Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Humboldt State continued to roll over opponents while South Dakota Mines and Central Washington put on impressive scoring displays to lead the performances in week three of the GNAC football season.

The Lumberjacks put up thier second straight week of 500-plus yards in their 66-7 non-conference rout of Dixie State. Humboldt State finished with 565 yards of total offense, but in a change in tact had the majority of those yards in the air. The Lumberjacks enter their bye week leading Division II in scoring offense and pass efficiency.

The dominant performance, led by quarterback Robert Webber, who leads Division II in pass efficiency, allowed the Lumberjacks to jump to No. 17 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the D2Football.com Poll.

South Dakota Mines outscored Wis.-River Falls 35-3 over the first 40 minutes of the game en route to a 49-22 victory. The Hardrockers have averaged 55.5 points per game in their two victories and are averaging 35 points per game in three games.

Central Washington, meanwhile, put an end to their two-game losing streak by scoring 40 first half points on Western Oregon to beat the Wolves 40-19. The Wildcats got all aspects of their game involved in the scoring, which included a 43-yard interception return by Cedrique Chaney and a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jesse Zalk, the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Week four features a return to conference as Dixie State travels to Azusa Pacific for both teams’ first GNAC counters of the season. Central Washington will host Simon Fraser in a non-conference tilt and South Dakota Mines will host Lyon College, a NAIA program from Batesville, Ark.

Western Oregon will head to Portland’s Providence Park for a rematch with Portland State. The Wolves came within minutes of an upset last year, falling to the Division I-FCS Vikings 45-38. This season, Portland State opened with an upset of Washington State and enters the week ranked No. 17 in the Division I-FCS national poll.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Robert Webber, Humboldt State
QB • 5-10 • 180 • Sophomore • Corona, Calif.

Webber led a solid Humboldt State air attack in the Lumberjacks’ 66-7 rout of Dixie State. He completed 15 of 18 passes for 299 yards threw for three touchdowns. In three games, Webber is averaging 205.5 passing yards per game and has a pass efficiency rating of 213.1, which leads Division II. Also Nominated: Blake Barney (Dixie State), Trent McKinney (South Dakota Mines), Kurt Scoby (Azusa Pacific), Jordan Todd (Central Washington).

DEFENSE
Errik Manning, Azusa Pacific
LB • 6-1 • 240 • Senior • Necedah, Wis.

Manning led Azusa Pacific in their defensive-minded 16-10 win at Simon Fraser, finishing with 10 tackles (eight solo) with two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. The leading APU tackler, Manning is tied for eighth in the GNAC with 21 tackles. Also Nominated: Cameron Buell (Humboldt State), Cedrique Chaney (Central Washington).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Jesse Zalk, Central Washington
WR/KR • 5-8 • 160 • Junior • Battle Ground, Wash.

Zalk finished with 200 all-purpose yards in their 40-19 win over Western Oregon. He had 186 yards on seven returns (four kickoff, three punts), including a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown that put the Wildcats up 14-6 in the first quarter. Zalk leads the GNAC and is ranked 11th in Division II in punt returns (18.8 yards per return). Also Nominated: Nick Sharpe (Humboldt State).

LAST WEEK'S GAMES
AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON 40, WESTERN OREGON 19
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - After two tough opening season losses where scoring was hard to come by, Central Washington came home and scored 40 points in the first half to rout Western Oregon 40-19 at Tomlinson Stadium. After Phillip Fenumiai opened scoring with a five-yard run four minutes into the game, the Wildcats scored 40 unanswered points. Cedrique Chaney put CWU on the board with a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown at the 9:14 mark. Jesse Zalk followed that with a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown before Justin Lane gave CWU a 21-6 lead when he found Kyle Self for the five-yard scoring pass less than a minute into the second quarter. Jordan Todd broke off a 70-yard run for a touchdown on the Wildcats’ next possession. That was followed by a safety, a 34-yard touchdown reception from Lane to Christian Gasca and a 29-yard Sean McDonald field goal. Western Oregon scored two second half touchdowns, one on a Joe Harris three-year run and a Daniel Thomas six-yard reception. Western Oregon outgained Central Washington on offense 331-300. Lane led CWU by completing 18 of 28 for 155 yards and two touchdowns with Todd rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Zalk had 200 all-purpose yards, including 108 yards on three punt returns. Trey Shimabukuro led WOU by completing 23 of 46 for 293 yards and a touchdown. Paul Revis led six WOU receivers with 76 yards on seven catches.

