Tuesday, September 27, 2016

With the first half of its GNAC schedule coming to a close, Azusa Pacific stands a chance to separate itself from the rest of the conference this week.

After a 64-14 drubbing of Simon Fraser at home, the Cougars will travel to Monmouth, Ore., on Saturday for a matchup with Western Oregon. Azusa Pacific was quite dominant in the win over the Clan, finishing with 479 yards of total offense while limiting SFU to 193 yards of total offense and -31 yards rushing. The Cougars finished with six passing touchdowns, tying the GNAC single game record.

Western Oregon, meanwhile, is coming off its biggest conference win in some time as the Wolves held on for a 48-42 win at Humboldt State. The Wolves benefitted from a big game for running back Malik Braxton, who finished with 191 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.

The Wolves won despite a record performance by Humboldt State quarterback Robert Webber. The junior set a GNAC single game record with 502 passing yards on a record 44 completions. Webber also tied the GNAC record with 64 pass attempts. The majority of his passes went to Chase Krivashei, who finished with a GNAC season-high 187 yards on 13 receptions.

The Lumberjacks will look to right the ship in the second of it’s three non-conference games this season, traveling to Nebraska to play Chadron State. The Eagles enter the game with a 1-3 record, all in RMAC games, and lost 31-30 to Adams State last weekend.

Central Washington is coming off a big 40-18 win over former GNAC rival Dixie State. The Wildcats finished with 490 yards of total offense in the game, led by 215 yards and two touchdowns by quarterback Justin Lane.

The Wildcats play at Simon Fraser on Saturday, which will look for its first win of the season. The Clan had some bright spots on defense against Azusa Pacific as it forced and recovered four fumbles, two of which were turned into scores.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Malik Braxton, Western Oregon
WR/RB • 5-11 • 195 • Sophomore • Lynnwood, Wash.

Braxton ran for a career-high 191 yards on 23 carries and finished with 197 all-purpose yards to lead the Wolves to a 48-42 win at Humboldt State. He scored three touchdowns, including two first quarter scores on runs of 24 and 29 yards.

Robert Webber, Humboldt State
QB • 5-9 • 180 • Junior • Corona, Calif.

Webber set GNAC single game records with 502 passing yards and 44 completions and tied the GNAC single game record with 64 pass attempts in the 48-42 loss to Western Oregon. Webber also threw for four touchdowns in the contest.

Also Nominated: Brandon Jackson (Azusa Pacific), Justin Lane (Central Washington).

DEFENSE
Taliuaki Suliafu, Azusa Pacific
SS • 6-0 • 185 • Junior • Moreno Valley, Calif.

Suliafu finished with six tackles, including four for loss for 36 yards, 1.5 sacks for 16 yards of loss and an interception in the Cougars’ 64-14 win over Simon Fraser. The pick was APU’s 10th of the season, ranking the Cougars second in Division II.

Also Nominated: Bo Highburger (Western Oregon), Tovar Sanchez (Central Washington).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Paul Revis, Western Oregon
KR/WR • 5-9 • 155 • Junior • Scappoose, Ore.

Revis finished with 142 yards on seven returns in the Wolves’ 48-42 win at Humboldt State, which included a 43-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. The junior finished with 216 all-purpose yards, including two touchdowns.

Jamie Cacciatore, Azusa Pacific
K • 5-8 • 170 • Senior • Orange, Calif.

Cacciatore went 2 for 3 on field goals, making kicks of 38 and 42 yards, and went 8 for 8 on PATs in the Cougars’ 64-14 win over Simon Fraser. He also averaged 64.8 yards on 11 kickoffs with six touchbacks.

Also Nominated: Tevin Gray (Central Washington).

