Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Humboldt State will aim this week to claim at least a share of their first GNAC title in four years and strengthen their ranking in the NCAA regional rankings.

The Lumberjacks improved to 6-1 overall, 4-1 in GNAC play, with a 42-17 victory at Central Washington. With a win over Simon Fraser this Saturday, the Lumberjacks would clinch a share of the GNAC title.

In the first NCAA Division II regional rankings, Humboldt State emerged at No. 2 in Super Region 3. Only Northwest Missouri State, which enters the week at 8-0, is ranked higher. The Lumberjacks also climbed to No. 15 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and to No. 17 in the D2Football.com Top-25 Poll.

Western Oregon will strive to keep pace after winning their fourth straight game, 37-26, at Simon Fraser. After losing three of their first four games, the Wolves have won four straight and will play their final three games of the season at home.

The Wolves, however, will have to hold off one of the conference’s most potent offenses if they want to stay in the championship puzzle. Azusa Pacific is ranked second in the GNAC in scoring offense, rushing offense and total offense. The Cougars won their second straight game with a 56-27 decision South Dakota Mines.

Dixie State is at South Dakota Mines in the other GNAC matchup of the weekend. The Hardrockers finished with 404 yards of total offense in their loss at Azusa Pacific and finished just short of their average of 32.6 points per game. Dixie State is coming off a bye week after they took a 61-14 loss to the Cougars on Oct. 17.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Malik Braxton, Western Oregon
RB/WR • 5-11 • 180 • Freshman • Lynnwood, Wash.

Braxton led Western Oregon to a 37-26 victory over Simon Fraser with 199 yards of total offense. He had 176 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 13 carries, which included a GNAC record 99-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also threw for a touchdown. Also Nominated: Justin Buren (Simon Fraser), Andrew Eiffers (Azusa Pacific), Ja’Quan Gardner (Humboldt State), Justln Lane (Central Washington).

DEFENSE
Jonathan Thropay, Azusa Pacific
DB • 6-4 • 215 • Junior • Monrovia, Calif.

Thropay led a solid defensive performance for the Cougars. He led three APU players with double-digit tackles with 15 as Azusa Pacific beat South Dakota Mines 56-27. Also Nominated: Chris Hannible (Humboldt State), Shane Kuenzi (Western Oregon).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Jonathan Kuhn, Central Washington
P • 5-11 • 222 • Sophomore • Mercer Island, Wash.

Kuhn total 283 yards on seven punts, averaging 40.4 yards per punt in the Wildcats’ loss to Humboldt State. His line included two punts inside the 20-yard line, three punts of 50 or more yards and a long punt of 60 yards. Also Nominated: Justin Buren (Simon Fraser), Jacob Hall (Azusa Pacific).

LAST WEEK'S GAMES
HUMBOLDT STATE 42, AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON 17
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Humboldt State took one step closer to the GNAC title Saturday, scoring four first half touchdowns en route to a 42-17 victory over Central Washington at Tomlinson Stadium. Sage Burmeister opened on the opening possession on a 12-yard pass from Robert Webber less than two minutes again. Sean McDonald put the Wildcats on the board with a 23-yard field goal with 5:41 left in the first quarter. Ja’Quan Gardner added the Lumberjacks’ next two scores on a 5-yard run late in the first quarter and a 2-yard run with 6:27 left in the half. Jesse Zalk scored CWU’s first touchdown on a 61-yard pass play from Justin Lane, but Webber capped the half with a nine-yard touchdown run for a 28-10 Humboldt State lead. The Lumberjacks scored the first two of three second half touchdowns. Chris Hannible returned an interception 76 yards for the touchdown in the third quarter and Webber found Chase Krivashei for a 30-yard scoring pass in the fourth. Webber completed 14 of 22 for 195 yards and two touchdowns with Krivashei caught eight balls for 90 yards. Gardner carried 28 times for 136 yards. Lane completed 23 of 36 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns to lead Central Washington. Zalk finished with 215 all-purpose yards, including seven catches for 131 yards. Humboldt State outgained CWU in total offense 430 to 384.

WESTERN OREGON 37, AT SIMON FRASER 26
BURNABY, B.C. - Once again, Western Oregon used heroics at the end to secure their fourth straight game in a 37-26 victory over Simon Fraser at Swangard Stadium. The Wolves led 31-26 in a close contest before Malik Braxton broke off a GNAC record 99-yard run for a touchdown with 8:05 to go close scoring. The defenses closed the game down from there as each stopped three late drives by either team. The final margin was the largest of the game. The Wolves took a 14-7 lead on a 75-yard scoring run by Braxton with 8:42 left in the first quarter, but the Clan came back to take a 17-14 lead on Ryan Stanford’s 75-yard scoring pass to Justin Buren with 10:05 left in the first half. The two teams then traded field goals as the Clan went into halftime with a 20-17 lead. Western Oregon netted the next two scores with Trey Shimabukuro finding Paul Revis for a 56-yard scoring strike with 4:11 left in the third and then found Kamakana Apelu for a 50-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds gone in the fourth. Stanford brought SFU within 31-26 when he found Andrew Pauls for a two-yard touchdown pass with 12:22 to go. Simon Fraser pinned the Wolves at the one-yard line on a punt with 8:30 to go when braxton pulled off his record winning run. Braxton ran for 176 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns. Shimabukuro, competing for the first time in four games, completed 5 of 10 for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Revis caught five passes for 104 yards. Stanford completed 31 of 57 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns to lead Simon Fraser. Buren caught seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown while Earl Anderson caught seven for 107 yards and a score. The teams were close to even in total offense with Western Oregon outgaining Simon Fraser 449 to 429.