AT HUMBOLDT STATE 66, DIXIE STATE 7
ARCATA, Calif. - Humboldt State put up 565 yards of total offense, their second straight week of 500-plus yards, to roll past Dixie State 66-7 at the Redwood Bowl. Unlike their production over the first two weeks, the Lumberjacks did their damage in the air with 565 passing yards on a night that saw quarterback Robert Webber complete 15 of 18 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Receivers Marquis Deadwiler and Chase Krivashei each had 100-plus yard nights, with Deadwiler catching two balls for 107 yards and a touchdown and Krivashei catching six for 103 yards and two scores. Dixie State matched the Lumberjacks after their first touchdown with quarterback Blake Barney rushing in from 33 yards out. Humboldt State took a 31-7 lead into halftime after Jeff Shott returned a punt 23 yards for the touchdown with 54 seconds left in the half. Ja’Quan Gardner scored two of his three touchdowns in the beginning of the third quarter. Gardner finished the night with 107 yards on 21 carries. Barney completed 10 of 18 passes for 85 yards and rushed 16 times for 66 yards, leading Dixie State in both categories. Humboldt State’s Cameron Buell led all defensive players with 11 tackles.

AZUSA PACIFIC 16, AT SIMON FRASER 10
BURNABY, B.C. - Chad Jeffries’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Thropay with 12:11 left proved the difference for Azusa Pacific in a 16-10 victory over Simon Fraser at Swangard Stadium. The touchdown was the only scoring in the second half of a slow, driving contest. The Clan limited the Cougars to the 16 points despite 428 yards of total offense, including 245 yards passing. Azusa Pacific struck early with Kurt Scoby scoring on an 84-yard touchdown run at the 12:03 mark and made it 10-0 on Jacob Hall’s 23-yard field goal. Simon Fraser cut the lead to 10-7 when Ryan Stanford connected on a five-yard touchdown pass to Sam Nadon and Tiernan Dochertly tied it with his 20-yard field goal with 6:38 left in the first half. The Clan succeeded in stopping the Cougars deep in SFU territory on their first two drives of the second half before Thropay’s touchdown. Simon Fraser saw two of their three second half possessions end with turnovers. Jeffries completed 23 of 32 for 245 yards and a touchdown for Azusa Pacific. Scoby rushed 20 times for 184 yards and a touchdown while Blake Robertson caught 12 passes for 123 yards. Stanford went 21 of 32 for 248 yards and a touchdown for Simon Fraser. Justin Buren led seven SFU receivers with 77 yards on three catches. Jordan Herdman led the Clan defense with 11 tackles while Azusa Pacific’s Errik Manning had 10 tackles.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES 49, AT WIS.-RIVER FALLS 22
RIVER FALLS, Wis. - A first half scoring surge gave South Dakota Mines their second straight win as they beat Wis.-River Falls 49-22 at Smith Stadium. The Hardrockers needed only a minute to score the opening touchdown, with Devin Nixon’s two-yard run capping a four-play, 73-yard drive. Wis.-River Falls responded with a field goal before South Dakota Mines went on to score three more first half touchdowns and four unanswered going into the second half. Nixon broke off another four-yard run with 9:54 left in the second quarter that gave the Hardrockers the 28-3 halftime lead. Wis.-River Falls scored three second half touchdowns, but 29-yard and 43-yard touchdown runs by quarterback Trent McKinney allowed the Hardrockers to keep the home team well behind. McKinney finished with 175 yards of total offense, completing 7 of 10 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns and rushing seven times for 102 yards and two more scores. Jake Sullivan completed 14 of 28 passes for 178 yards as he traded time with McKinney. Eric Vanderwort caught six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown while Nixon carried 22 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 59 yards. Wis.-River Falls quarterback Ryan Kusilek completed 27 of 51 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. South Dakota Mines finished the night with 538 yards of total offense.

