SPOKANE, Wash. - The Puget Sound Loggers have been picked to finish fifth in the Northwest Conference this season, according to the NWC preseason coaches poll.  The Wildcats of Linfield lead the poll for the eighth straight season, despite having not won the NWC title the past two seasons.

The Loggers will be led by junior quarterback Kavin Williams (Ocean Shores, Wash./North Beach), who returns to the gridiron after missing most of 2007 with an injured shoulder.  Williams will have a number of offensive weapons to choose from as senior running back Silas Paul (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) and senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart (Long Beach, Calif./Loyola) are poised for big seasons.

The Loggers should also be strong on defense, led by senior defensive lineman Alverno Middleton (Lakewood, Wash./Clover Park) and safety Demitri Huffman (Edmonds, Wash./Meadowdale).  2007 preseason All-American Isaac Blum (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines) will be dangerous returning kicks for the Loggers.

Linfield received six of seven first place votes to take the top spot with 54 points.  Whitworth was picked second with 40 points, followed by Pacific Lutheran (35), Willamette (29), Puget Sound (22), Menlo (15) and Lewis & Clark (8).

The Loggers open up the 2008 campaign on Sep. 13 at Pomona-Pitzer.  The home opener will come a week later against Claremont-M-S.