Monday, October 7, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - With five teams separated by just one game, the 2013 GNAC football season reaches its halfway point this Saturday.

Co-leaders Central Washington (3-2, 3-1) and Azusa Pacific (3-2, 3-1) complete their first half with home games against their closest pursuers.

The Wildcats entertain Dixie State (2-3, 2-2), while the Cougars host Simon Fraser (2-2, 2-2).  Western Oregon (2-3, 2-2), meanwhile, hosts Humboldt State (0-5, 0-4).

The games at Ellensburg and Monmouth kick off at 1 p.m., while the SFU/Azusa Pacific game begins at 6:30 p.m.

Central Washington has won three of four conference games, mostly with defense.

The Wildcats rank 152nd out of 169 Division II teams in total offense, but are ninth in total defense (282.6) and sixth in scoring defense (13.0), rushing defense (77.2) and pass efficiency defense (92.4). They are the only GNAC team ranked in the Top 10 in any major category.

Individually, CWU defensive back Isaiah Davis is tied for third nationally in interceptions with four. Davis had three interceptions Saturday in a 21-13 win at Humboldt State to earn GNAC Red Lion Defensive Player of the Week honors. 

He is the seventh player in GNAC history to record three interceptions in the same contest and the third CWU player on this year's team to accomplish that feat joining Stan Langlow (2010) and Cedrique Cheney (2012).

Also ranked in the Top 10 are Kraig Akins of Western Oregon in forced fumbles (6th, 0.30); Simon Fraser's Chad Heerspink in field goals (7th, 1.67); Timothy Ehinger of Dixie State in sacks (8th, 1.20) and Mitchell Barnett of Simon Fraser in fumble recoveries (0.40).

The top ranked GNAC player in any offensive category, except for Heerspink in field goals, is Humboldt State freshman wide receiver Chase Krivashei in receptions (8.2).  Krivashei had a GNAC season-high 14 receptions in the Lumberjacks' loss to Central Washington.

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Oct. 5): Team (Top 30): Total Defense – 9. Central Washington 282.6. Scoring Defense – 6. Central Washington 13.0 Rushing Defense – 6. Central Washington 77.2. Passing Offense – 29. Dixie State 295.8.  Passing Efficiency Defense – 6. Central Washington 92.4.  Kick Return Defense – 13. Western Oregon 15.35. Turnover Margin – 27. Dixie State 1.0. Pass Sacks – 23. Central Washington 3.0. Net Punting – 20. Humboldt State 37.97. Individuals (Top 30): Rushing – 17. Jordan Todd, CWU, 119.4.  Total Offense – 13. Griff Robles, DSC, 332.6. Scoring – 14. JD Duncan, DSU, 10.8. Receptions – 11. Chase Krivashei, HSU, 8.2; 25. JD Duncan, DSU, 7.0.  Punt Returns -  25. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 11.8. Punting – 25. Chris Campbell, HSU, 41.1.  Field Goals – 7. Chad Heerspink, SFU, 1.67; 16. Matt Bruder, HSU, 1.40. Interceptions – 3. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 0.80; 12. Daniel Moffett, DSU, 0.60. Kickoff Returns – 25. Patrick Tepea, WOU, 29.1. Total Tackles – 12. Casey Chin, SFU, 11.5.  Solo Tackles – 16. Casey Chin, SFU, 6.5. Pass Sacks – 8. Timothy Ehinger, DSU, 1.2.  Forced Fumbles – 6. Kraig Akins, WOU, 0.60; 14. Eric Murphy, SFU, 0.50; 24. Timothy Ehinger, DSU, and Deionte Gordon, CWU, 0.40. Fumbles Recovered – 10. Mitchell Barnett, SFU, 0.50; 21. Ronnie Hicks, HSU, and Nathan Sanchez, HSU, 0.40.  Passes Defended – 28. Derek Jones, SFU, 1.50.