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
• Azusa Pacific rebounded from their home loss last week to Humboldt State by grinding through a 16-10 victory over Simon Fraser in Burnaby, B.C.

• The score was close despite a clear advantage by the Cougars on offense. Azusa outgained the Clan in total offense 428-284, but converted just 6 of 13 third down opportunities and converted just 2 of 5 drives in the red zone.

• Quarterback Chad Jeffries completed 23 of 32 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. Jeffries enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 28th in Division II in total offense with an average of 294.3 yards per game. He also ranks second in the GNAC and 29th in Division II with 833 passing yards.

• Running back Kurt Scoby led the APU ground game with 164 yards at Simon Fraser, which was topped by an 84-yard scoring run that accounted for the Cougars’ first touchdown of the game. Scoby enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with his average of 100 rushing yards per game and is sixth in all-purpose yards with 118.3 yards per game.

• Linebacker Errik Manning was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Cougars with 10 tackles (eight solo) and two tackles for loss. He also forced a third quarter fumble that led to the game-winning touchdown. Manning enters the week tied for eighth in the GNAC in tackles with 7 per game (21 total) and is tied for third with 1.33 tackles for loss per game.

• Wide receiver Blake Robertson posted his second 100-plus yard receiving game of the season, catching 12 balls for 123 yards at Simon Fraser. Robertson leads the GNAC with his average of 87.7 receiving yards per game.

• The Cougars boast two of the top return men in the GNAC in D.J. Morgan and Tyree Davis. Morgan leads the GNAC with an average of 25 yards per return (3 returns for 150 yards) and Davis is second in punt return average at 7.0 per return (3 returns, 70 yards).

• As a team, Azusa Pacific is ranked third in the GNAC in scoring offense (28 per game), pass offense (277.7 yards per game) and total offense (412.3 yards per game).

• Defensively, the Cougars are third in the GNAC in pass defense (199.7 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency defense (139.6). The Cougars are ranked 27th in kick return defense, allowing 16.42 yards per return.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• After losing two road games to open the season, Central Washington rebounded with a vengeance in their home opener, scoring all 40 of their points in the first half en route to a 40-19 rout of Western Oregon.

• The Wildcats’ first two touchdowns were not on offense. Cedrique Chaney opened scoring with a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown at the 9:14 mark of the first quarter and Jesse Zalk followed with a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown with 7:38 left in the quarter.

• Jesse Zalk was named GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after finishing with 200 all-purpose yards, which included 186 yards on kick and punt returns and the 79-yard punt return for the touchdown. Zalk currently leads Division II in combined kick return yardage with 464. He also ranks 11th in Division II with his 18.8 yards per punt return. Zalk also leads the GNAC with an average of 192.7 all-purpose yards per game.

• Running back Jordan Todd led a solid running game for the Wildcats, carrying 12 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. Todd leads CWU and eighth in the GNAC with his average of 46 rushing yards per game.

• Defensive linemen James Fakkema and Carson Kass enter the week tied for fourth in the GNAC in sacks. Both Wildcats have two sacks on the season, which have resulted in 46 yards lost.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is ranked 21st in Division II in passing yards allowed at 147 yards per game.

• The Wildcats also lead the GNAC and are 27th in Division II in punt returns with an average of 18.8 yards per return. They are also second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II in kickoff returns with 24.2 yards per return.

DIXIE STATE
• Dixie State’s aggressive running game ran into the buzzsaw that is Humboldt State on Saturday. The Red Storm, who entered the game averaging 285 yards rushing per game, was limited to 138 yards.

• Quarterback Blake Barney scored Dixie State’s only touchdown on a 33-yard run with 3:33 to go in the first quarter. Barney enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in rushing, averaging 85.3 yards per game. He led the Red Storm with 66 yards rushing at Humboldt State while also completing 10 of 18 for 85 yards.

