Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The matchups in week six of the GNAC football season will go a long ways in determining the road to the league championship.

Azusa Pacific is at Humboldt State on Saturday night in what is the league’s marquee matchup of the week. The Lumberjacks are putting up video game-like numbers in their first four games, with the latest coming in a 59-10 rout at South Dakota Mines last week. Humboldt State rushed for 498 yards in the game, a GNAC record, and enter the week leading Division II in scoring with 54 points per game.

The Cougars, the two-time defending GNAC champions, find themselves in a must-win situation if they want to compete for their third title. Azusa Pacific watched Central Washington come back from a 21-7 deficit to lead 24-21 late and then saw them stop Kurt Scoby’s desperation run one yard short on the final play of the game.

South Dakota Mines will play at Central Washington in another match-up of high-powered offenses. Despite their loss to Humboldt State, the Hardrockers enter the game ranked second in the GNAC in scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and rushing offense (221.2 yards per game). The Wildcats, meanwhile, have won three straight after losing their first two games of the season. Before pulling out the close win over Azusa Pacific, CWU had scored 40 points in each of its previous two games.

Dixie State is at Simon Fraser in the third GNAC matchup of the day. The Red Storm will look to snap a three-game losing streak. After setting a school record of 400 yards rushing against Central Washington on Sept. 12, DSU has been limited to a total of three touchdowns. Simon Fraser is looking for their first win of the season and is coming off its bye week.

Western Oregon will face a tough test in the only non-conference game on the slate, hosting No. 6 North Alabama. It is the second game of a two-year home-and-home series between the two schools. The Wolves lost last year, 30-10, in Florence, Ala.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
JaQuan Gardner, Humboldt State
RB • 5-7 • 190 • Sophomore • Ceres, Calif.

Gardner led Humboldt State in their 59-10 victory at South Dakota Mines, rushing 22 times for 208 yards as the Lumberjacks set a GNAC record with 498 rushing yards. He tied GNAC and Humboldt State records with five rushing touchdowns and 30 points scored. His ledger included four runs of 20-plus yards, including a season-long 54-yard run for a touchdown. Also Nominated: Arthur Burns (Central Washington), Joe Harris (Western Oregon), Nate Stephens (Dixie State).

DEFENSE
Kevin Haynes, Central Washington
LB • 6-0 • 237 • Sophomore • Battle Ground, Wash.

Haynes led the Wildcats’ defense with 10 tackles, two sacks, a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries. He also forced a fumble on the 1-yard line to stop a potential score in Central Washington’s 24-21 road win at Azusa Pacific. Also Nominated: Colton Olson (Dixie State), Eric Paopao (Humboldt State).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Cameron Southward, Humboldt State
K/P • 6-1 • 185 • Junior • Auburn, Wash.

Southward pulled double duty as the Lumberjacks’ kicker and punter in their victory over South Dakota Mines. He went 8 for 8 on point-after opportunities and also kicked a 50-yard field goal, the longest in the league this season. Southward also punted four times, averaging 42 yards per punt with two landing inside the 20-yard line. Also Nominated: Paul Revis (Western Oregon).

