Monday, September 29, 2014
PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Oregon will take on nationally fifth-ranked North Alabama Saturday in the only non-conference game on the football slate in the GNAC.
The Wolves will take a 2-2 record to the East coast to play the Lions (3-0) after dropping a 34-16 decision to unbeaten Humboldt State last Saturday in a non-conference game at Arcata.
The Lumberjacks, who improved to 4-0, stay home as they continue their comeback season after going winless in 11 games a year ago.
HSU begins its conference slate by hosting GNAC newcomer South Dakota Mines (1-3), which got a GNAC-record performance from quarterback Trent McKinney in defeating William Jewell (Mo.) 62-44 last Saturday for its first win of the season.
McKinney set a GNAC record for total offense in that game gaining 503 yards, including 297 passing and 206 rushing.
Elsewhere in the GNAC, Central Washington (2-2), which defeated Simon Fraser 63-7 last Saturday in its conference debut, hosts defending GNAC champion Azusa Pacific (3-1) and Dixie State (0-4) begins its conference season with a home game against Simon Fraser (0-4).
The APU-CWU game kicks off at Tomlinson Stadium at 1 p.m.; the remaining three games all begin at 6 p.m. local time.
Humboldt State Climbs Closer to Top 25
Humboldt State continues to climb slowly in the AFCA Top 25 Division II poll.
The ‘Jacks are still among “others receiving votes” but have climbed from 38th, to 33rd and now to 28th in the poll.
Azusa Pacific, after peaking at No. 14 after an opening game win over then No. 2 Grand Valley State, has slipped from 26th to 31st to 36th in the “other” category.
Humboldt State Ranked In Top 10 in Seven Categories
Humboldt State has allowed just 43 points in its four victories and shows up prominently in this week’s NCAA Division II national statistical report, especially in defense categories.
The Lumberjacks rank seventh in total defense (249.0), eighth in rushing defense (71.8), ninth in scoring defense (10.8), second in team sacks (3.75) and third down defense (19.3) and fifth in red zone defense (40.0).
On offense, the ‘Jacks are ninth in kickoff returns (26.9).
Another key category for success is turnover margin and the ‘Jacks currently rank 16th nationally at plus 1.50 per game.
Also ranked in the Top 10 nationally are South Dakota Mines, seventh in passing offense (355.8), sixth in net punting (40.0) and seventh in red zone offense (94.4 percent conversion).
Central Washington is ninth in both sacks (3.75) and fourth down offense (80.0). Azusa Pacific is also ninth in fourth down offense (80.0).
WOU’s Paul Revis Ranks Third In All-Purpose
Coming off a 303-yard effort last Saturday at Humboldt State, Western Oregon redshirt freshman Paul Revis ranks third nationally this week in all-purpose running averaging 225.5 yards per game.
Revis caught six passes for 171 yards and had 101 yards on five kickoffs and 21 yards on three punt returns in becoming just the fourth player in GNAC history to gain 300 all-purpose yards in a single game. It was the highest single-game total for a WOU player in the past 15 years.
Revis currently ranks second in the GNAC in receiving yards (103.2), is the conference leader in punt returns (9.9) and ranks sixth in kickoff returns (22.6).
Revis is the highest ranked GNAC player in any national category. SDM’s Trent McKinney ranks fifth in total offense (353.3), The Hardrockers’ Jay Lata is tied for fourth in fumble recoveries with two.
Scoring Points on Defense
After tying its own GNAC record by scoring two touchdowns on interceptions against Western Oregon on Sept. 20, Central Washington got three defensive scores in its win Saturday against Simon Fraser.
The Wildcats became the first team in GNAC history to have two punt return touchdowns in a single game by blocking consecutive punts in the opening quarter.
In the fourth quarter, freshman Deion Stell completed the scoring with a 78-yard interception return, giving him a GNAC single-game record 112 return yard on two interceptions.
McDonald Streak Reaches 50
CWU’s Sean McDonald was nine-of-nine on extra points in CWU’s win Saturday at Bothell, keeping him perfect in 21 attempts this season.