• After rushing for 125 yards the week before, running back DeJon Coleman was limited to 39 yards on seven carries, but also had 158 yards on seven kickoff returns. Coleman enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with an average of 75.3 yards per game. He ranks third in the GNAC and 13th in Division II with his 186 all-purpose yards per game. In returns, Coleman is second in the GNAC with 23.1 yards per return and is seventh in Division II with 323 combined kick return yards.

• Dixie State enters the week leading the GNAC and ranking 24th in Division II with an average of 236 yards per game. Defensively, the Red Storm is 29th in Division II in red zone defense at .611 and 15th in time of possession, averaging 33:44 per game.

• Dixie State will host Azusa Pacific in the only GNAC counting contest of the season. It is one of three remaining home games for the Red Storm, who will play four of their final six games of the season 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
• For the second straight week, Humboldt State rolled up over 500 yards of total offense, finishing with 565 yards in their 66-7 rout of Dixie State.

• Unlike the previous week, the Lumberjacks relied on the passing game to do most of their damage with 400 yards in the air. Quarterback Robert Webber was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after 15 of 18 for 299 yards and three touchdowns.

• Receivers Marquis Deadwiler and Chase Krivashei combined for 210 of the receiving yards. Deadwiler had two catches for 107 yards and a touchdown while Krivashei had six catches for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

• The rout allowed the Lumberjacks to jump in both national polls, jumping six spots to No. 17 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the D2Football.com poll.

• Running back Ja’Quan Gardner had an off-week ... in relative terms. Gardner finished with 107 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Gardner enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked third in Division II with an average of 186.3 rushing yards per game. Gardner is also ranked second nationally with seven rushing touchdowns and 12th with 188.33 all-purpose yards per game

• Robert Webber enters the week leading Division II with a pass efficiency rating of 213.1. He is also ranked sixth in completion percentage (.689), seventh in passing touchdowns (10) and yards per pass attempt (10.25), 13th in points responsible for (60) and 16th in points responsible for per game (20).

• Chase Krivashei enters the week ranked tied for second in the GNAC with an average of 82 passing yards per game and leads the league with 6.67 receptions per game. He ranks second in Division II with his seven receiving touchdowns and is fourth in scoring with 14 points per game.

• Kicker Cameron Southward leads the GNAC and is first in Division II in field goal percentage, having made all three of his attempts.

• Defensively, Drew Dubois leads the GNAC and is ranked seventh in Division II in sacks with 1.33 per game. Nick Sharpe is tied for fifth in the GNAC with 7.7 tackles per game.

• As a team, Humboldt State leads the GNAC in scoring offense (52.3 points per game), pass efficiency (228.7), scoring defense (22.7 points allowed per game) and rushing defense (82.7 yards allowed per game). In the Division II stats, the Lumberjacks are ranked in the top-30 in 20 different categories. They lead the nation in team pass efficiency and scoring offense.

• Humboldt State is one of two GNAC teams who will play just four games at home in 2015 (Simon Fraser is the other). The Lumberbacks will play only two of their remaining seven games at the Redwood Bowl.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser put up a solid defensive effort in a 16-10 home loss to Azusa Pacific. The Clan held the Cougars to just two touchdowns, stopped APU in the red zone three times and limited the Cougars to 6 of 13 on third down and 0 for 4 on fourth down.

• Brothers Jordan Herdman and Justin Herdman combined for 19 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in the game. Jordan led the Clan with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Justin had eight tackles (seven solo) and two tackles for loss. The duo ranks first and third, respectively, in the GNAC in tackles per game. Jordan is ranked 10th in Division II with seven solo tackles per game, while Justin is ranked 19th with 6.5 solo tackles per game.

• Freshman defensive back Ben Minaker added 10 tackles in the loss and a tackle for loss. He enters the week tied for eighth in the GNAC in tackles.

• Quarterback Ryan Stanford completed 21 of 32 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown. Stanford enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in total offense at 287 yards per game. He is also ranked second in the GNAC and 25th in Division II with an average of 290.5 passing yards per game.

• Receiver Justin Buren enters the week tied for second in the GNAC with an average of 82 yards per game. Buren had 77 yards on three receptions in Saturday’s loss to Azusa Pacific.

• Senior Nicolai Karpun ranks as one of Division II’s top punters. Karpun enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 13th in Division II with an average of 42.9 yards per punt.

• As a team, Simon Fraser is ranked second in the GNAC and 29th in Division II in passing offense at 290.5 yards per game. The Clan also ranks second in the GNAC scoring defense (23.5 points allowed per game) and rushing defense (122 yards allowed per game).

• In the Division II stats, Simon Fraser is fourth in Division II in red zone defense (.333), sixth in time of possession (34:51 per game) and 14th in first downs defense (37).

• Like Humboldt State, Simon Fraser will play just four games at home in 2015, but will play three of their final six games at Swangard Stadium after playing two of three September games on the road.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
• South Dakota Mines used a mid-game scoring surge to put away their 49-22 victory at Wis.-River Falls on Saturday. The Hardrockers scored four first half touchdowns and used a six-yard run by quarterback Jake Sullivan with 7:41 left in the third quarter for a 35-3 lead.

• South Dakota Mines dominated the game offensively, rolling up 538 yards of total offense with 287 rushing yards.

• Running back Devin Nixon was the Hardrockers’ leading rusher, carrying 23 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for 59 yards. Nixon enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 98.7 rushing yards per game and is ranked 28th in Division II with his four rushing touchdowns.

• Quarterback Trent McKinney rushed seven times for 102 yards and two scored and also completed 7 of 10 passes for 73 yards and two more touchdowns. McKinney enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC in passing with 144.3 yards per game and seventh in the league in rushing at 56 yards per game.

• Eric Vandervort led the South Dakota Mines’ receiving corps with six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.

• Punter Martin Rodriguez continues to lead the GNAC with an average of 44.8 yards per punt. Rodriguez had to punt just two times on Saturday.

• In the Division II stats, the Hardrockers are ranked sixth in first downs offense (84), seventh in net punting (40.55 yards per punt) and 22nd in total offense (488.3 yards per game). Individually, receiver Ben Broecker is tied for 26th in receiving touchdowns with three and defensive end David Jakpor is 16th in sacks with 1.17 per game.

• In the GNAC stats, South Dakota Mines enters the week ranked second in scoring offense, averaging 35 points per game, and leads the league in punting with 40.5 yards per punt.

• This is South Dakota Mines’ final season in the GNAC. The Hardrockers will join the RMAC for the 2016 season.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon scored the first touchdown of the game, but could not respond to Central Washington’s 40-point torrent in the first half in a 40-19 loss on the road to the Wildcats.

• The Wolves lost despite outgaining Central Washington in total offense 331 to 300. Western Oregon had 293 passing yards as quarterback Trey Shimabukuro completed 23 of 46 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown.

• Western Oregon converted all three of their scoring opportunities in the red zone, but went just 4 of 15 in third down conversions and 0 for 4 on fourth down conversions.

• Paul Revis finished with 145 all-purpose yards in the game. He had 76 yards receiving on seven catches and had three kick returns for 63 yards. Revis enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 148 all-purpose yards per game and fourth in receiving at 77 yards per game.

• Trey Shimabukuro leads the GNAC and is 20th in Division II in passing yards at 298 yards per game. He is also ranked third in GNAC with an average of 273.7 yards of total offense per game. In the Division II stats, Shimabukuro  is 18th in passing yards (894), 27th in passing touchdowns (7) and 28th in completions per game (22.33).

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC in total defense, allowing 347 yards per game. The Wolves are ranked second in the GNAC in pass defense (195 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency defense (116.3). In the Division II stats, the Wolves are 24th in kickoff returns (24.62 yards per return).

• Western Oregon will play Division I-FCS Portland State on Saturday at Portland’s Providence Park. The Vikings enter the game ranked No. 17 in the Stats FCS Top 25 Poll, thanks in part to their season-opening upset of Washington State. The two teams played last year, with the Vikings thwarting a WOU upset bid late in the 45-38 victory.