LAST WEEK'S GAMES
WESTERN OREGON 42, AT DIXIE STATE 24 (FRIDAY)
ST. GEORGE, Utah - A career day by running back Joe Harris led Western Oregon as they rolled to the 42-24 win over Dixie State at Hansen Stadium. Harris rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries and scored a career best three rushing touchdowns, all of which came after WOU interceptions. Dixie State took the early one, taking a 10-0 lead after one quarter on Nate Johnson’s 20-yard touchdown reception from Blake Barney. It was the Wolves’ game from there, though, as they scored 42 straight points. Harris gave WOU the lead with his four-yard touchdown run with 2:54 left in the second quarter. Paul Revis made it a 21-10 game when he caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from David Sowards  with four minutes gone in the third quarter. Western Oregon poured it on with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, two by Harris and an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Revis with 10:56 to go. Dixie State scored a pair of touchdowns late in the game. Dixie State had the advantage in most statistical categories, outgaining the Wolves in total offense 500 to 354 and limiting WOU to 17 first downs. Barney and Tyson Blackner combined for Dixie State’s 392 passing yards, with Barney completing 15 of 20 for 169 yards and a touchdown. Nate Stephens caught 11 passes for Dixie State for 124 yards. Sowards completed 11 of 24 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns for WOU. Revis caught four balls for 102 yards. Dixie’s Colton Olson led all defensive players with 14 tackles.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON 24, AT AZUSA PACIFIC 21
GLENDORA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific came within inches of victory, but fell just short in taking a 24-21 loss to Central Washington at Citrus Stadium. On the last play of the game, quarterback Chad Jeffries managed to find Kurt Scoby with a desperation shovel pass. Scoby turned and burned 77 yards up field, only to be stopped by the Wildcats’ Anthony Beaver and Blake Williams-Miller at the 1-yard line as time expired. The run capped an exciting game that saw the Wildcats come back from a 21-7 deficit for the win.The two teams traded first quarter touchdowns before the Cougars took the 13-7 lead on Jeffries’ 16-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Scoby made it a 21-7 game on his 25-yard scoring run with 8:48 left in the first half. Arthur Burns brought Central Washington within 21-14 on his two-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left in the period and then tied the game with a 17-yard touchdown run with 3:07 to go in the third quarter. Sean McDonald clinched the game for the Wildcats with a 25-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the third quarter. Azusa Pacific outgained Central Washington in total offense 530 to 302, with 319 passing yards. Burns had a career day for the Wildcats, rushing 26 times for 142  yards and three touchdowns. Jeffries completed 12 of 27 passes for 319 yards to lead Azusa Pacific while Scoby rushed 18 times for 154 yards. Jonathan Thropay led all defensive players with 15 tackles for the Cougars.

HUMBOLDT STATE 59, AT SOUTH DAKOTA MINES 10
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Humboldt State rushed for a GNAC record 498 yards as the Lumberjacks improved to 4-0 with a 59-10 rout of South Dakota Mines at O’Harra Stadium. Humboldt finished with 641 yards of total offense, led by another big night from running back Ja’Quan Gardner. The sophomore rushed 22 times for 208 and tied HSU and GNAC records with five touchdowns and 30 points scored. The game started as a close affair, with Nathan Courtney’s blocked punt and touchdown giving South Dakota Mines a 10-7 lead with 1:50 left in the first quarter. That was all the Hardrockers would get as the Lumberjacks scored the final 52 points of the game. Gardner opened the run by breaking off a 54-yard scoring run 15 seconds into the second period and would add scoring runs of one and two yards, with a Cameron Southward 50-yard field goal inbetween, for a 31-10 HSU lead. The Lumberjacks added four more touchdowns in the second half, capped by a 33-yard scoring run by Richard Doctor. Gardner led four Lumberjacks to rush for 100 or more yards. Doctor rushed for 109 yards, Blair Zerr added 103 yards and Khalil Ealy had 100 yards. Humboldt State quarterback Robert Webber completed 10 of 22 for 118 yards. South Dakota Mines quarterback Trent McKinney completed 11 of 21 for 64 yards and rushed for 48 more. The Hardrockers finished with 245 yards of total offense.

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
• Azusa Pacific came up one yard short of going 2-0 in conference play Saturday as Kurt Scoby’s 77-yard run on the final play was stopped short as time expired in a 24-21 loss to Central Washington.

• The Cougars dominated almost every statistical category in the game except the final score. Azusa Pacific rolled up 530 yards of total offense, led by 319 passing yards by quarterback Chad Jeffries. Jeffries did not throw for a touchdown, but ran for two of the Cougars’ three scores.

• Scoby provided for all of the rushing yardage that Jeffries didn’t provide, finishing with 154 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Scoby enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in rushing (122.2 yards per game) and fourth in all-purpose yards (151.4 yards per game). Scoby is also ranked 12th in Division II in total rushing yards (616), 17th in rushing yards per carry (6.84), 19th in rushing yards per game and 29th in rushing touchdowns (6).

