Finishing the season 7-2 overall and 6-1 in Northwest Conference play, 13 Wildcats were selected to the NWC all-conference rosters with three named honorable mention.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
 
Producing one of the most impressive seasons in recent program history, Linfield running back Chidubem Nnoli was named NWC Offensive Player of the Year. The junior from Beaverton, Oregon dominated in conference games where he ran for 945 yards on 168 carries with nine rushing touchdowns. He led the NWC in rushing yards, carries and yards per carry (5.6 ypc). The second-year back scored multiple touchdowns in four games this season.
 
Nnoli tied Linfield's single-season program record with six consecutive 100-yard games set by Spencer Payne in 2014. Nnoli has 1996 career rushing yards, ninth most in program history. His 18 career rushing scores are good for 18^th on Linfield's all-time rushing touchdown leaders list.
 
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
 
As the lone returning starter to the Wildcat defense, senior safety Duke Mackle was named NWC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Mackle shares the 2018 honor with Chad Wilberg of Whitworth. The fourth-year player out of San Diego, Calif. led the Wildcats with 55 tackles  (6.1 per game). Mackle had 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and seven pass breakups.
 
Mackle forced teams to avoid throwing to his side of the field in coverage and blanketed the field from sideline to sideline in order to stop the run. The senior helped Linfield to three defensive shutouts, where it allowed an NWC-best 13.4 points per game, 262 yards, and 20 turnovers.
 
"Duke is respected around the league and this certainly shows for it. He's a special player and teams game planned around where he was on the field. If you didn't know, you usually found out in a hurry."
 
"I'm so proud of him. He anchored our secondary that really grew as the season progressed. They turned into a solid group that attacked the ball and anticipated extremely well. It started with Duke, he had an outstanding season.
 
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE
 
Joining Nnoli on the offensive all-star roster were two men who paved the way to Nnoli's break-out season. Senior left tackle Dakota Smith and senior center Gabe Mojarro were named first team all-NWC picks.
 
Linfield's rush offense averaged 4.1 yards per carry and its passing attack totaled 268 yards per game with 20 touchdowns. The offensive front allowed just 23 sacks all season and down the stretch gave the passing game ample time to find targets downfield.
 
"Our offensive line became quite good down the stretch. Guys like Dakota and Gabe were major keys to our success offensively. As good as they are in the run game they became terrific in pass protection as well and that balance is hard to come by."
 
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE DEFENSE
 
Teaming up with Mackle to make up one of the top defenses in the West Region were first team all-NWC selections defensive lineman Tony Kraus, linebacker Patrick Pipitone, and monsterback Tyler Bergeron.
 
Kraus led the 'Cats in sacks with eight. His 9.5 tackles for loss were also second best on the team. Krauss forced and recovered a fumble and broke up one pass as well.
 
Pipitone finished an outstanding season at linebacker with 49 tackles, two sacks, nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. One of the most athletic players on the Wildcats roster, Pipitone led the Wildcat defense to an incredible 33 percent success rate in the red zone (2^nd NCAA).
 
Bergeron finished the season with five interceptions (2^nd NWC) in his first season back at Linfield. A former United States Marine, Bergeron didn't miss a beat in his five-year absence from the sport. He recorded 36 tackles, 2.5 tackes for loss and two pass breakups.
 
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE
 
The Wildcat offense caught fire in the last two weeks of the season and was recognized for posting more than 40 points five games in 2018. Quarterback Wyatt Smith, receivers J.D. Lasswell and Keegan Weiss along with offensive lineman Cody Mitchell were all deemed second team all-NWC worthy.
 
Smith closed 2018 as perhaps the top quarterback in the conference. Smith had 18 touchdown passes (eight in the final two games) to eight inceptions to go along with 62 percent passing with 2314 yards (257 ypg). He led the NWC in quarterback efficiency rating at 144.9.
 
"Wyatt's efficiency rating and completion percentage were outstanding. You want decision making and accuracy, Wyatt gave us that this season and we're proud of his growth as a quarterback," said Smith
 
Lasswell's career came to a close with 15 career touchdowns. The senior wide out had 36 catches for 524 yards and six touchdowns this season.
 
Weiss led the 'Cats with 38 catches in 2018. The junior had 483 yards and three touchdown catches. He was also named an honorable mention at kick returner where he averaged 31.9 yards per return including a 91-yard kick return touchdown.
 
"Our receiving corps developed into what we knew it could be at the end of the season. We took flight when that happened and it was largely in part to what J.D. and Keegan were able to accomplish," said Smith.
 
Mitchell was a key piece to the Wildcats success in the run game and in pass protection. Played in 16 career games including eight this season.
 
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERNCE DEFENSE
 
Two more Wildcats earned second team all-conference honors. Freshman defensive end Travis Swanson and senior cornerback Marquis Perrilliat stood out this season for the Wildcat defense.
 
In his first season with the club, Swanson stared at defensive end. A transfer from Occidental, Swanson erupted for 13 tackles for loss with seven sacks one fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown in the final game of the season against Pacific.
 
Perrilliat was one of the top cover corners in the NWC this season. He recorded 17 tackles, two for loss, two sacks, one interception and seven pass breakups in nine games.
 
HONORABLE MENTION
 
Wildcat punter Colton Ramos, tight end Jacob Calo and kick returner Keegan Weiss all received the nod at honorable mention. Ramos was one of the nation's top punters and finished the season averaging 40.2 yards per punt. Calo had three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, he was played a significant role blocking for Linfield's run game.
 
"This was a very good football team at the end of the year," said Smith. "There are 32 teams in the playoffs we beat probably 20 of those teams fairly easily but we didn't get a chance to prove that. I'm very proud of these guys and what they were able to accomplish this season."