For the first time in school history, radio play-by-play coverage of Linfield College football games will originate in the Portland Metro-area broadcast market. Linfield reached a one-year agreement with True Talk 800 KPDQ-AM to carry all nine regular season games plus any playoff games.

The 2012 season begins Sept. 1 at home against Menlo College.

Games will continue to be aired within Yamhill County on McMinnville station 1260 KLYC-AM and simulcast live on the internet. Veteran sportscaster Bill Johnson will pair with longtime analyst Dave Hansen to bring listeners closer to the action.

“Partnering with KPDQ-AM presents a terrific opportunity to showcase Linfield and our outstanding football program in a much larger market,” said Linfield director of athletics Scott Carnahan. “As we grow, it’s important to us to maintain a strong local presence within Yamhill County. Continuing our long-standing association with 1260 KLYC-AM while also expanding our reach into the Portland broadcast market really creates a win-win situation, not only for listeners but for potential sponsors.”

True Talk 800 KPDQ-AM is owned by Salem Communications Corporation of Camarillo, Calif., the largest group ownership of Christian stations in the U.S. with 94 AM and FM stations.

“True Talk 800 is proud to announce its new partnership with Linfield College’s nationally recognized football team,” said KPDQ general sales manager Segar Kannan. “Linfield’s long history of athletic dominance is only matched by KPDQ True Talk 800’s 70 plus years of programming excellence.”

According to the Spring 2012 Arbitron Market Rankings, the Portland broadcast market ranks 23rd in the country with a collective population of 2,124,000.

Linfield currently leads all levels of college football with 56 consecutive winning seasons. The Wildcats enter the 2012 season having won 19 straight home games and 20 consecutive Northwest Conference games. In all, Linfield has four national championships and 35 conference titles. In addition to claiming the 2004 NCAA Division III national crown, Linfield claimed three NAIA Division II titles in 1982, ’84 and ’86.