Wednesday, October 17, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Oregon quarterback  Cody VonAppen  and Central Washington running back Demetrius Sumler had record-setting performances last weekend in leading their teams to victories.

VonAppen completed 16 of 27 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns as the Wolves used a 21-point first quarter and a 28-point fourth quarter to cruise to a 66-20 win over Dixie State. 

VonAppen had one of the most efficient games in GNAC history by a quarterback averaging a GNAC-record 26.5 yards per completion The previous record for yards per completion was 25.5 by WOU’s Josh Riddell (13-332) against CWU in 2008. 

Sumler rushed for 226 yards and tied a GNAC record with five rushing touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 51-10  Homecoming win before 5,120 fans at Tomlinson Stadium. 

Sumler scored on runs of one and 47 yards in the first quarter, 27 in the second quarter, eight  in the third quarter and 37 in the fourth quarter moving into third place in the nation in scoring with 84 points.  He also caught three passes for four yards. 

In addition to VonAppen and Sumler’s record-setting performances, there were several other noteworthy performances Saturday.

Humboldt State running back Nick Ricciardulli set a GNAC record for most carries (45) and rushed for 251 yards, the second highest  individual rushing total in GNAC history, in the ‘Jacks 24-20 win at Azusa Pacific. 

Ricciardulli has rushed for 1,063 yards and currently ranks fourth nationally averaging 151.9 yards.  He has had six 100-yard rushing contests, one shy of the GNAC single season record.  Central Washington’s Nat Conley set the previous record for carries (40) and for rushing (322) against HSU in 2001.

Sumler’s five touchdown were among six by CWU as it tied the conference record for most rushing TDs for the second time this season, both times against Simon Fraser.

Western Oregon had 696 yards in total offense, tying the conference record set by Central Washington against Fort Lewis in a 75-41 win in 2002. 

The Wolves also became the third team in conference history (and the second in two weeks) to score 66 points in a conference game.   HSU scored 66 against SFU on Nov. 13, 2010.  SFU then matched that total on Oct. 6  against Azusa Pacific.

Tyler Davis had a 94-yard touchdown reception from VonAppen, which is the third longest in conference history.  VonAppen’s total offense total of 463 yards (424 passing, 39 rushing) is the third highest in conference history.

GAME RECAPS AND NOTES

Central Washington 51, Simon Fraser 10 (at Ellensburg):  Demetrius Sumler rushed for 226 yards and tied a GNAC record with five rushing touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 41-point Homecoming win before 5,120 fans at Tomlinson Stadium.  Sumler scored on runs of 1 and 47 yards in the first quarter, 27 in the second quarter, eight  in the third quarter and 37 in the fourth quarter moving into third place in the nation in scoring with 84 points.  He also caught three passes for four yards ... In all, the Wildcats netted 374 yards on the ground (and 502 in total offense) and tied a GNAC single-game record for the second time this season with six rushing touchdowns.  They also had six on Sept. 8 against the Clan ... True-freshman Jordan Todd had 134 yards on 23 carries, completing the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard run ... Quarterback Ryan Robertson completed 10 of 15 passes for 114 yards as Anthony Spain had four receptions for 65 yards.  He had a seven-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter to give CWU a 31-0 halftime lead ... SFU’s Bo Palmer had 95 yards on 11 rushes, including a 63-yard run to CWU’s six yard line to set up a 28-yard field goal by Tiernan Docherty early in the third quarter.  Two minutes later Lemar Durant caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Trey Wheeler on the first play following a 22-yard punt return by Tore Corrado to account for SFU’s only touchdown ... Wheeler came into the game, completing 70 percent of his passes (175 of 249), but completed just 14 of 37 for 146 yards as CWU held the Clan to 264 yards ... Linebacker Eric Murphy led Simon Fraser with 11 tackles, including nine solos (two for losses of three yards).  DB Casey Chin had 10 tackles.  Linebacker Riley Wall was one of three CWU players with five tackles.  He had a six-yard sack and a tackle for a one-yard loss.  CWU’s Stan Langlow and SFU’s Matt Isherwood each had interceptions.