• Jeffries continues to be one of the top quarterbacks in the GNAC, leading the league in total offense at 289.6 yards per game. He ranks second with 250.8 passing yards per game. In the Division II stats, Jeffries is 13th with his average of 15.29 yards per completion and 22nd with 8.71 yards per pass attempt.

• Defensive back Jonathan Thropay tied the GNAC individual season high with his 15 tackles against Central Washington, which included 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Thropay has 80 tackles on the season and is fifth in the GNAC with an average 8.0 tackles per game.

• Defensive end Jason Schwartz recovered his second fumble of the season against Central Washington. He is tied for seventh in Division II with teammate Taliuaki Suliafu with two recovered fumbles and is 15th with 0.40 fumbles forced per game.

• As a team, Azusa Pacific leads the GNAC in passing defense (141.6 yards allowed per game) and kickoff returns (24.2 yards per return) and is second in passing offense (250.8 yards per game), total offense (444.6 yards per game), pass efficiency (136.4 yards per game), scoring defense (25 points allowed per game), total defense (349.8 yards allowed per game), pass efficiency defense (110.04) and turnover margin (+2).

• In the NCAA Division II statistics, APU is 14th in fumbles lost (2) and passing yards per completion (15.29), 17th in passing yards allowed, 19th in kickoff returns, 21st in team tackles for loss (8.4 per game), 26th in punt return defense (4.00 per return), 27th in kickoff return defense (16.74 yards allowed per return) and tied for 28th in blocked punts (1).

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Defense won the day for Central Washington on Saturday as Anthony Beaver and Blake Williams-Miller stopped Kurt Scoby’s potential winning touchdown run one yard short to preseve a 24-21 win at Azusa Pacific.

• The Wildcats came back from a 21-7 second quarter deficit thanks to a pair of touchdown runs by running back Arthur Burns, including a 17-yard run with 3:07 left in the third quarter that tied the game. The Wildcats took the lead for good on a 25-yard field goal by Sean McDonald with 21 seconds left in the third.

• Burns finished with a career day for Central Washington, rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. In all, 214 of the Wildcats’ 302 yards of total offense came on the ground. Burns enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC with 53 rushing yards per game.

• Wide receiver/return specialist Jesse Zalk did not play on Saturday, but continues to rank among the top return men in the nation. Zalk enters the week leading the GNAC with an average of 21.9 yards per kick return and 13.6 yards per punt return. Zalk is sixth in Division II with 478 combined return yards and 19th in punt return yards. In addition, Zalk is second in the GNAC and 11th in Division II with 178.5 all-purpose yards per game and is fourth in the GNAC with 59 receiving yards per game.

• In the overall return game, Central Washington ranks second in the GNAC and 22nd in Division II with 23.95 yards per kick return. The Wildcats are third in the GNAC in punt returns, averaging 10.9 yards per return.

• Defensively, Central Washington leads the GNAC in pass efficiency defense (103.7), second in pass defense (173.6 yards allowed per game) and third in scoring defense (27.4 points allowed per game) and total defense (364.4 yards allowed per game). In the Division II statistics, CWU is ranked third in fourth down conversion defense (.077), sixth in third down conversion defense (.246), 16th in defensive touchdowns (2), 21st in team sacks (3.20 per game) and tied for 28th in blocked kicks (1).

• Kevin Haynes was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week with an impressive effort of 10 tackles with two sacks, a pass broken up and three quarterback hurries against Azusa Pacific. Haynes enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC with 6.8 tackles per game.

DIXIE STATE
• Dixie State held the advantage over Western Oregon in most statistical categories Saturday, but could not stop a 42-point scoring surge by the Wolves in a 42-24 loss.

• The Red Storm finished the game with a season high 500 yards of total offense, with 392 yards coming in the passing game. Starter Blake Barney completed 15 of 20 passes for 169 yards in the first half and Tyson Blackner completed 19 of 30 for 223 yards in the second half. The two combined to throw three touchdowns, but were also intercepted three times.

• The Dixie State quarterbacks hit 11 different receivers in the game, led by 124 yards on 11 catches by Nate Stephens. Brad Duran finished with 81 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.