AT AZUSA PACIFIC 56, SOUTH DAKOTA MINES 27
GLENDORA, Calif. - Despite playing again without starting quarterback Chad Jeffries, Azusa Pacific cruised in a battle between two of the league’s top offenses, beating South Dakota Mines 56-27 at Citrus Stadium. Andrew Elffers proved a potent quarterback option as he completed 6 of 13 for 192 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 98 yards and three more scored in the win. The Cougars outgained the Hardrockers in total offense 573 to 404. Azusa Pacific scored four of the game first five touchdowns, with Elffers rushing in from six-yards out to give the Cougars a 28-7 lead with 10:11 left in the first half. South Dakota Mines made it a 28-14 game when Devin Nixon rushed in for a five-yard touchdowns with 3:57 left before Ethan Zeidler caught a 57-yard tocuhdown pass with 1:31 left in the half for a 35-14 APU lead at the break. The Hardrockers scored the second half’s first touchdown as Trent McKinney scored on a five-yard run, but Azusa Pacific scored three consecutive touchdowns to close out the game. Kurt Scoby led APU in rushing with 197 yards on 18 carries. Jacob Hall tied the Azusa Pacific single game record by going 8 for 8 in point-after attempts. McKinney completed 10 of 14 passes for 79 yards and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Jake Sullivan completed 11 of 16 for 72 yards. Anthony Wright led the Hardrocker in rushing with 73 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
• Azusa Pacific won the battle between two of the conference’s best offenses, finishing with 573 yards of total offense in a 56-27 win over South Dakota Mines. It was the Cougars’ best single game offensive performance since joining the GNAC in 2012.

• The offensive total included a season-high 381 rushing yards. Freshman running back Kurt Scoby led the way with 197 yards on 18 carries. He surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, giving APU their fifth 1,000-plus yard rusher in as many seasons.

• Quarterback Andrew Elffers also had a standout performance, completing 6 of 13 for 182 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.

• Junior rover Jonathan Thropay was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after he led the Azusa Pacific defense with 15 tackles (6 solo, 9 assists). He was one of three APU players to finish with double-digit tackles. Thropay enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 8.4 tackles per game.

• Kicker Jacob Hall tied an Azusa Pacific single game record by going 8 for 8 on point-after attempts. He is 31 of 36 this season on point-after attempts.

• Scoby enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and 15th in Division II with 130.4 rushing yards per game. He is also ranked ninth in Division II in total rushing yards (1,043), 10th in yards per carry (7.29) and 22nd in rushing touchdowns (10). Scoby is also ranked third in the GNAC with 151.6 all-purpose yards per game.

• As a team, Azusa Pacific leads the GNAC in total defense (362.2 yards allowed per game), pass defense (137.1 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (104.7) and is ranked second scoring defense (25 points allowed per game) and kickoff returns (22.4 yards per return).

• In the NCAA Division II statistics, Azusa Pacific is fourth in blocked punts (3), fifth in passing yards per completion (16.12), sixth in passing yards allowed, 16th in punt return defense (3.50 yards per return), 20th in fumbles lost (4) and 22nd in rushing offense and pass efficiency defense.

• Azusa Pacific has two remaining games. The Cougars will play at Western Oregon on Saturday before ending the season on Nov. 14 when they host Simon Fraser.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington took their third loss in a row on Saturday as Humboldt State held the Wildcats to just two touchdowns in a 42-17 home loss to the Lumberjacks.

• The Wildcats finished with 384 yards of total offense, 336 of which came in the air. Quarterback Justin Lane completed 23 of 36 passes for the 336 yards and two touchdowns. Lane enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 214 passing yards per game and 213.3 yards of total offense per game. Lane is also third in the league in pass efficiency (136.2).

• Wide receiver/return specialist Jesse Zalk had another outstanding game, finishing with 215 all-purpose yards. He caught seven passes for 131 yards and a touchdown and returned four kicks for 86 yards. Zalk has taken over the GNAC lead in all-purpose yards and ranks second in Division II with 210.6 yards per game. He also leads the GNAC and is 27th in Division II with 90.1 receiving yards per game.

• Punter Jonathan Kuhn was named the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 40.4 yards per punt on four punts against Humboldt State. Two of his punts inside the 20 and had a long punt of 60 yards. Kuhn enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in punting with an average of 37 yards per punt.

• Central Washington enters the week ranked first in the GNAC and 14th in Division II in kickoff returns, averaging 24.2 yards per return. The Wildcats are also ranked sixth in Division II in fourth down conversion defense (.188) and 24th in blocked kicks allowed (10) and passing yards per completion (14.48).

