The Panthers finished the regular season 8-1 overall and 7-0 in the SCIAC.

That one loss, incidentally, came against the Wildcats. Linfield edged Chapman in the regular-season opener for both teams, a 21-14 result on Sept. 13. Linfield was ranked No. 5 nationally by d3football.com at the time; the Wildcats enter the playoffs as the No. 10-ranked team.

The winner of the game will face the winner of a contest between Texas Lutheran and Mary Hardin-Baylor, which will be held Nov. 22 in Belton, Texas, at 10 a.m. 

Linfield learned of its playoff fate approximately 16 hours after the fatal stabbing of sophomore linebacker Parker Moore in McMinnville. Wildcats head coach Joseph Smith gave a prepared statement to the media about Moore and his death and took no questions.

Ticket information is as follows, courtesy of the Linfield sports information department:

•All reserved seat ticket sales will be conducted through Linfield's online ticket portal, linfield.edu/sports/tickets
 
•Season ticket holders have first opportunity to confirm their seats starting Sunday at 8 p.m. Season tickets not confirmed by noon Tuesday will then made available for sale to the general public. Season ticket holders requesting to purchase additional reserved seats must wait until general public sales begin Wednesday at noon.
 
•Reserved tickets for faculty, staff, students and retirees become available for purchase in the athletics office beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
 
•Reserved tickets for the general public, including Chapman fans, begin Wednesday at noon at linfield.edu/sports/tickets
 
•For assistance with online ticket reservations, call 503-883-2421.
 
•All covered reserved seats are $15, uncovered reserved tickets are $12 and adult general admission is $10. General admission tickets are sold day of the game only.
 
•General admission for seniors and students with a current college or high school ID card are priced at $6 and sold day of the game only. Children under 3 are admitted free.
 
•No complimentary tickets will be issued and Northwest Conference passes will not be honored.
 
•Once purchased, season ticket holders may pick up their tickets Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. or 3 p.m., or Friday from 9 a.m. to noon in the athletics office. Tickets may also be picked up Saturday at the stadium ticket booth beginning at 10 a.m. Please bring a photo ID when picking up tickets.