Monday, December 23, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Azusa Pacific running back Terrell Watson won three conference statistical titles and set or tied 17 conference records during the recently completed Great Northwest Athletic Conference football season.

In all a total of 40 conference records were set and 24 were tied during the 2013 season.

Watson broke 14 records and tied three.

He set single season records for rushing carries (301), yards (1,812), rushing touchdowns (23), rushing average (151.0), total touchdowns (23), points (138), scoring average (11.5) and all-purpose yards (1,954).

He also set career standards for rushing yards (2,906), average per rush (5.8) and rushing touchdowns as well as single-season (10) and career records (15) for 100-yard rushing games.

The APU junior also established a new single-game standard for rushing yards per carry (10.8) while tying the record for most rushing touchdowns (5), total touchdowns (5) and points (30).  All four of those marks were established Oct. 12 in a 44-36 win against Simon Fraser.

Watson was one of 17 GNAC players to etch their names into the record book, including Dixie State quarterback Griff Robles who set single-season standards for total plays (576), total yards per game (346.7) and consecutive 300-yard games (8).   Robles also tied the GNAC single-season record for most total 300-yard games (8).

Humboldt State freshman wide receiver Chase Krivashei, Simon Fraser linebacker Casey Chin, Clan wide receiver Lemar Durant, Western Oregon quarterback Ryan Bergman and kickers Matt Bruder of Humboldt State and Jamie Cacciatore of Azusa Pacific all established two records each.

Krivashei led the GNAC in receptions with a conference-record 96.  He also established a new single-game mark in all-purpose yards with 331 on Nov. 9 against Simon Fraser.

Chin set GNAC records for most single-season unassisted tackles (68) and most single-game tackles for losses (6 ½ against Humboldt State on Nov. 9).

Durant, who missed most of the season with an injury, still managed to qualify for two career records for the first time by reaching the minimum game standard of 15 – most catches per game (8.0) and receiving yards per game (113.8).

Bergman set a career record for most yards per completion (14.1) and tied a game record with six touchdown passes against Dixie State on Sept. 21.

Bruder set a record for most consecutive field goals made, extending his streak that began during the 2012 season to 11 before missing his third attempt.  He also extended his own record for the highest career PAT percentage (97.2).

Cacciatore tied the GNAC single-game records for most field goals made and for most made without a miss with four against Western Oregon on Oct. 5.  It was his second career four field goal game.

Also setting records during the 2013 season were three Western Oregon players - Joe Harris (longest rush, 90), Tyrell Williams (most yards per reception, single game, 36.8), and Patrick Tepea (most yards per kickoff return, single game, 45.7).

Earl Anderson of Simon Fraser set a single-season mark for punt return average (24.5) and Mitch Frei (159 yards) and Joe Don Duncan (150 yards) of Dixie State combined to set a single-game mark for most total yards (309) by two 100-yard receivers.

Tying single-game marks were Daniel Moffett of Dixie State and Isaiah Davis of Central Washington who each had three interceptions in games against Humboldt State on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, respectively, and CWU’s Austin Schnizler who had four quarterback sacks in a 44-0 shutout of Dixie State on Nov. 16.

TEAM RECORDS: Conference champion Azusa Pacific set six team records and tied two others, including most rushing yards (2,446) and most rushing touchdowns (32).  The Cougars also had the best turnover ratio (plus 16) in GNAC history on the way to posting a 10-2 record ... Other team records among the 17 set (7 others were tied) included new single-season marks for punt return average (Simon Fraser 18.8) and kick return average (Central Washington 24.2).  CWU also established season records for time of possession (34:03 per game), fewest punt returns allowed (2.1) and fewest total first downs allowed (161).

RUSHING RECORD FALLS AGAIN: For the third year in a row, the conference single-season individual rushing record was broken.  Nat Conley of Central Washington set the original record of 1,327 in the GNAC’s inaugural 2001 season. That record lasted a decade - until 2011 - when Lyndon Rowells of Humboldt State rushed for 1,417 yards.  HSU’s Nick Ricciardulli broke that record in 2012 netting 1,579 yards, a record Watson broke this season rushing for 1,812 yards.

WATSON WINS THREE STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS: APU’s Terrell Watson and Dixie’s Griff Robles were the lone offensive multiple conference statistical champions.  Watson led the GNAC in rushing (151.0), scoring (11.5) and all-purpose running (162.8), while Robles was the pacesetter in passing efficiency (134.0) and total offense (246.7). 

