Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Western Oregon traveled to Azusa Pacific for the first conference game of the season on Saturday and left with a win that was big in more ways than one.

The Wolves used four first-half touchdowns to build a 27-16 halftime lead and then held off a late fourth-quarter rally to take the early lead in the GNAC standings with a 42-36 win. In addition to the win, it was the first time that Western Oregon had won in the Citrus Stadium since 2012.

The game produced two of the conference’s three Football Players of the Week. Sophomore running back Omari Land earned the Offensive Player of the Week award after he rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. His last touchdown, on a 10-yard run with 9:43 to go, proved to be the winning score for the Wolves.

Freshman defensive lineman Tyrell Cummings earned the Defensive Player of the Week award as one of three WOU players to finish with seven tackles in the contest. He also finished with 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble.

For Central Washington, it was quite the day for senior kicker Gavin Todd in the Wildcats’ 36-27 non-conference road win at Western New Mexico. Todd went 5 for 5 on field-goal attempts, setting a GNAC single-game record. When combined with his three extra-point conversions, his 18 points kicking also set a GNAC single-game record. The performance earned Todd selection as the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

After just one conference game last week, all four teams will lock horns with each other in week four. Western Oregon will be at Central Washington while Azusa Pacific will play at Simon Fraser.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Omari Land, Western Oregon
RB • 5-11 • Sophomore • Oakland, Calif.

Land was a big factor in the Wolves 42-36 GNAC season-opening win at Azusa Pacific. Land rushed for 122 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns and a long rush of 31 yards. He contributed what proved to be the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, making his 10-yard scoring run with 9:43 left in the game.

Also Nominated: Michael Roots (Central Washington), Gavin Cobb (Simon Fraser).

DEFENSIVE
Tyrell Cummings, Western Oregon
DL • 6-0 • Freshman • Seattle, Wash.

Cummings was one of three Western Oregon players to finish with seven tackles in the Wolves’ 42-36 win at Azusa Pacific. He had two solo tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss for 11 yards, one sack for seven yards and forced a fumble.

Also Nominated: Jeremiah Vasquez (Central Washington), Brendan Lowry (Simon Fraser).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Gavin Todd, Central Washington
P/K • 6-2 • Senior • Simi Valley, Calif.

Todd set a GNAC single-game record by connecting on five field goals in the Wildcats’ 36-27 win at Western New Mexico. He connected on four of his five field goals in the second half and twice hit for a long of 38 yards. The five field goals surpassed the GNAC record of four reached on seven occasions, most recently Jamie Cacciatore of Azusa Pacific in 2013. Combined with his three extra-point conversions, Todd scored 18 points kicking to surpass the GNAC record of 16 in a game, most recently accomplished by Jacob Hall of Azusa Pacific in 2018.

Also Nominated: Aidan Pearce (Simon Fraser), Curtis Anderson (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21: Lost to Western Oregon, 42-38
THIS WEEK: Sept. 28: at Simon Fraser, 6 p.m.

• Azusa Pacific could not rally back from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit as the Cougars dropped their GNAC opener to Western Oregon, 42-36.

• The Cougars finished with 363 yards of total offense in the contest, 293 of those in the passing game, and dominated the time of possession by holding onto the ball for 32 minutes. Junior Tyrone Williams, Jr., completed 12 of 31 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. Junior Anthony Catalano took over midway through the third quarter and proceeded to complete 10 of 19 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Williams leads the GNAC with 226.3 passing yards per game.

• Senior wide receiver Darrell Adams, Jr., was one of eight APU players to catch passes in the game, making five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Shane Hursh caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown while freshman wide receiver Jasiah Richard-Lewis caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Richard-Lewis leads the GNAC with 81.7 receiving yards per game.

• Freshman kicker Ramzee Jaridly connected on his fifth field goal of the season, connecting on a 42-yarder late in the first quarter. Jaridly is tied for first in Division II with a 1.000 field goal percentage and is 10th with 1.67 field goals per game.

• Defensively, sophomore linebacker Micah Roth and senior defensive back Ulysses Pickett each had nine tackles. Roth finished with one tackle for loss while Pickett had a half-tackle for loss. Both players are tied for eighth in the GNAC with 6.3 tackles per game.

• Azusa Pacific enters the week averaging 350.7 yards of total offense per game and scoring 25 points per game. The Cougars lead the GNAC and rank 20th in Division II in passing offense with 296.3 yards per game. The Cougars also rank 24th in Division II in net punting, averaging 39.13 yards per punt.

• Azusa Pacific will hit the road, heading north for a Saturday night meeting at Simon Fraser.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21: Won at Western New Mexico, 36-27.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 28: vs. Western Oregon, 6 p.m.

• Central Washington lived on the foot of senior kicker Gavin Todd, whose five field goals proved to be the difference in a 36-27 win at Western New Mexico.

