After securing a 54th consecutive winning season, the Linfield Wildcats return home this week for their first game on Maxwell Field in a month.

“I think everybody’s pretty excited that those road games are done and we can get back into a regular routine and catch our breath a little bit,” said Linfield coach Joseph Smith, now in his fourth year as head man.

Smith’s club kept the NCAA-record streak alive with a 38-20 win at Whitworth on Saturday. The win kept the No. 7-Wildcats undefeated in 2009 with a perfect 5-0 record, including a 2-0 mark in Northwest Conference games.

Linfield’s defense continued its dominant play last weekend, forcing six turnovers and knocking Whitworth’s first- and second-string quarterbacks out of the ball game. Bryce Comfort led with seven tackles on the afternoon. Taylor Skore had six along with an interception. Alex Tkachuk had six tackles as well while Hanna Christian, Nate Dixon and Kole Krieger had the other three Wildcat interceptions.

The six turnovers bumped Linfield’s season turnover margin to plus-14, which leads the Northwest Conference.

“Certainly it’s an area of emphasis for us,” Smith said of the turnovers. “In terms of generating them, some of that’s luck. You just have to be fortuitous sometimes ... So we’re getting the interceptions, which I like. We’re not throwing them, which I like. The fumbles, I think we’re tackling well and creating some.”

The Wildcats did their best work in the first half, going into the break with not only a 24-7 advantage on the scoreboard, but with a 313-100 yard advantage over the Pirates.

“Our guys came and I thought played outstanding in that first half,” Smith said. “That’s a pretty dominating effort. I was disappointed that things didn’t go better for us in the second half to some extent. And so much of that was just our own mistakes and some fluke things.”

Aaron Boehme, the Northwest Conference’s leading passer, got things done in the air on Saturday. The junior three 16 complete passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Trevor Peterson was Linfield’s leading receiver, catching six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Boehme found Gunnar Cederberg in the end zone for his other passing score.

Aaron Williams led the ground attack, tallying 102 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns. Taylor Avritt also had a rushing touchdown in the win.

As for this weekend, the Wildcats return home to face a winless Lewis & Clark squad for homecoming.

The Pioneers will be looking for their first conference win in almost 30 conference games. They are 0-4 so far in 2009 and last week were routed 69-24 by Willamette.

Lewis & Clark has been outscored by its opponents, who are averaging 40 points a game against the Pioneers, 167-73.

Lewis & Clark’s offense is anchored by quarterback Tucker Laurence, who has thrown for 410 yards on the year and rushed a team-high 37 times.

“We’re going to go in and play the best we can and respect them and give it our best shot,” Smith said.