He hasn’t missed since converting on 2-of-3 in his first game last year as a freshman and has made 50 in a row, the fourth longest streaks in GNAC history.
The longer streaks: 99 – Garrett Rolsma, CWU (2007-09). 78 – Matt Bruder, HSU (2010, 12). 61 – Kelly Morgan, WOU (2010-12).
Game Recaps For Sept. 27:
Central Washington 63, Simon Fraser 7 (at Bothell): Consecutive blocked punts by Cedrique Chaney and Jackson Huerta - sparked Central Washington to a early 21-0 lead and the Wildcats cruised to a 63-7 win before 3,848 fans at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell in their conference opener … Austin Pernell recovered Chaney’s blocked punt and scampered 20 yards for the score; Chaney scooped up Huerta’s and waltzed in from five yards out ... With the two zero punts the Wildcats limited the Clan to a 29.1 punt average in 10 attempts – its net average was just 21.1 ... CWU’s defense also scored late in the game as freshman DB Deion Stell had a 78-yard interception return. Stell had two interceptions for a GNAC-record 112 yards. The old record was 100 yards by CWU’s Jerome Williams against Western Oregon in 2009 and CWU’s Kevin Puckett against Dixie State in 2012. All of their yardage came on just one return each ... CWU finished the game with a 541-223 edge in total offense as backup running back Ishmael had 117 yards on 17 carries and quarterback Jake Nelson completed 17 of 25 passes for 288 and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Greg Logan caught eight passes for 167 yards, recording his second 100-yard game of the season and his career ... Simon Fraser’s Bobby Pospischil had five receptions for 48 yards, including a 26-yard TD reception. He needs four more receptions to become the fourth receiver in GNAC history with 200 career catches ... SFU linebacker Mitchell Barnett had a game-high nine tackles and one of two SFU fumble recoveries. CWU linebacker Mitch Haldane six tackles including a 10-yard sack.
Azusa Pacific 42, Dixie State 23 (at St. George, Utah): Trailing 23-21 late in the third quarter, Azusa Pacific put together two long touchdown drives and then took advantage of a short punt to score the game’s final 20 points and earn its third win in four decisions … Dixie State had gone ahead early in the third quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Alex Giordani, however, the Cougars drove 80 yards in 15 plays, all by quarterback Chad Jeffries (4 rushes-29 yards, 2 for 3 passing, 18 yards) and running back Terrell Watson (8 rushes-43 yards). Statistically, APU netted 90 yards on the drive due to a penalty, the final 11 on an 11-yard TD run by Watson .. Later Watson gained 42 yards on six rushes on an 11-play-75 yard drive. Ryan Adams capped the drive off on a 27-yard run with 8:45 remaining … With 3:43 left, Watson scored on a 17-yard run immediately after an 18-yard punt return by Tarik Myles … Watson finished with 187 yards on 30 rushes and Jeffries had 78 on 13 carries in addition to 136 passing yards (9-15-1) … Azusa rushed for six TD, including first-half scores by Watson from two yards and two seven-yarders by Jeffries, and 308 yards as it outgained the Red Storm 444-338. … Dixie quarterback Ben Longshore completed 23 of 42 for 180 yards. Myles Burton had 71 rushing yards on 10 carries and Nate Stephens caught seven passes for 39 yards … Linebacker Steven Fanua led the Cougar defense with 13 tackles and linebacker Greg Ehrhart had eight. DBs Robert Metz and Aeryus Holloway had 13 and 12 tackles for the Red Storm. Dixie’s Jacob Witham had the game’s only takeaway, a 19-yard interception return.
