Tacoma, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University football team is back home this Saturday at Sparks Stadium, to battle with Northwest Conference and nationally-ranked Linfield College.
 
Last weekend, the Lutes fell short in their crosstown rivalry game against the University of Puget Sound. The Lutes drove the ball down 80 yards and scored in seven plays of the first drive, but didn't hold on which resulted in a final score 45-23 in favor of the host Loggers.
 
Most of the production came from the senior kicker/punter of the Lutes, Alex Brost. Brost had an exceptional performance. He hit all three of his field goal attempts, one in which came from 41 yards late in the third quarter, only one yard short of his career high.
 
"This game was my best performance of the year. From the standpoint of points, it is the best game of my career. However, it doesn't feel that way. There are multiple plays from that game that I wish I could redo. But with kicking you only get one shot, and that's what I love most about it."
 
When it comes to kicking you only get one chance and it seems like a lot of pressure, but for Alex, one shot is all he needs.
 
"When I go out to kick a field goal, I try my best to not pay attention to the distance. No matter the distance or angle of the kick, I approach every kick with the same form and technique as any other. This helps to relieve some of the stress and nerves from the situation."
 
Like any other member of the team, preparation and focus has been important to the success for Alex.
 
"I prepared a lot for this season. I lifted throughout the year and practiced my kicks whenever I could. But at the end of the day my goal is to just have fun. This is the last year I'll ever play the sport again. I don't let the record or scoreboard define who we are, because at the end of the day, football only lasts so long."
 
When the senior business marketing major isn't kicking footballs through the uprights, he enjoys relaxing and playing video games.
 
"I play a lot of FIFA and Rocket League in my free time. Soccer had a pretty big influence in my decision to be a kicker as it was a natural movement for me and I just enjoy it."
 
Brost isn't the first Lute in the family with his father Troy a member of the PLU football team from 1989 to 1992 while his mother Cheryl won two NAIA national titles as a member of the women's soccer program from 1989 to 1992 and was inducted into the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. 
 
"I chose PLU because it was very familiar to me and because I had the opportunity to play football. Both of my parents attended this school, and they always brought me up for alumni events on campus." said Brost. "After I graduate I am going to go into real estate."
 
The next matchup for the Lutes football team is the 24th-ranked Wildcats. Linfield has a long reputation for being the top team in the conference, but it is particularly a game that the Lutes look forward to and always compete hard. 
 
"We will certainly be the underdog, no doubt about that. But we don't mind it. It is football and we both have to come out and play."
 
Giveaway Saturday: The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a PLU megaphone and a PLU mini football. 
 
Oct. 26: PLU vs. Linfield at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Washington (1 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Wildcats have battled 70 times on the gridiron with Linfield holding a 45-21-4 advantage in the all-time series. The Wildcats prevailed 41-7 last season in McMinnville. The last time the two teams met at Sparks Stadium, the game went to overtime with Linfield escaping with the 16-10 win during the 2017 season. 
 
About the Wildcats: 24th-ranked Linfield (4-1, 3-0 NWC) has been on a tear since opening conference play, scoring 52 points against Pacific University to open the league schedule before piling on 77 points against both Puget Sound and Willamette University the past two weekends. 
 
The Wildcats racked up 702 yards of total offense in their 77-0 win over Willamette with quarterback Wyatt Smith throwing for 398 yards and six touchdowns. Wyatt's brother Colton Smith was the top receiver, racking up 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns.