Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Humboldt State and Dixie State led a four-win week for GNAC teams in week two of the season, setting up some intriguing matchups in the last weekend of competition before conference play returns.
The Lumberjacks snapped Azusa Pacific’s 10-game win streak Saturday night, racking up 534 yards and scoring nine touchdowns in a 62-41 win in Glendora, Calif. Humboldt had a 49-6 lead with 9:39 left in the third quarter.
It proved another big week for Lumberjacks’ running back Ja’Quan Gardner, who repeated as GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Thanks to the win, Humboldt State emerged on both the D2Football.com and the AFCA Division II polls at No. 24 and No. 25, respectively.
Dixie State, meanwhile, picked up one of their biggest wins as a Division II program on Thursday as they stunned Central Washington 49-20. The Red Storm rushed for a school record 402 yards in the contest, led by DeJon Coleman’s 125 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries.
South Dakota Mines reclaimed the Homestake Trophy in a close Black Hills Brawl, using a 17-yard touchdown reception from Jake Sullivan to Patrick Berke to take the lead for good with 4:11 left in a 28-26 victory over Black Hills State.
Western Oregon welcomed new Simon Fraser head coach Kelly Bates with a 31-14 defeat of the Clan in Monmouth. The Wolves surged back from a 14-6 deficit to score the game’s final four touchdowns, punctuated by a 99-yard interception return by GNAC Defensive Player of the Week Danny Hankins.
This week’s action will feature six GNAC teams pitted against each other in non-conference play. Central Washington will host Western Oregon, Simon Fraser hosts Azusa Pacific and Humboldt State will host Dixie State. South Dakota Mines will head east and plays at Wis.-River Falls.
Conference play resumes next Saturday, Sept. 26, with Azusa Pacific hosting Dixie State.
THIS WEEK'S GNAC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Ja’Quan Gardner, Humboldt State
RB • 5-7 • 190 • Senior • Ceres, Calif.
Gardner earned his second straight GNAC Player of the Week selection by rushing for a career-high 225 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, leading Humboldt State to a 62-41 road win over No. 17 Azusa Pacific. He had touchdown runs of eight, 22 and 51 yards while averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Also Nominated: DeJon Coleman (Dixie State).
DEFENSE
Danny Hankins, Western Oregon
DB • 5-11 • 170 • Junior • Portland, Ore.
Hankins finished with eight tackles and two pass break-ups in the Wolves’ home opener against Simon Fraser. He punctuated the game with a 99-yard interception return (one short of the GNAC record) for a touchdown with 1:02 left as the Wolves beat the Clan 31-14. Also Nominated: Drew Dubois (Humboldt State), Keanu Foki (Dixie State).
SPECIAL TEAMS
D.J. Morgan, Azusa Pacific
KR • 5-11 • 180 • Senior • Pacioma, Calif.
Morgan had four kick returns for the Cougars against Humboldt State on Saturday for a total of 141 yards (35.25 per return average), which included a long return of 41 yards.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
AT DIXIE STATE 49, CENTRAL WASHINGTON 20 (THURSDAY)
ST. GEORGE, Utah - Dixie State rushed for a school record 404 yards and six touchdowns as the Red Storm ran past the Wildcats. After trading touchdowns early in the first quarter, Dixie racked up scores on rushing touchdowns by quarterback Blake Berney and running back DeJon Coleman and went into halftime with a 21-13 lead. The Red Storm went on to score four unanswered touchdowns over the first 25 minutes of the second half, including three rushing scores and a 68-yard fumble return by Keanu Foki. Dixie State outgained Central Washington in total offense 439 to 301. Coleman led Dixie offensively with 14 carries for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Berney completed 3 of 10 for 35 yards and rushed 15 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. Central Washington quarterback Jake Nelson completed 9 of 21 for 144 yards and a touchdown. Justin Peterson caught six balls for 93 yards and a touchdown. Robert Metz led the Dixie State defense with nine tackles.
AT SOUTH DAKOTA MINES 28, BLACK HILLS STATE 26
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Patrick Berke’s 17-yard touchdown reception from Jake Sullivan with 4:11 left proved the difference in a close Black Hills Brawl as South Dakota Mines reclaimed the Homestake Trophy with a 28-26 win over Black Hills State. The Hardrockers never trailed after Trent McKinney’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben Broeker with 12:28 to go in the first half started a run of 16 unanswered points in the second quarter. South Dakota Mines could never truly shake the Yellow Jackets, however, as they came within 22-20 on Devin Nixon’s 12-yard scoring run with 10:33 left. Black Hills State again came within two when Ryan Hommel’s 23-yard touchdown run made it 28-26, but the two-point conversion failed and the Hardrockers proceeded to run out the clock. Black Hills State outgained South Dakota Mines 476 to 451 in a closely contested contest. Nixon carried 36 times for 138 yards and the touchdown to lead the Hardrockers with McKinney completing 11 of 25 for 133 yards and a touchdown. Hommel completed 18 of 39 for 228 yards for Black Hills State while Phydell Paris rushed for 186 yards. Jordan Copeland led the South Dakota Mines defense with 11 tackles.
HUMBOLDT STATE 62, AT AZUSA PACIFIC 41
GLENDORA, Calif. - Humboldt State scored nine touchdowns, one short of the GNAC record, as the Lumberjacks ended Azusa Pacific’s 10-game winning streak with a 62-41 victory at Citrus Stadium. Humboldt scored the first three touchdowns of the game and went ahead 21-0 on Ja’Quan Gardner’s 22-yard scoring run with 13:26 left in the first half. Kurt Scoby put the Cougars on the board with his nine-yard touchdown run at the 10:47 mark, but the Lumberjacks went to score the next four touchdowns, punctuated when Gardner’s eight-yard scoring run built a commanding 49-6 lead with 9:39 left in the third quarter. Azusa Pacific didn’t quit, however, scoring five touchdowns over the final 24 minutes of the contest. The two teams combined for 933 yards of total offense. Humboldt State had 313 of their 534 yards on the ground, while the Cougars passed for 319 yards. Gardner had his second straight 200-plus yard game, rushing 25 times for a career high 225 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Robert Webber completed 13 of 16 for 220 yards and five touchdowns. Azusa Pacific’s Chad Jeffries completed 22 of 35 for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Ethan Zeidler caught eight passes for 130 yards and a pair of late touchdowns. James Holland III and Nick Sharpe each had 10 tackles for HSU, with Holland adding two tackles for loss. Jonathan Thropay led Azusa Pacific with 11 tackles.
AT WESTERN OREGON 31, SIMON FRASER 14
MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Oregon trailed Simon Fraser in nearly every statistical category except touchdowns and the final score as the Wolves beat the Clan, 31-14, at McArthur Field. Simon Fraser outgained Western Oregon in total offense 442 to 294, including 333 passing yards by quarterback Ryan Stanford, but the Wolves scored the final four touchdowns of the score to come back from a 14-6 deficit midway through the third quarter. The Clan took the lead on Stanford’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Josh Hayden. The Wolves came within 14-12 on their next possession with Trey Shimabukuro finding Daniel Thomas for a 23-yard touchdown reception. Western Oregon took the lead for good when Shimabukuro found Wesley Gray for a 32-yard touchdown strike with 14:02 left and made it a 25-18 game when he found Kamakana Apelu for the 35-yard scoring pass. Danny Hankins punctuated the win when he intercepted Stanford with just over a minute left, returning the ball 99 yards for a touchdown. Stanford led Simon Fraser by completing 33 of 54 for 333 yards and a touchdown. Justin Buren led nine SFU receivers with 87 yards on seven catches. Shimabukuro completed 18 of 28 for 233 yards and three touchdowns for Western Oregon. Gray caught six balls for 69 yards and a touchdown. Simon Fraser’s Jordan Herdman and Western Oregon’s Shane Kuenzi each had 10 tackles.
AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
• The Cougars saw their 10-game win streak ended on Saturday by the only team to beat them in 2014, falling 62-41 to Humboldt State at home.
• The game saw the two teams combined for an incredible 934 yards of total offense. Azusa Pacific had 400 of those yards, with 319 yards coming off of the arm of quarterback Chad Jeffries, who completed 22 of 35 and thre for two touchdowns.
• The Cougars had two receivers with 100-plus yard games. Ethan Zeidler caught seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Blake Robertson caught three passes for 100 yards.
• With the loss, the defending GNAC champions dropped out both the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and the D2Football.com poll. They were listed among teams receiving votes in the AFCA poll with 10 points.
• Azusa Pacific is ranked first in Division II this week in fourth down conversion percentage, completing their only one of the season, and in fumbles lost with zero. The Cougars also rank 19th in first downs offense (51) and 24th in kickoff return defense (15.22 yards allowed per return).
• Return man DJ Morgan gave Azusa Pacific their second straight selection for GNAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week. Morgan had four kick returns for a total of 141 yards, averaging 35.25 yards per return. He enters the week ranked 19th in Division II in returns with an average of 29 yards per return.
• Azusa Pacific still ranks among the GNAC’s most potent teams, ranking second in the league in scoring offense (34 points per game) and third in passing offense (294 yards per game).
• Linebacker Sam Flemming enters the week leading the GNAC both in total tackles (21) and tackles per game (10.5).
• Quarterback Chad Jeffries ranks 26th in Division II in passing yards (588), 29th in total offense (314.0) and 30th in passing yards per game (294). Receiver Ethan Zeidler is one of four GNAC players tied for 29th in reciving touchdowns with two.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington wrapped a two-game road trip with a 49-20 loss at Dixie State on Thursday. The Wildcats had their chances on offense, putting up 221 yards of offense, but converted just two of six trips to the red zone and scored just once in the fourth quarter.
• Turnovers stung the Wildcats as the Red Storm turned two lost fumbles into touchdowns in the third quarter. Dixie State also converted a missed first quarter field goal into a touchdown.
• Quarterback Jake Nelson completed 9 of 21 for 144 yards and a touchdown before being pulled late. Backup Justin Lane went 8 of 14 for 77 yards.
• Jesse Zalk put together another solid week both on offense and special teams. He caught seven balls for 73 yards on offense and returned six kicks for 129 yards (21.5 yards per return average). Zalk enters the week ranked third in Division II in combined kick return yards (278) and 15th in all-purpose yards (189 per game).
• As a team, Central Washington leads the GNAC and is ranked ninth in Division II in passing yards allowed (74.0 per game). The Wildcats also lead the GNAC in pass efficiency defense (98.9). On special teams, CWU is first in the GNAC and 28th in Division II in kickoff returns (25.8 yards per return).
DIXIE STATE
• The Red Storm had arguably their best performance as a Division II football program Thursday, rushing for a school record 404 yards and six touchdowns (one short of the GNAC record) in their 49-20 rout of Central Washington.
• Dixie State finished with 439 yards of total offense in the game and also had an amazing 449 yards on eight kickoff returns, averaging 56.1 yards per return. Four of Dixie’s 11 drives in the game started at their own 35-yard line or better.
• Running back DeJon Coleman was a one-man squall for the Red Storm, finishing with 160 all-purpose yards. He carried 14 times for 125 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a 39-yard scoring sprint in the second quarter. Coleman enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in all-purpose yardage (176 per game) and fourth in both rushing (93.5 yards per game) and total scoring (18 points).
• Dixie’s top rusher is not Coleman, but quarterback Blake Berney, who ranks second in the GNAC with an average of 95 yards per game. Berney also ranks seventh in all-purpose yards and ninth in total offense (122 yards per game). Berney rushed for 95 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown in Thursday’s win. He also completed 3 of 10 passes for 35 yards.
• After two straight home games to open the season, Dixie State will travel to Humboldt State this week before returning home for two more home games. The Red Storm ends with five of their final six games on the road.
• This is Dixie State’s final season as a GNAC football member. The Red Storm will move to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) for the 2016 season.
HUMBOLDT STATE
• Humboldt State scored seven of the game’s first eight touchdowns and finished with a total of nine touchdowns (one short of the GNAC record) in taking a 62-41 road victory from Azusa Pacific.
• The Lumberjacks went off for 534 yards of total offense, including 314 rushing yards, and converted on all five of their trips to the red zone and punted just three times in their 13 drives.
• Running back Ja’Quan Gardner was named the GNAC Football Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week after finishing with 229 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, averaging 8.8 yards per rush. Two of his touchdown runs were of 39 yards and 51 yards. Gardner enters the week ranked third in Division II in both rushing yards (426) and rushing yards per game (213), fifth in all-purpose yards (218 per game) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (4).
• Quarterback Robert Webber put together an impressive effort that was overshadowed by Gardner’s performance. Webber completed 10 of 13 for 220 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 16.9 yards per pass in the game. Webber enters the week ranked fifth in Division II in passing touchdowns (7), 10th in pass efficiency (180.2) and 11th in points responsible for (42).
• Wide receiver Chase Krivashei caught three of the touchdowns thrown by Webber and finished with a total of 84 yards on seven catches. The conference leader in both receptions per game (7.00, shared with two others) and scoring (30, 15 points per game), Krivashei enters the week leading Division II with his five receiving touchdowns. He is also ranked ninth in Division II in scoring and 27th in receptions per game.
• As a team, Humboldt State leads the GNAC in scoring offense (45.5 points per game), pass efficiency (184.7), rushing defense (55 yards allowed per game) and turnover margin (+3).
• In the Division II statistics, Humboldt State leads the nation in fumbles lost (0) passes had intercepted (0) and turnovers list (0). The Lumberjacks are also 10th in rushing defense (61.5 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency (180.20), 17th in time of possession (33:52 per game), 18th in first downs offense (53) and 20th in turnover margin (1.50 per game).
• Humboldt State is one of two GNAC teams who will play just four games at home in 2015 (Simon Fraser is the other). After their Sept. 19 non-conference game against Dixie State, the Lumberbacks will play only two of their remaining seven games at the Redwood Bowl.
SIMON FRASER
• The Clan opened the Kelly Bates era on the road and impressed by putting up 442 yards of total offense and 333 passing yards. In the end, though, the Clan could not beat Western Oregon’s big plays in a 31-14 loss.
• Senior quarterback Ryan Stanford had a standout performance, completing 33 of 54 for 333 yards and a touchdown.In the process, Stanford found 10 different receivers, topped by Justin Buren’s 87 yards on seven catches. Stanford enters the week leading the GNAC in total offense (349 yards per game) and passing yards (333 per game).
• Josh Hayden did all of the Clan’s scoring, carrying 20 times for 80 yards and a touchdown and also catching six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. Hayden’s 162 all-purpose yards ranks him fourth in the GNAC and his 80 rushing yards ranks fifth.
• Linebacker Jordan Herdman picked up right where he left off. The 2014 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year picked up 10 tackles (8 solo) in the loss at Western Oregon.
• Simon Fraser enters week three leading the GNAC with 333 passing yards per game.
• Like Humboldt State, Simon Fraser will play just four home games this season. Things balance out better for the Clan, however, with three of their home games coming in the final half of the season.
SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
• South Dakota Mines used a late touchdown reception by Patrick Berke with 4:11 left to claim the 130th edition of The Black Hills Brawl, reclaiming the Homestake Trophy with a 28-26 win over Black Hills State.
• South Dakota Mines were evenly balanced in their 451 yards of total offense, with 206 yards coming on the ground and 245 coming in the air.
• Running back Devon Nelson led the way as he carried 36 times for 138 yards and a touchdown. Ben Broecker led the receiving corps as he caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Nelson is tied for second in the GNAC in rushing, averaging 95 yards per game, while Broecker is fifth in the GNAC in receiving at 74 yards per game.
• Two quarterbacks split the action for South Dakota Mines. Senior Trent McKinney completed 11 of 25 for 133 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Jake Sullivan completed 8 of 12 for 112 yards and a score. McKinney enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in total offense with 213 yards per game and fourth in passing at 180 yards per game. Sullivan is ranked 10th in Division II with a .700 completion percentage.
• Punter Martin Rodriguez enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked second in Division II with his average of 46.1 yards per punt. Rodriguez punted five times against Black Hills State, averaging 49.2 yards per punt, and had a 63 yarder.
• As a team, South Dakota Mines is tied for first in Division II for passes had intercepted (0). The Hardrockers also rank sixth in first downs offense (59), ninth in net punting (41.78 yards per punt), 10th in fewest penalties (25), 25th in fewest penalty yards per game (39.50) and 29th kickoff return defense (16 yards allowed per game).
• This is South Dakota Mines’ final season in the GNAC. The Hardrockers will join the RMAC for the 2016 season.
WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon showed that can be resilient team, coming back from a 14-6 deficit to score the game’s final four touchdowns (all within the final 20 minutes) to beat Simon Fraser 31-14.
• The Wolves won despite being outplayed in most statistical categories. Western Oregon was outgained in total offense 442 to 294 and held onto the ball for all of 20:28.
• Defensive back Danny Hankins was named the GNAC Football Defensive Player of the Week. He made eight tackles and broke up two passes in the victory and electrified the crowd with his 99-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 remaining. Hankins leads the GNAC with four passes defended this season.
• Quarterback Trey Shimabukuro put together another solid effort, completing 18 of 28 for 233 yards. He threw for all three of his touchdowns in the second half, which included the go-ahead 32-yard scoring reception to Wesley Gray with 14:02 to go. Shimabukuro enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 28th in Division II with an average of 300.5 passing yards per game. He is also second in the GNAC and 16th in Division with a pass efficency rating of 170.1.
• Paul Revis found his game severely limited on offense, but he shined on special teams. Revis returned three punts for 66 yards, including one 53 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and returned one kickoff for 18 yards. Revis is tied for first in Division II with the punt return for a touchdown and is seventh in Division II in punt returns, averaging 22 yards per return.
• Punter Alexander Bandt ranks third in the GNAC and 10th in Division II with his average of 42.9 yards per punt. Bandt punted eight times against Simon Fraser for an average of 44.9 yards per punt,
• As a team, Western Oregon leads the GNAC in scoring defense, having allowed 21.5 points per game, and in punt return average, at 15.8 yards per return. The Wolves are ranked second in the GNAC in passing offense (300.5 yards per game), pass effiiciency (170.1), total defense (370.5 yards allowed per game), pass defense efficiency (110.0), turnover margin (0.00), kickoff returns (25.0 yards per return) and punting (38.4 yards per punt).
• In the Division II stats, Western Oregon is ranked 16th in pass efficiency (170.13), 19th in completion percentage (.667), 21st in net punting (38.36 yards per punt) and 23rd in punt returns (15.75 yards per return)
• Western Oregon will play their next three games on the road, including a Sept. 26 game at Division I-FCS Portland State (who upset Washington State in Pullman to begin the season). The Wolves are the only team in the GNAC without a bye week, competing all 11 weeks.