Monday, October 21, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Only Central Washington has been able to slow down Azusa Pacific running back Terrell Watson this fall.

Watson has rushed for 1,217 yards, including 581 yards in his last two games.  He'll bring his GNAC leading 173.9 yards per game average to Ellensburg Saturday when the Cougars  take on the Wildcats with first place in the conference up for grabs.  Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Both teams bring 5-1 conference records and 5-2 overall records into the game.  The winner will take a one-game lead in the GNAC race with three games remaining on the schedule

Western Oregon (4-3, 4-2) is also in the title hunt, trailing the two co-leaders by one game. The Wolves, who host Simon Fraser this Saturday at 1 p.m., play at Azusa Pacific Nov. 2 before hosting the Wildcats on Nov. 9.  This Saturday's other contest will match Humboldt State and Dixie State at St. George.  Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Earlier in the season, CWU defeated Azusa Pacific 7-3 at Glendora, Calif., holding Watson to 40 yards.  In his other six games, Watson has averaged 197 rushing yards per game.

CWU's Jordan Todd had 189 yards in that game and ranks second to Watson in the GNAC, rushing for 887 yards.  Nationally, Todd ranks 16th in rushing.  Since Azusa Pacific is a provisional NCAA member, Watson is not eligible to be ranked in the NCAA national statistics.

Central Washington has one of the best defenses in Division II ranking 11th in rushing defense allowing 86.7 yards per game.  The Wildcats also rank eighth in scoring defense (14.7), 11th in pass efficency defense (101.5) and 25th in total defense (313.3).

In individual categories, five GNAC players rank in the Top 10 in a category.

Wide receiver Chase Krivashei of Humboldt State ranks fifth in receptions, averaging 8.9 per game.  Dixie State quarterback Griff Robles ranks sixth in total offense (356.9 yards per game).

CWU defensive back Isaiah Davis ranks fourth in interceptions with five in seven games and is one of three defensive players in the Top 10 along with Simon Fraser linebacker Casey Chin and Western Oregon defensive end Kraig Akins.

Chin ranks seventh in total tackles (12.5) and solo tackles (6.8).  Akins ranks sixth in forced fumbles with three in seven games.

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Oct. 19): Team (Top 30): Total Defense – 25. Central Washington 313.3. Scoring Defense – 8. Central Washington 14.7. Rushing Defense – 11. Central Washington 86.7. Passing Offense – 11. Dixie State 327.7; 25. Western Oregon 295.1.  Passing Defense – 29. Simon Fraser 188.7.  Passing Efficiency Defense – 11. Central Washington 101.5.  Kick Returns – 13. Central Washington 25.5. Kick Return Defense – 24. Western Oregon 16.7. Punt Returns – 22. Central Washington 13.76. Punt Return Defense – 19. Central Washington 3.44. Pass Sacks – 22. Central Washington 3.0. Takeaways – 22. Central Washington 1.00.  Net Punting – 28. Humboldt State 36.5.  Individuals (Top 30): All-Purpose – 30. Chase Krivashei, HSU, 152.4. Rushing – 16. Jordan Todd, CWU, 127.0.  Passing – 12. Griff Robles, DSU, 305.6; 18. Ryan Bergman, WOU, 292.9. Total Offense – 6. Griff Robles, DSC, 356.9. Receptions – 5. Chase Krivashei, HSU, 8.9; 15. JD Duncan, DSU, 8.0. Receiving Yards – 23. JD Duncan, DSU, 108.4. Punt Returns -  12. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 14.6. Field Goals –17. Matt Bruder, HSU, 1.33; 23. Chad Heerspink, SFU, 1.17.  Interceptions – 4. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 0.7; 30. Casey Chin, SFU, 0.5. Kickoff Returns – 23. Patrick Tepea, WOU, 28.2. Total Tackles – 7. Casey Chin, SFU, 12.5.  Solo Tackles – 7. Casey Chin, SFU, 6.8. Pass Sacks – 23. Timothy Ehinger, DSU, 0.9.  Forced Fumbles – 6. Kraig Akins, WOU, 0.43; 24. Eric Murphy, SFU, 0.33. Fumbles Recovered – 19. Mitchell Barnett, SFU, 0.33.  Passes Defended – 8. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 1.7.

3,000 and Counting

In less than two full seasons in the GNAC, Azusa Pacific’s Terrell Watson has rushed for 2,311 yards to rank sixth in conference history in career rushing yards.  The GNAC record is 2,836 by Jason Taroli of Western Oregon between 1997 and 1999 and in 2001. 

Including 697 yards in his freshman season, Watson has rushed for 3,008 yards. He had 279 yards last Saturday against Humboldt State in a 21-13 victory.

GNAC RED LION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense – Tyrell Williams, Western Oregon (WR, 6-4, 200, Jr., Salem, OR – Cascade) caught five passes for 184 yards including touchdowns of 74 and 67 yards to lead the Wolves to a 46-34 road victory at Dixie State.  Williams broke his own GNAC-record for most  yards per catch (min. 5 catches) with his 36.8 average.  He set  the old GNAC record of 32.8 last season catching six passes for 197 yards in a game against Dixie State.

Defense – Austin Schnizler, Central Washington (DT, 6-3, 266, Sr., Ventura, CA - St. Bonaventure/Idaho State) had three quarterback sacks for losses of 24 yards and he also tackled running back Stephen Spagnuolo in the end zone for a safety to lead the Wildcats to a 54-14 win at Simon Fraser.  He finished the contest with five tackles, including four for losses of 25 yards and was also credited with a forced fumble.

Special Teams – Matt Burke, Central Washington (P, 6-0, 192, Sr., Laguna, Hills, CA – Cabrillo) averaged 43.3 yards on three punts and did not  allow a return yard  as CWU maintained its Top 20 national ranking in punt return defense, allowing just 3.4 yards per return.  Burke also tossed a 54-yard TD pass to Deionte Gordon on a fake punt in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 30-14 lead.

Honorable Mention – Terrell Watson, Azusa Pacific (RB, 6-2, 230, Jr., Oxnard, CA) rushed for 279 yards and scored the game’s clinching touchdown as the Cougars defeated Humboldt State 21-13 and remained tied for first place in the GNAC with Central Washington.  Watson scored on a seven-yard run with 8:47 remaining stretching the Cougars’ one-point lead to the final eight-point margin ... Jordan Todd, Central Washington (RB, 5-6, 186, So., Bellevue, WA - Interlake) rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, recording his sixth 100-yard game in seven contests.  Todd scored in the first quarter on runs of 20 and six yards as the Wildcats bolted to an early 16-0 lead ... AJ Hull, Western Oregon (DB, 5-10, 170, Fr., Kenai, AK) had 12 tackles including 11 solos.  He also forced a fumble and had a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown ... JD Duncan, Dixie State (TE, 6-4, 279, Sr., Corona, CA – Notre Dame/El Camano) caught 14 passes for 170 yards equaling a GNAC season-high for receptions and falling just one catch shy of the GNAC single-game record of 15.

For more GNAC football news, check out the GNAC Football Weekly report.