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Other offensive champions included Ryan Bergman of Western Oregon in passing yards (293.2), Humboldt State’s Chase Krivashei in receptions (8.7) and Dixie State’s Joe Don Duncan in receiving yards (104.5).  Duncan, who also led the GNAC in receiving yards in 2011 (94.9), is the only tight end in conference history to lead the conference in that category.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Players winning defensive statistical titles included Western Oregon defensive end Kraig Akins, Simon Fraser linebacker Casey Chin, Azusa Pacific linebacker Sean Barber and Cougars’ defensive back Silas Goma and Central Washington DB Isaiah Davis and Wildcat tackle Austin Schnizler.    Akins led the league in tackles for losses (1.45 per game) and forced fumbles (0.36).  Chin was the leader in tackles (11.9) for the third year in a row, Barber led in fumble recoveries (0.50) and Goma led in passes defended (1.42).  Davis led in interceptions (0.55) and Schnizler led in sacks (0.82).

SPECIAL TEAM LEADERS: Special teams statistical leaders included Earl Anderson and Tore Corrado, both of Simon Fraser in punt returns (24.5) and kickoff returns (34.8), respectively; Azusa Pacific’s Jamie Cacciatore in kick scoring (7.2) and Humboldt State’s Chris Campbell in punting (40.9).

Clan Leads NCAA Division II in Punt Returns

Simon Fraser led NCAA Division II in punt return average during the 2013 season, according to final figures released by the NCAA.

The Clan averaged 18.9 yards per return to finish on top in the final rankings. SFU's Earl Anderson set a GNAC record averaging 24.5 yards per return, but had just 10 attempts and thus didn't have enough attempts to qualify for the national rankings.

Central Washington finished in the Top 10 of the national rankings in four different major team categories, including fifth in punt return defense (2.07), sixth in scoring defense (15.7), eighth in rushing defense (87.8) and 10th in pass efficiency defense (105.4). The Wildcats also finished 11th in total defense, allowing 298 yards per game.

Six GNAC players ended up ranked in the Top 10 in a category.

Tore Corrado of Simon Fraser finished third in kickoff returns with an average of 34.8.  Griff Robles of Dixie State finished eighth in total offense with a GNAC-record average of 346.7 yards per game, while wide receiver Chase Krivashei of Humboldt State, who set a GNAC record with 96 receptions, was eighth in catches averaging 8.7 per game.

SFU's Casey Chin finished fifth in solo tackles (6.8) and ninth in total tackles (11.9).  Isaiah Davis of Central Washington finished eighth in interceptions (0.5).  Kraig Akins ended up 10th in forced fumbles (0.36).

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Final): Team (Top 30):        Passing Offense – 23. Western Oregon 294.6; 25. Dixie State 293.3.  Total Defense – 11. Central Washington 298.0.  Rushing Defense – 8. Central Washington 87.8.   Passing Efficiency Defense – 10. Central Washington 105.4.  Scoring Defense – 6. Central Washington 15.7.  Kickoff Returns – 11. Central Washington 24.2; 28. Simon Fraser 22.5.  Punt Returns – 1. Simon Fraser 18.9. Net Punting – 28. Humboldt State 36.2.   Pass Sacks – 18. Central Washington 3.09. Punt Return Defense – 5. Central Washington 2.07.  Turnover Margin – 26. Central Washington 0.7. Individual (Top 30): All-Purpose – 30. Chase Krivashei, HSU, 154.6. Rushing – 17. Jordan Todd, CWU, 121.3.  Passing Yards – 16. Ryan Bergman, WOU, 293.2; 25. Griff Robles, DSU, 278.5.  Total Offense – 8. Griff Robles, DSU, 346.7.  Receptions – 8. Chase Krivashei, HSU, 8.7; 19. JD Duncan, DSU, 7.1.  Receiving Yards – 21. JD Duncan, DSU, 104.5. Punt Returns – 20. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 13.0. Punting – 30. Chris Campbell, HSU, 40.9. Kickoff Returns – 3. Tore Corrado, SFU, 34.8. Field Goals – 22. Matt Bruder, HSU, 1.1; 27. Chad Heerspink, SFU, 1.0.  Interceptions – 8. Isaiah Davis, CWU, 0.5.  Total Tackles – 9. Casey Chin, SFU, 11.9. Solo Tackles – 5. Casey Chin, SFU, 6.8. Pass Sacks – 23. Austin Schnizler, CWU, 0.8. Tackles For Loss- 30. Kraig Akins, WOU, 1.5.  Forced Fumbles – 10. Kraig Akins, WOU, 0.36; 19. Keenan North, SFU, 0.3.  Fumbles Recovered – 14. Mitchell Barnett, SFU, and Sanchez, CWU, 3.