LAST WEEK'S GAMES
AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON 40, DIXIE STATE 18
ELLENBURG, Wash. - Four first quarter touchdowns and a key start from the special teams provided Central Washington the momentum for a 40-18 non-conference win over Dixie State at Tomlinson Stadium. The Wildcats opened scoring three minutes into the game as Tevin Gray returned a blocked punt 11 yards for a touchdown. Quincy Carter made it a 14-3 game with a 70-yard touchdown reception from Justin Lane near the end of the first quarter. Lane found Christian Stafford for a 41-yard touchdown strike with 8:14 left in the second and Carter added a second touchdown with 3:58 left, giving CWU a 27-3 halftime lead. Carter added a third touchdown with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter and JoJo Hillel closed scoring with his 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Lane completed 9 of 14 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns and found six different receivers. Jesse Zalk was Lane’s top target, catching three passes for 82 yards. Jordan Tufaga rushed nine times for 90 yards. Dixie State quarterback Josh Thompson completed 15 of 24 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown. Aubrey Reed caught four passes for 125 yards. Central Washington outgained the Trailblazers 490 yards to 362. Kevin Haynes led the CWU defense with 10 tackles.

WESTERN OREGON 48, AT HUMBOLDT STATE 42
ARCATA, Calif. - After building a 34-7 first half lead, Western Oregon held off a torrid comeback by Humboldt State to escape with a 48-42 win over the Lumberjacks at the Redwood Bowl. The Wolves jumped out to a 23-0 lead late in the first quarter thanks to a pair of touchdowns runs by Malik Braxton and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Phillip Fenumiai to Andy Avgi. The Wolves made it a 34-7 lead on a 39-yard Jacob Bannister field goal before the Lumberjacks started to make their charge. Chase Krivashei scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Robert Webber and Ja’Quan Gardner scored on a two-yard run to come within 34-21 at the half. Western Oregon opened the third quarter by taking both touchdowns back on a 16-yard Braxton touchdown run and a 27-yard scoring pass from Fenumiai to Paul Revis. Humboldt State scored the final three touchdowns of the game to challenge late. coming within 48-42 on Webber’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Marjani Ellison. Humboldt State had the ball to end the game, but could not convert in the red zone for the win. Braxton carried 23 times for 191 yards and three touchdowns to lead Western Oregon while Fenumiai completed 11 of 21 for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Webber set GNAC single game records with 502 yards passing and 44 completions. He passed for four touchdowns. Krivashei caught 13 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Humboldt State outgained Western Oregon 579 to 539. Bo Highburger led WOU defensively with 16 tackles while Cameron Buell paced Humboldt State with eight tackles.

AT AZUSA PACIFIC 64, SIMON FRASER 14
GLENDORA, Calif. -  Azusa Pacific tied a GNAC record with six passing touchdowns as the Cougars rolled to a 64-14 win over Simon Fraser at Citrus Stadium. The Clan started with a lead for the first time this season when Miles Richardson found Gavin Cobb for a 36-yard scoring pass two minutes into the game, but the Cougars went to score 64 straight points. The run inlcuded four straight first half touchdown passes bookended by a pair of Jamie Cacciatore field goals. Brandon Jackson had three of those touchdowns, including a 35-yard touchdown pass from Chad Jeffries with 54 seconds left in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 41-7 lead. The Cougars added three more touchdowns in the third quarter, including one on a blocked punt by Jackson and a 22-yard reception by Josiah Thropay, and closed scoring with a safety with 1:32 left in the third quarter. Simon Fraser added a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Richardson found Justin Buren with a 36-yard touchdown pass. Jeffries completed 6 of 11 for 188 yards and three tocuhdowns while Andrew Elffers completed 12 of 16 for 174 yards and three scores. Weston Carr caught three passes for 120 yards and a touchdown and Jackson caught five passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Richardson completed 16 of 36 for 224 yards and two touchdowns and also threw two interceptions. Buren caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Simon Fraser’s Jordan Herdman led all defensive players with 17 tackles while Mykal Walker led Azusa Pacific with nine. Azusa Pacific outgained Simon Fraser 479 to 193 and held the Clan to -31 yards rushing.

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
• Azusa Pacific tied a GNAC record with six passing touchdowns in a 64-14 rout of Simon Fraser at home on Saturday.