• Barney also led the Red Storm in rushing with 53 yards on 13 carries. Barney ranks fourth in the GNAC in rushing with an average of 70.6 yards per game and is ninth in the league in passing with 63.6 yards per game.

• After rushing for 101 yards the night before, running back DeJon Coleman was limited to 23 yards on 10 carries. Coleman enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in all-purpose yards (163.4 yards per game) and fifth in rushing with 70 yards per game.

• Sophomore defensive back Colton Olson enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in tackles with 9.8 per game. Linebacker Josh Symonette leads the league in fumbles recovered, picking up two in four games played.

• As a team, Dixie State is ranked third in the GNAC in rushing offense at 206.4 yards per game. Despite the high passing numbers against Western Oregon, the Red Storm is seventh in the GNAC in passing offense with 142.2 yards per game.

• After playing four of their first five games of the season at home, Dixie State will play four of their remaining five games on the road. Their only remaining home game will be on Sat., Nov. 7, against Humboldt State.

• 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 third time in as many games, Humboldt State scored 50 or more points in a game, pulling away from a close first quarter by scoring the final 52 points of the game in a 59-10 rout at South Dakota Mines.

• The Lumberjacks rushed for 498 yards of total offense, bettering the GNAC record of 482 set by Auzsa Pacific vs. Menlo on Nov. 15, 2014. They also equaled the GNAC record of seven rushing touchdowns set by the Cougars vs. Dixie State on Oct. 18, 2014. Humboldt State finished the game with 641 yards of total offense.

• Ja’Quan Gardner was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. Gardner finished with 208 rushing yards on 22 carries, his third 200-plus yard rushing performance of the season. He tied GNAC records with five rushing touchdowns and 30 points scored, which included a 54-yard scoring run early in the second quarter. Gardner enters the week leading Division II in rushing touchdowns (12), rushing yards per game (186.3) and scoring (18 points per game). He is also ranked 14th in Division II with 7.30 rushing yards per carry and 20th with 18 points responsible for per game. Gardner leads the GNAC with 191.8 all-purpose yard per game and fifth with 184.8 yards of total offense per game.

• With the win, Humboldt State moved up four spots to No. 11 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and two spots to No. 18 in the D2Football.com Top-25 Poll.

• Kicker Cameron Southward was named GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after going 8 for 8 on point-after attempts and kicking a 50-yard field goal in the victory. In addition to his kicking duties, Southward punted four times for 148 yards, an average of 42 yards per punt. Southward enters the week leading Division II with a 1.000 field goal percentage and 30th in scoring with 10 points per game.

• Quarterback Robert Webber had an off-game in relative terms, completing 10 of 22 for 118 yards as the rushing game carried much of the load. Webber continues to lead the GNAC and is ranked second in Division II in pass efficiency at 179.8. Webber is also ranked 14th in Division II with 8.95 yards per pass attempt, 29th with 14.29 passing yards per completion and 30th with a .627 completion percentage. In the GNAC, Webber is ranked fourth in both total offense (185.2 yards per game) and passing yards (183.5 yards per game).

• Junior linebacker Drew Dubois enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked ninth in Division II in sacks, averaging 1.25 per game. He is also ranked third in the GNAC with 1.38 tackles for loss per game.

• Humboldt State enters the week leading Division II as a team in scoring (54 points per game), pass efficiency (190.45), turnovers lost (1) and passes had intercepted (0). The Lumberjacks are also ranked third in fumbles lost (1), fifth in rushing offense (296.8 yards per game) and ninth in passing yards per completion (15.80).

• Among GNAC teams, the Lumberjacks lead the league in scoring offense, rushing offense, total offense (509.8 yards per game), pass efficiency, scoring defense (19.5 points allowed per game), rushing defense (91.8 yards allowed per game), total defense (330.8 yards allowed per game) and turnover margin (+6).

• After Saturday’s home game against Azusa Pacific, the Lumberjacks close the season with four of five games on the road. Humboldt State’s only remaining game at the Redwood Bowl will be on Sat., Oct. 31, against Simon Fraser.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser was the only GNAC team not in action last weekend. The Clan will open their GNAC schedule this weekend by hosting Dixie State.

