The Willamette Bearcats won the NWC championship with a 6–2–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents) and outscored all opponents by a total of 129 to 94. The College of Idaho Coyotes finished in second place, compiled a 6–4 record, and led the conference in scoring offense with an average of 15.7 points per game. The Puget Sound Loggers tied for third place with a 3–4–1 overall record, but led the conference in scoring defense, giving up an average of only 6.5 points per game.
The 1946 Willamette Bearcats football team epresented the Willamette University of Salem, Oregon. In their first and only season under head coach Walt Erickson, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record (6–0 against NWC opponents) and outscored opponent by a total of 129 to 94.[4]
Three Willamette players were unanimous selections to the 1946 All-Northwest Conference football team: Marv Goodman at end; Garrell Deiner at tackle, and Larry McKeel at back. End Bill Reder and back Bob Douglas received second-team honors.[5]
The 1946 College of Idaho Coyotes football team represented the College of Idaho of Caldwell, Idaho. In their sixth year under head coach Clem Parberry, the team compiled a 6–4 record (5–2 against NWC opponents), finished in second place in the Northwest Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 157 to 125.[16]
The 1946 Linfield Wildcats football team represented the Linfield University of McMinnville, Oregon. Led by head coach Wayne Harn, the team compiled a 4–3–1 record (3–2–1 against NWC opponents), tied for third place in the Northwest Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 102 to 72.[26]
The 1946 Puget Sound Loggers football team represented the University of Puget Sound of Tacoma, Washington. Led by head coach Frank W. Patrick, the team compiled a 3–4–1 record (3–2–1 against NWC opponents), tied for third place in the Northwest Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 106 to 52.[30]
The 1946 Pacific Badgers football team represented the Pacific University of Forest Grove, Oregon. Led by head coach Oswald D. Gates, the team compiled a 4–3–1 record (3–3 against NWC opponents), finished in fifth place in the Northwest Conference, and were outscored by a total of 60 to 58.[36]
The 1946 Whitman Fighting Missionaries football team represented Whitman College of Walla Walla, Washington. In their 32nd season under head coach Vincent Borleske, the team compiled a 2–5 record (1–5 against NWC opponents), finished in sixth place in the Northwest Conference, and were outscored by a total of 79 to 34.[39]
The 1946 British Columbia Thunderbirds football team represented the University of British Columbia of Vancouver, British Columbia. Led by head coach Greg Kabat, the Thunderbirds compiled a 0–7 record (0–6 against NWC opponents), finished in seventh place in the Northwest Conference, and were outscored by a total of 169 to 39.[41]
Date
Opponent
Site
Result
Attendance
Source
Willamette
L 13–26
Western Washington
L 0–25
Whitman
L 13–21
College of Idaho
L 7–19
Puget Sound
L 6–34
Linfield
L 0–13
Pacific (OR)
L 0–31
Lewis & Clark
All-conference team
The 1946 All-Northwest conference football team was selected by coaches and faculty of the conference schools. Players named to the first team were:
Ends – Arnold Torgenson (or Thorgerson), Pacific; Marvin Goodman, Willamette
Tackles – Garrell (or Gerald) Deiner, Willamette; Steuben Thomas, College of Idaho
Guards – Bill Dahlgren, Pacific; William Currier, Linfield
Center – Maitland Anderson, Pacific
Backs – Larry McKeel (or McKell), Willamette; Warren Wood, Puget Sound; Jon Seeley, Linfield; Tom Oxman, College of Idaho
[3][5]
References
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 149.
^ a b"Northwest Conference Football History" (PDF). Northwest Conference. p. 4. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 233.
^ a b"3 Willamettes All-Conference: NW Chooses Deiner, Goodman, McKeel". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. December 1, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^"San Jose Power Smothers Scrappy Willamette Cats". The Capital Journal. September 28, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Bearcats Open Conference Play With 26-13 Win Over Thunderbirds". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. October 6, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"Willamette Trounces Linfield, 31-6". The Eugene Guard. October 13, 1946. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"Bearcats Seek 3rd Straight In Mix With C of I Tonight: Sweetland Scene of Northwest Conference Big". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. October 18, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"Zooming Bearcats Top Coyotes, 27-7". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. October 19, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a bJerry Stone (October 27, 1946). "Bearcats Throttle CPS Threat, 7 to 0". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
^"WU Opens Story Book On 6-6 Tie With Pilots". The Capital Journal. November 2, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"Cats Topple Pacific, Cop Loop Title: McKeel's Second Quarter Score Sinks Stubborn Badger Foes". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. November 10, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Last Minute Aerial Gives Poets 18-13 Win Over Cats". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. November 17, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Bearcat Climax Campaign By Whipping Whitman, 7-0". The Statesman. Salem, Oregon. November 29, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 14.
^"College of Idaho Outscores EOC Grid Machine 25 to 12; Fumbles Costly". La Grande Evening Observer. September 30, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"C. of I. Loses". Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. October 7, 1946. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
^"College of Idaho Wins Whitman N W Game". The Capital Journal. October 12, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^"College of Idaho Beats British Columbia, 13-0". The Spokesman-Review. October 27, 1946. p. Sports 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"Coyotes Romp Over Pacific". The Statesman. November 3, 1946. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Bengals Nip Coyotes". Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. AP. November 10, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^ a b"Idaho College Beats C.P.S." The Spokesman-Review. November 17, 1946. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Boise Ekes Out Grid Victory". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. November 24, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
^"College of Idaho Beats Lewis and Clark, 21-0". The Capital Journal. November 30, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 191.
^ a b"Badgers Belt Wildcats, 9-0". The Statesman. October 27, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Linfield Beats Whitman Team". The News Tribune. November 5, 1946. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Linfield Blanks British Columbia". The News Tribune. November 10, 1946. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 212.
^"Viks Set For Grid Opener Saturday". The Bellingham Herald. October 4, 1946. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a bFrank Walter (October 13, 1946). "Loggers Wallop Pacific: Puget Sound Gridmen Score 33-0 Victory Over Badgers in NW Conference Game". The Tacoma News Tribune. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^Frank Walter (November 3, 1946). "Loggers In 34-6 Victory: College of Puget Sound Gridders Register Easy Triumph Over British Columbia". The Tacoma News-Tribune. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^Frank Walter (November 10, 1946). "Loggers Win Over Whitman: Puget Sound Gridders Produce Two Touchdowns in First Quarter for 13-0 Victory". The Tacoma New-Tribune. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^Ed Honeywell (November 29, 1946). "Pacific Lutheran Defeats Logger Grid Eleven: Lutes Take City Crown; Glads Punch Out Win, 13-7 Over Puget Sound Team". The Tacoma News Tribune. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 208.
^"Pacific Defeats Whitman 6 to 0". Coos Bay Times. October 5, 1946. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Pacific Scores Victory Over British Columbia". Coos Bay Times. November 16, 1946. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 208.
^"Whits Barely Beat Whitworth". The Tacoma News-Tribune. September 29, 1946. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 165.