• The passing performance, which included three touchdowns apiece for Chad Jeffries and Andrew Elffers, tied the mark set by Western Washington against Fort Lewis in 2002 and equaled on three other occasions by WWU, Simon Fraser and Western Oregon. The Cougars finished with 479 yards of total offense in the contest, 371 of which was in the air.

• Receiver Brandon Jackson had his best game in an APU uniform, cathing five passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Weston Carr finished with 120 yards and a touchdown on three catches.

• Safety Taliuaki Suliafu was named the GNAC Football Defensive Player of the Week after he finished with six tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception in the victory. Ir was Azusa Pacific’s third straight GNAC defensive award winner.

• Kicker Jamie Cacciatore shared GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after kicking field goals of 38 and 42 yards and going 8 for 8 on PAT attempts in the victory.

• The Cougars enter the week leading the GNAC in pass efficency (175.5), scoring defense (17.0 points allowed per game), total defense (310.5 yards allowed per game), pass defense efficency (102.6), turnover margin (1.75), kickoff returns (30.7) and time of possession (31:16). Azusa Pacific is second in Division II in interceptions (10), third in sacks (5.00 per game), fourth in kickoff returns, fifth in red zone defense (.545) and ninth in rushing defense (80.3 yards allowed per game), team passefficency and turnover margin.

• Individually, Jeffries leads the GNAC and is 18th in Division II with a pass efficency rating of 215.3. Tyree Davis ranks third in Division II with 46.4 yards per kickoff return and 11th with 349 combined kick return yards. Cacciatore is 23rd in Division II with 1.25 field goals per game.

• Azusa Pacific continued its slow climb in the polls, moving up to No. 14 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the D2Football.com Poll.

• The Cougars will wrap up the first half of its GNAC schedule on Saturday, traveling north to play at Western Oregon.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington put on a solid offensive display in its final non-conference game of the season, finishing with 490 yards of total offense in a 40-18 home win over former GNAC member Dixie State.

• The Wildcats did their damage in the first half with four touchdowns. Quincy Carter had two of his three touchdowns in the first half as he finished with 95 all-purpose yards (24 rushing, 71 receiving).

• Linebacker Tevin Gray made the special teams play that started it all for CWU, blocking a punt and returning the ball 11 yards for the first touchdown on the game on the Trailblazers’ first possession.

• Quarterback Justin Lane finished completed 9 of 14 passes for 215 yards and threw for two touchdowns in the victory. Lane enters the week second in the GNAC with 245 passing yards per game.

• Wide receiver and return specialist Jesse Zalk led Central Washington with 82 yards on three catches and also had three kickoff returns for a total of 47 yards. Zalk enters the week second in the GNAC with 82.8 receiving yards per game and fourth with 135.8 all-purpose yards per game. His five receiving touchdowns ranks 14th in Division II.

• Linebacker Kevin Haynes led the Central Washington defense with 10 tackles while defensive lineman Tovar Sanchez finished with six tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks. Sanchez leads the GNAC and is 11th in Division II with 2.15 tackles for loss per game and is second in the GNAC and 25th in Division II with one sack per game.

• In the team statistics, the Wildcats lead the GNAC in rushing offense (182.2 yards per game). Central Washington ranks second in the league in passing offense (245 yards per game), total offense (427.2 yards per game), first downs (85), total defense (394.5 yards allowed per game), turnover margin (0.25) and time of possession (30:25). In the NCAA Division II stats, the Wildcats rank 14th in fourth down conversion percentage (.750), 15th in turnovers lost (4) and 21st in fourth down conversion percentage (.250).

• With its non-conference schedule complete, Central Washington returns to GNAC play on Saturday at Simon Fraser.

HUMBOLDT STATE
• Humboldt State trailed by as much as 34-7 late in the first half, and saw a valiant second half comeback fall just short in a 48-42 home loss to Western Oregon on Saturday. The Lumberjacks had the ball in the final minute, but were unable to put the ball in the endzone.