• Simon Fraser will be looking to erase the memory of a 40-7 loss to Central Washington on Sept. 26. The Clan’s offense was stymied, picking up just 111 yards of total offense, including 108 passing yards. The Clan’s only touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tyler Nickel to Earl Anderson. Anderson was the Clan’s leading receiver with 78 yards on four catches.

• Brothers Jordan and Justin Herdmann rank as the top defensive duo in the GNAC. Jordan enters the week leading the GNAC with an average of 12 tackles per game. Justin is third in the GNAC with 9.7 tackles per game, is second in the league with 2.33 tackles for loss per game and tied for second with 0.33 fumbles forced per game.

• As a team, Simon Fraser enters the week second in the GNAC in rushing defense, allowing teams 116.3 yards per game. On the offensive side of the ball, the Clan is third in passing offense at 229.7 yards per game.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
• One of the top offenses in Division II statistically entering the week, South Dakota Mines was limited to 245 yards of total offense in their 59-10 loss to Humboldt State on Saturday.

• The Hardrockers made it a game in the first quarter, taking a 10-7 lead on Nathan Courtney’s blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown with 1:50 left in the first quarter. Humboldt State went on to score the game’s final 52 points.

• Quarterback Trent McKinney completed 11 of 21 for 64 yards and rushed for 48 more yards on nine carries. Daniel Ziegler led the Mines’ receiving corps with 52 yards on five catches.

• Freshman running back Kevin Dixon was limited to 47 yards on 14 carries after rushing for 104 yards the week before. Dixon enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in rushing, averaging 89.4 yards per game, and sixth in all-purpose yards with 101.2 yards per game.

• The quarterback tandem of Jake Sullivan and Trent McKinney are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, in the GNAC in passing yards. Sullivan is averaging 108.8 yards per game while McKinney is seventh with 108 yards per game. McKinney enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 155.6 yards of total offense per game.

• In the NCAA Division II stats, South Dakota Mines ranks seventh in Division II in punt returns with an average 18.88 yards per return. The Hardrockers are also ranked first in Division II in blocked punts allowed (0), third in blocked punts (3) and eighth in blocked kicks (4).

• Among GNAC teams, the Hardrockers are first in punt return average at 19.4 yards per return and punting at 36.2 yards per punt. They are ranked second in scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and rushing offense (221.2 yards per game).

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

• After playing two of their three September games on the road, Simon Fraser will play three of their final six games at home.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon snapped a two-game losing streak in high scoring fashion Friday, scoring 42 consecutive points to come back from a 10-0 deficit to beat Dixie State, 42-24.

• The Wolves won despite being outgained by the Red Storm in most statistical categories. Western Oregon was outgained on total offense 500-354 and were limited to 17 first downs, but converted all three red zone scoring chances and went 10 of 14 on third down conversions.

• Wide receiver Paul Revis led the Wolves with 187 all-purpose yards. He caught four passes for 102 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. He added 85 punt return yards, including an 81-yard return for a touchdown that ended the Wolves’ scoring in the fourth quarter. Revis enters the week leading Division II with two punt return touchdowns, 10th with 19.2 yards per punt return and 26th with 358 combined return yards.

• David Sowards completed 11 of 24 for 199 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolves in place of the injured Trey Shimabukuro. It was Soward’s first start of the season.

• Defensive back Roger Garrett led a balanced Western Oregon defensive effort with nine tackles. Tyler Johnson added eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception while Shane Kuenzi also had eight tackles.

• Linebacker Max Johnson enters the week leading the GNAC in tackles for loss with 1.40 per game. Defensive lineman Michael Kluge is tied for second in the league with 0.70 sacks per game and Kuenzi is fourth in the GNAC in tackles at 8.4 per game.

• Western Oregon enters the week leading the GNAC in passing offense, averaging 260.8 yards per game. The Wolves are ranked second in punt return average (15.5 yards per return) and punting (34.3 yards per punt) and third in rushing defense (164 yards allowed per game), pass defense (220.8 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency defense (120.9).

• Saturday’s game against North Alabama starts a string that will see Western Oregon play five of their final six games at home.