The phrase is written on the walls of athletic facilities and weight rooms across the nation. “Bigger. Faster. Stronger.” As the game of football has evolved over the past 25 years, so has the physical nature of the wide receiver position. Linfield has its own versions of the new-age, big, physical wide receiver in Trevor Patterson (Sr., Pendleton, Ore.) and Chris Slezak (Sr., Salem, Ore.).

Patterson, listed in the program at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, and Slezak, who comes in at 6-3, 200, have given the Wildcats a lethal 1-2 punch on the outside. Using their size and strength to dominate smaller defenders, the Linfield offense has a pair of dynamic targets.

“We try to spread the field as much as possible and having that added height and size on the outside really widens things out for the inside guys,” notes Patterson, who leads the team with seven touchdowns. “Being taller than someone makes a big difference and it’s nice to have that balance on offense.”

Complementing Patterson is Slezak, who ranks second on the club with 24 catches. For Slezak, a size advantage brings with it an attitude.

“From the very first play you want to let the cornerback know you’re bigger and faster than him and he’s going to be on his heels the rest of the game,” explains Slezak, a fourth-year junior from Salem. “With our running game working in the red zone a lot of teams are going to try and stop that. When you have big receivers on the outside you have to choose one or the other.”

As quickly as the success has come for Patterson and Slezak in 2009, it was just a season ago that both were out of action. Patterson was hampered by chronic knee injuries and a broken ankle that limited him to five games. Slezak lost all of his season to a knee injury and broken hand, eventually leading to his season being restored by the NCAA.

After an offseason of rehabilitation, the two receivers came into the fall with the hope that things would go as planned. Through five games, Patterson has been pleasantly surprised with the results so far.

“I was hoping for a season like this but it’s always hard to tell,” notes Patterson of his pre-season expectations. “I am a little surprised, especially with how consistent it has come.”

The production that Patterson has given the Wildcats has been off the charts, leading the conference in touchdowns, while ranking second in the NWC in receiving with 104 yards per game.

Much of the consistency for Patterson can be chalked up to the return of Linfield quarterback Aaron Boehme (Jr., Stanwood, Wash.). The two have roomed with each other the past two summers, building chemistry that has paid off this fall.

“We’re spoiled,” says Patterson on playing with one of the nation’s top small-college quarterbacks.  “We know what we’re trying to do and there are a lot of times on the field where we have improvised. Having a guy who can put a throw to the right spot makes our job a lot easier.”

No person is more grateful for the return of Patterson and Slezak than Boehme.

“It is really nice to break the huddle and have these guys split out wide,” explains Boehme. “I have every ounce of confidence in them getting the job done on every play. They are tall, fast, and have great hands.”

These attributes have quickly turned Patterson into one of the elite wide receivers in the Northwest Conference. Mix in the consistency Slezak has provided and Coach Joseph Smith has a pair of capable playmakers that present nightmare matchups for opposing defensive coordinators.

For Smith, the ability has always been there for Patterson and Slezak, it was just a matter of getting healthy.

“We were hoping to see this type of production from both Chris and Trevor, but because of the past injuries it was all just projection. Now it is reality,” explains Smith. “Trevor is an every down impact wide receiver and Chris is showing us that he is capable of doing that as well.

As the Wildcats continue through the second half of the season, the opportunities ahead of this year’s team are a reality that has been talked about since the time Patterson and Slezak were freshmen.

“We’ve all worked hard together and have been a close knit group all four years,” reflects Patterson, a senior from Pendleton. Because of injuries, this is the first opportunity we’ve had to really show what we can do and it’s made us make the most of it and not take things for granted.”

With a 5-0 start, Linfield is going down the path both Slezak and Patterson envisioned the Wildcats would. With a core group of veterans who are battle-tested, a vision of success which was painted four years ago is coming into focus. 

“It’s something we’ve waited four years for,” reflects Slezak. “We always knew that our senior year was going to be something special. You plan it out in your head that way before the season starts but you never really know if it’s going to go that way. So far, it’s gone the way we all expected.”

--Eric Evenson ‘11