Western Oregon 66, Dixie State 20 (at Monmouth):  Cody VonAppen completed 16 of 27 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns as the Wolves used a 21-point first quarter and a 28-point fourth quarter to cruise to a 46-point win over Dixie State ...Western Oregon equaled the GNAC record for most points scored in a conference game.  Humboldt State set the record against Simon Fraser on Nov. 13, 2010.  SFU matched that record last week in a 66-38 home win against Azusa Pacific ... The Wolves also tied the GNAC single-game record for total offense netting 696 yards.  Central Washington had 696 in a 75-41 win over Fort Lewis in 2002 ... VonAppen had one of the most efficient games in GNAC history by a quarterback averaging a GNAC-record 26.5 yards per completion and 15.7 per attempt.  The previous record for yards per completion was 25.5 by WOU’s Josh Riddle (13-332) against CWU in 2008.  The record for most yards per attempt is 17.8 by the Wolves’ Evan Mozzochi (15-267) against Dixie State last season ... Among his completions was a 94-yard touchdown throw to Tyler Davis in the second quarter.  That is the third longest in conference history ... VonAppen also hooked up with Tyrell Williams for a 71-yard TD in the first quarter and with Williams for a 37-yard six-pointer in the fourth quarter.  He had a six-yard TD toss to Mark Moore in the opening period ...  Williams had six catches for 197 yard, matching the eighth highest yardage total in conference history.  Davis had 106 yards on two catches, while Mitch Frei had 129 yards on seven catches for the Red Storm ...WOU also rushed for 250 yards as Joe Harris had 128 on 13 carries, and Kenneth Haynes had 69 on 13.  VonAppen had 39 on 10 rushes, finishing the contest with 463 yards, the third highest total in GNAC history ... Dixie had 326 yards as quarterback Griff Robles completed 24 of 45 passes for 276 yards.  Mitch Frei had seven catches for 129 yards ...  DB Cameron Greene led Dixie State with 10 tackles.  Defensive end Sipili Tuigamalala led WOU with six tackles.  Coulter Mastenbroek  and Bryce Peila had interceptions for the Wolves.  Mastenbroek returned his 74 yards, while Peila’s was his 19^th career interception, three shy of the GNAC record.  He has four this season.

Humboldt State 24, Azusa Pacific 20 (at Glendora): Casey Mintz completed a 36-yard pass to Marquise Deadwiler with two minutes left in the second quarter to give Humboldt State a 21-20 lead at halftime and the Lumberjacks added a third-quarter 42-yard field goal by Matt Bruder to beat Azusa Pacific 24-20 ... HSU running back Nick Ricciardulli did much of the work for the ‘Jacks rushing for 251 yards – the second highest total in GNAC history.  He carried the ball a GNAC record 45 times, five more than Central Washington’s Nat Conley did when he set a GNAC single-game  rushing record of 322 yards against Humboldt in 2001 ... Mintz completed eight of 18 passes for 127 yards including a pair of touchdowns to Deadwiler, who had five catches for 88 yards.  Deadwiler also had an eight-yard TD reception in the first quarter ... Humboldt finished with 411 yards, including 284 rushing.  Azusa Pacific had 262 yards as running back Terrell Watson had 117 yards on 21 carries.  Watson scored on a three-yard run in the second quarter to give APU a 20-14 lead ... Humboldt, however, then took advantage of a short punt and a penalty to set up a four-play, 47-yard drive for the go-ahead touchdown ... Linebacker Colton Russi led Humboldt State with nine tackles, three of them for losses of seven yards, while defensive back Jeremiah Maluia had eight tackles, two for losses.  Linebacker Spencer Danielson had 14 tackles and LB Jake Henderson had 10 tackles for the Cougars.