• Todd set a GNAC single-game record with the five field goals, surpassing the previous record of four set seven times and most recently by Azusa Pacific’s Jamie Cacciatore in 2013. Todd made a 38-yarder in the second quarter before kicking four straight in the third and fourth quarter, three of which were over 30 yards. With three PAT conversions, Todd also set a GNAC single-game record with 18 points scored kicking. The effort earned Todd selection as the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Todd is tied for first in Division II with a 1.000 field goal percentage and is seventh with two field goals per game. In addition, Todd ranks second in the GNAC in total scoring, averaging 9.7 points per game.

• Senior running back Michael Roots finished with season-highs of 181 rushing yards and 211 total offense yards as he also caught three passes for 30 yards. Roots enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked seventh in Division II with 396 rushing yards and an average of 132 rushing yards per game.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Canon Racanelli was one of three CWU players to throw on Saturday, completing 19 of 34 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. His lone scoring pass was a 24-yard completion to JoJo Hillel in the second quarter. Racanelli is second in the GNAC with 199.3 passing yards per game and ranks 23rd in Division II with 14.95 yards per completion.

• Senior defensive back Jeremiah Vasquez led the Central Washington defense with eight tackles, including a half-tackle for loss. In all, the Wildcats finished with six tackles for loss and two sacks. Senior linebacker Donte Hamilton continues to rank third in the GNAC and 18th in Division II with his 11 tackles per game.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC in scoring offense (31.7) and total offense (454.7 yards per game). The Wildcats rank 18th in Division II in recovered fumbles (4), 20th in kickoff returns (25.50 yards per return), 21st in passing yards per completion (16.52), 22nd in turnover margin (1.33) and 25th in total offense.

• Central Washington will host Western Oregon in the Wildcats’ GNAC season-opener on Saturday night.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21: Lost to South Dakota Mines, 26-7
THIS WEEK: Sept. 28: vs. Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.

• Simon Fraser had its chances against South Dakota Mines in the Clan’s home opener Saturday, but could only convert on one touchdown in a 26-7 loss to the Hardrockers.

• The Clan finished with 339 yards of total offense, but were hampered by two interceptions and a pair of touchdowns that were called back due to penalties. Simon Fraser led the time of possession battle, holding on to the ball for over 33 minutes.

• Sophomore quarterback Brandon Niksich completed 25 of 39 passes for 259  yards and one touchdown. The lone score of the game was a 30-yard reception to senior wide receiver Rysen John just as the second quarter expired. Nickson enters the week averaging 254.5 yards per game.

• Junior wide receiver Gavin Cobb led the SFU receiving game as he caught seven passes for 107 yards. His day included a game-long 73-yard reception. Both John and junior wide receiver Ethan Beselt finished with four catches for 41 yards. Beselt is third in the GNAC with 64 receiving yards per game while John is fifth with 60.7 yards per game.

• Sophomore defensive back Brendan Lowry led the Simon Fraser defense with 11 tackles, including seven solo tackles and a pair of pass breakups. Lowry is second in the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 11.3 tackles per game. He is second only to junior linebacker Griffin Barrett, who is third in Division II with 12.3 tackles per game. Barrett had eight tackles against South Dakota Mines.

• Simon Fraser enters the week averaging 254.7 yards per game and 229 passing yards per contest. The Clan is 29th in Division II in net punting, averaging 38.70 yards per punt.

• Simon Fraser will open its GNAC season at home on Saturday, hosting Azusa Pacific.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21:  Won at Azusa Pacific, 42-36
THIS WEEK: Sept. 28: at Central Washington, 6 p.m.
 
• Four first-half touchdowns proved to be the difference for Western Oregon in its first win at Azusa Pacific since 2012, scoring a 42-36 win over the Cougars.

• Sophomore running back Omari Land was named the GNAC Football Offensive Player of the Week after he finished with 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Land scored his first touchdown with a 31-yard run with 3:07 left in the first quarter. He added a 19-yard scoring run in the second quarter and a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that proved to be the winning score. Land is second in the GNAC with 74.7 rushing yards per game and is third in Division II with 36 points score. He is also second in Division II with six rushing touchdowns.

• Freshman defensive lineman Tyrell Cummings was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after he led the Wolves with seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. He was one of three WOU players with seven tackles and was joined by sophomore linebacker Jaylin Parnell and sophomore defensive back Joey Sinclair. Cummings leads the GNAC with two sacks per game.

• Senior quarterback Ty Currie completed 6 of 14 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, spreading his yardage between five receivers. Sophomore wide receiver Marquis Sampson caught two of those passes for 53 yards. Currie leads the GNAC with 246.3 total offense yards per game.

• Junior return specialist Curtis Anderson had six kickoff returns in the game for 132 yards, including a long return of 62 yards. Anderson leads the GNAC and is eighth in Division II with 273 combined kick return yards.

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC with 200.7 rushing yards per game and is second in total offense with 382.7 yards per game. The Wolves lead the GNAC in scoring defense (38.3 points allowed per game), rushing defense (147.3 yards allowed per game) and total defense (395.3 yards allowed per game). Western Oregon is 19th in Division II in punt return defense, allowing 0.5 yards per return, and is 27th in net punting at 38.69 yards per punt.

• Western Oregon travels to Ellensburg, Washington, on Saturday to continue conference play at Central Washington.