Humboldt State 34, Western Oregon 16 (at Arcata): Cass White’s 73-yard reception from freshman QB Robert Webber started a run of 17 consecutive points as the Lumberjacks pulled away from Western Oregon to win its fourth consecutive game and stay unbeaten before 5,201 fans at the Redwood Bowl .., Ninety-two seconds earlier Paul Revis had scored on a 60-yard pass from Ryan Bergman to pull the Wolves to within one point, but the PAT to tie the game failed …White’s TD and Matt Bruder’s conversion made it an eight-point game and Bruder then extended the lead to 11 with a 44-yard field goal with 1:59 left in the third quarter. Ja’Quan Gardner closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard run to finish off an eight-play, 65-yard drive … That was Gardner’s second TD. He also scored in the third quarter on a two-yard run and finished the game with 53 yards on 11 carries. Meanwhile, Nick Ricciardulli had 111 yards on 26 rushes as HSU rushed for 165 and had 443 yards in total offense. Webber completed 20 of 28 for 278 yards and two TDs. White had 122 yards receiving on four catches and Chase Krivashei had 96 on nine catches … WOU’s Bergman completed 19 of 37 passes for 337 yards including two touchdowns to Revis who had 171 yards on six receptions … Gardner, who had returns of nine and 50, is the GNAC leader in kickoff returns averaging 32.2. His 50-yarder set up HSU’s first third-quarter touchdown giving it a 17-10 lead … Linebacker Cameron Buell had six solo tackles and a pass breakup and defensive end Codey Heidebrecht had five tackles, including two QB sacks and a pass breakup, to lead the Lumberjack defense. Linebacker Tyler Johnson led the Wolf defense with 10. Defensive end Kraig Akins had nine, including two for losses of 16 yards.
South Dakota Mines 62, Willam Jewell 44 (at Liberty, Mo.): Hardrocker quarterback Trent McKinney had a GNAC record 503 yards and six total offense touchdowns to lead South Dakota Mines, which has scored a point in 15 consecutive quarters, to a 62-44 win .... McKinney rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns and completed 26 of 36 passes for 297 yards and two scores ... He joins Dixie State’s Griff Robles (217 against Humboldt State, 10-26-13) as the only quarterback in GNAC history to run for 200 or more yards. McKinney bettered the previous GNAC total offense record of 493 by Humboldt’s Chris Dixon against Sacramento State in 2002 ... SD Mines finished with 674 yards (300 rushing, 374 passing), the fifth best total in GNAC history. William Jewell QB Nick West had 388 yards, including 339 passing. He tossed five TD passes ... Linebackers Daniel Duarte and James Carver led the Hardrockers with nine tackles each. John Tyler had the team’s lone interception ... Mines, which has scored in every quarter this year except the first period of its season opener, led 48-21 after 45 minutes before being outscored 23-14 in the final stanza.
GNAC Football Players of the Week
Offense – Trent McKinney, South Dakota Mines (QB, 6-0, 185, Jr., Mililani, HI)) set a GNAC record with 503 yards of total offense in leading the Hardrockers to a 62-44 win at William Jewell. McKinney rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns becoming just the second quarterback in GNAC history to rush for 200 yards in a single game. He also completed 26 of 36 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns as Mines earned its first victory of the season and extended its string of consecutive quarters in which it has scored to 15.
Defense – Alex Markarian, Humboldt State (DE, 6-4, 275, Sr., Chino Hills, CA) and Steven Fanua, Azusa Pacific (LB, 6-1, 225, Sr., Milpitas, CA) ... Markarian had four tackles, including 2 ½ quarterback sacks. He currently ranks fourth in the GNAC and 25th nationally in sacks as he led a HSU defense which had a season-high 10 sacks in a 34-16 win over Western Oregon improving to 4-0 on the season ... Fanua had 13 tackles including five solos in a 42-23 road win at Dixie State as the Cougars allowed the Red Storm just three second-half points outscoring them 21-3 in the final 30 minutes.
Special Teams – Cedrique Chaney, Central Washington (DB, 6-0, 197, Jr., Kelso, WA) blocked a punt which was picked up and returned 20 yards for a touchdown by Austin Pernell in the first quarter of the Wildcats’ 63-7 win against Simon Fraser. Later in the opening quarter Jackson Huerta blocked a punt and Chaney scooped it up and returned it five yards for a TD as the Wildcats built an early 21-7 lead. Chaney also had three tackles.