• Quarterback Robert Webber put up a record performance in the loss. He completed a GNAC record 44 passes for a GNAC record of 502 yeard to go along with four touchdowns. His 502 yards broke the record of Western Oregon’s Josh Riddell, who threw for 488 yards against HSU in 2008. Webber also tied a GNAC record with 64 pass attempts. As a team, the 44 completions was a GNAC record, surpassing the 41 by the Lumberjacks against Southern Oregon in 2003.

• Wide receiver Chase Krivashei had his best performance of the year despite an injury that hampered his production late in the game. He caught 13 passes for a GNAC season high 187 yards and two touchdowns. Krivashei leads the GNAC with 106 receiving yards and 7.67 receptions per game.

• Running back Ja’Quan Gardner finished with 127 all-purpose yards, rushing 21 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns and catching eight passes for 60 yards. Despite the limited production on the ground, Gardner still leads the GNAC and is eighth in Division II with 143.8 rushing yards per game. He also leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II with 184.75 all-purpose yards per game.

• Webber enters the week leading the GNAC and ranking eighth in Division II with 330.3 passing yards per game. He also ranks ninth in the nation with 25.25 completions per game, 13th with 333 total offense yards per game and 18th with a .679 completion percentage.

• The loss to Western Oregon knocked HSU out of both national polls. The Lumberjacks picked up two votes to rank ninth in the list of teams receiving votes.

• Humboldt State leads the GNAC and is 16th in Division II in total offense, averaging 503.5 yards per game. The Lumberjacks also lead the GNAC in scoring offense (44.2 points per game), pass offense (332.5 yards per game) and first downs (101).

• Humboldt State returns to non-conference play on Saturday, traveling to Chasdron, Neb., to face Chadron State.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser found itself limited to 193 yards of total offense and -31 yards rushing in a 64-14 loss at Azusa Pacific.

• Despite the loss, the Clan opened the game with its first lead of the season as Miles Richardson found Gavin Cobb for a 36-yard touchdown pass with just under two minutes gone in the game. Richardson finished completing 16 of 36 for 224 yards and two touchdowns while Cobb caught three passes for 57 yards.

• Wide receiver Justin Buren led Simon Fraser offensively, catching five passes for 100 yards. He enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 76.5 receiving yards per game.

• The defense was the bright spot for Simon Fraser with the Clan forcing and recovering four fumbles, two of which the offense converted into touchdowns. Jordan Herdman led the way with 17 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Herdman enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked sixth in Division II with 14 tackles per game. He is also second in Division II with 0.75 forced fumbles per game and ninth with seven tackles for loss.

• As a team, Simon Fraser continues to lead Division II with 55 punt return yards per game. The Clan is also third in Division II with its eight fumble recoveries.

• Simon Fraser returns to GNAC play on Saturday, hosting Central Washington.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon scored five first half touchdowns and held off a late Humboldt State rally to claim a big 48-42 victory over the Lumberjacks Saturday at the Redwood Bowl.

• Running back Malik Braxton shared GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after he carried 23 times for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Two of the three touchdowns came in the first quarter, including a run of 39 yards. Braxton enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 70.2 rushing yards per game.

• Paul Revis was selected as the Special Teams Co-Player of the Week after he finished with 142 combined return yards. He returned four kickoffs for 94 yards and three punts for 48 yards. Revis also caught two passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Revis enters the week leading the GNAC and ranking eighth in Division II with 362 combined kick return yards. He also ranks second in Division II with 25.4 yards per punt return.

• Quarterback Phillip Fenumiai completed 11 of 21 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns and also carried 11 times for 81 yards. Fenumiai ranks fourth in the GNAC with an average of 143.5 passing yards per game.

• Linebacker Bo Highburger led the WOU defense with 16 tackles, including 12 solo tackles. The sophomore enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and sixth in Division II with 12.5 tackles per game. Highburger also leads the league and is third in Division II with eight solo tackles per game.

• As a team, Western Oregon is fourth in Division II in punt returns (23.56 yards per return), and 28th in sacks with three per game.

• Western Oregon will have a showdown with the GNAC’s leading team, hosting undefeated Azusa Pacific on Saturday.