GNAC RED LION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense – Griff Robles, Dixie State (QB, 6-5, 230, Sr., Spanish Fork, UT) had more than 400 yards in total offense for the second week in a row leading the Red Storm to a 39-12 win against Simon Fraser.  Robles finished with a GNAC season-high 427 yards, rushing for 176 yards and completing 13 of 27 passes for 251 yards.  He contributed six touchdowns, scoring on runs of 15 in the first quarter and 34 in the third quarter and tossing TD passes of 9 yards to Randon Willard in the opening period, 11 to tight end Joe Don Duncan and 7 to Willard in the second quarter and 48 to Duncan in the third period

Defense – Isaiah Davis, Central Washington (DB, 5-10, 176, So., Bremerton, WA – South Kitsap) tied a GNAC single-game record with three interceptions and also had seven tackles in a 21-13 road win at Humboldt State. Davis’ first interception in the third quarter came near midfield, however, the latter two came in the fourth period deep in Humboldt territory (at the 14-yard line on a second-and-three play from the 38 and at the 10-yard line on a first-and-10 play from the 30).  Davis also broke up two other passes and had 104 return yards, including seven on one punt return, 80 on three kickoffs and 17 on the three interceptions. 

Specialty – Jamie Cacciatore, Azusa Pacific (K, 5-8, 175, So., Orange, CA – El Modena) was a perfect four of four of field goals converting from 40, 26, 28 and 26 yards as the Cougars edged Western Oregon 34-32.  His fourth field goal gave APU a 34-19 lead with 7:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Honorable Mention – Jordan Todd, Central Washington (RB, 5-6, 186, So., Bellevue, WA – Interlake) recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, netting 127 yards on 30 carries, including a 40-yard touchdown gallop in the third quarter.  Todd’s TD was the only one during the second half ...  Dasmen Stewart, Azusa Pacific (QB, 6-4, 225, Sr., Oxnard, CA – San Jose State) had 281 yards in total offense and rushed for two touchdowns leading the Cougars to a 34-32 road win at Western Oregon. Stewart scored on a pair of one-yard runs in the second and fourth quarter. Stewart, who was making his first start since APU’s season opener, completed 16 of 23 passes for 191 yards and also netted 90 yards on 11 rushes ....  Sean Barber, Azusa Pacific (LB, 6-1, 220, Sr., Edgewood, WA – Puyallup) led the Cougars with a career-high 16 tackles, including 11 solos.  He also forced two fumbles.  It was the third game in a row in which Barber has either equaled or set a new career high for tackles. In his two previous games, he had a total of 15 tackles in each ... Patrick Tepea, Western Oregon (DB, 6-0, 200, Jr., Kailua, HI) had 137 yards on three kickoff returns, including a 90-yarder for a touchdown.  He also had six tackles.

ON THE ROAD IN THE GNAC:  GNAC road teams have won eight of 12 conference games so far this fall.  All six conference teams have lost at least one conference home game.

INDIVIDUAL STELLAR GAMES

100-Yard Rushing Games: 4 – Jordan Todd, CWU; Terrell Watson, APU.  2 – Chris Tolbert, SFU; Griff Robles, DSU.  1 – Kyle Morris, HSU; Jamarie Sanders, HSU; Myles Burton.

200-Yard Passing Games: 5 – Griff Robles, DSU.  4 – Ryan Bergman, WOU. 3  -  Kyle Morris, HSU. 2 – Ryan Stanford, SFU.

300-Yard Passing Games: 1 – Ryan Bergman, WOU; Griff Robles, DSU; Ryan Stanford, SFU.

100-Yard Receiving Games: 2 – Tyrell Williams, WOU. 1 – Joe Don Duncan, DSU; Lemar Durant, SFU; Mitch Frei, DSU; Kelechi Nwadibia, HSU; Michael Reeve, WOU; Chase Krivashei, HSU.

For more GNAC Football highlights check out the GNAC Weekly Report.