• In the GNAC statistics, Central Washington is first in passing offense (251.6 yards per game) and second in passing defense (175.6 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency defense (119.5). The Wildcats are also third in pass efficiency (133.7) and total defense (382.9 yards allowed per game).

• Central Washington will enjoy a bye week this week. They finish the season at Simon Fraser on Fri., Nov. 6 and hosting Dixie State on Sat., Nov. 14.

DIXIE STATE
• Dixie State enjoyed some rest with a bye last week. The Red Storm will conclude their final GNAC season with three straight GNAC games, starting with a road contest at South Dakota Mines on Saturday.

• Dixie State will be looking for their third win of the season. Their last win came on Oct. 10 when they scored a 38-35 road victory at Simon Fraser.

• Senior running back DeJon Coleman enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in both all-purpose yards (143.3 yards per game) and rushing (76.6 yards per game).

• Quarterback Tyson Blackner enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with an average of 108.5 yards per game and is seventh in total offense at 133.2 yards per game. Blackner has passed for 651 yards this season and rushed for 148 more.

• Sophomore defensive back Colton Olson is ranked second in the GNAC in tackles with 10.1 per game and is third in total tackles with 71. Freshman Brandon Sloss is third in the league in fumbles forced (0.29 per game) while junior Josh Symonette is second in fubles recovered (0.33 per game).

• This is Dixie State’s final season as a GNAC football member. The Red Storm will move to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) for the 2016 season.

HUMBOLDT STATE
• Humboldt State returned to conference play with a solid win, rolling up 430 yards of total offense in a 42-17 win at Central Washington.

• With the win, Humboldt State climbed one spot to No. 15 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and three spots to No. 17 in the D2Football.com Poll. In the first round of NCAA regional rankings, the Lumberjacks were ranked No. 2 in Super Region 3 and were the only GNAC team ranked.

• With a win over Simon Fraser, Humboldt State would clinch at least a share of their first GNAC title since 2011. A Humboldt State win, combined with a Western Oregon loss, would give the Lumberjacks the outright championship.

• Ja’Quan Gardner continued to lead Humboldt State in rushing, finishing with 136 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. While Gardner is now second in the GNAC in all-purpose yards (199.4 yards per game), he continues to lead the league in rushing (195.6 yards per game) and scoring (15.4 points per game). In the NCAA Division II stats, Gardner leads the nation in rushing yards per game and scoring, is second in total rushing yards (1.375) and rushing touchdowns (18), third in all-purpose yards and 18th in rushing yards per carry (6.84).

• Receiver Chase Krivashei led the Humboldt State receiving corps with 90 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. His touchdown came on a 30-yard reception from Robert Webber in the fourth quarter. Krivashei enters the week leading the GNAC with 5.71 receptions per game and is fourth with 70.3 receiving yards per game. In the NCAA Division II stats, Krivashei is 11th in receiving touchdowns with nine.

• Defensively, Chris Hannible is tied for seventh in Division II with 0.7 interceptions per game. Ahmad Logan is ranked second in the GNAC with 0.56 sacks per game while Cameron Buell is third in the GNAC with 1.50 tackles for loss per game.

• Humboldt State enters the week leading the GNAC and is fourth in Division II with 43.1 points per game. The Lumberjacks also lead the GNAC and are ninth in Division II with 277.7 rushing yards per game and lead the GNAC and are 21st in total offense at 475.7 yards per game. Humboldt State also leads the GNAC in pass efficiency (156.6), scoring defense (20.9 points allowed per game), rushing defense (124.6 yards allowed per game) and turnover margin (+8).

• The Lumberjacks are also ranked in the Division II top-10 in fumbles lost (2nd, 2) and turnovers lost (7th, 1.14).

• The Lumberjacks rushed for 498 yards of total offense against South Dakota Mines on Oct. 3, bettering the GNAC record of 482 set by Auzsa Pacific vs. Menlo on Nov. 15, 2014. They also equaled the GNAC record of seven rushing touchdowns set by the Cougars vs. Dixie State on Oct. 18, 2014. Humboldt State finished the game with 641 yards of total offense.

• Saturday’s game against Simon Fraser is their Lumberjacks’ last home game of the regular season. They will play their final two games on the road.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser came close to their first win of the season, but came up short as Western Oregon scored three touchdowns in the second half to beat the Clan 37-26.

• The Clan was quite competitive offensively, finishing with 429 yards of total offense in the game. Quarterback Ryan Stanford accounted for the majority of those yards as he completed 31 of 57 for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Stanford enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in total offense (215.2 yards per game) and second in passing (234.3 yards per game).

• Receiver Justin Buren caught seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown while Earl Anderson finished with 107 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Buren is ranked second in the GNAC in receiving (77 yards per game) while Anderson is ranked ninth (42.7 yards per game).

• Running back Ante Milanovic-Litre led the ground game with 97 yards on 18 carries. Milanovic-Litre enters the week ranked sixth in the GANC with four receptions per game.

• Justin Herdman led Simon Fraser with 10 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, while Jordan Herdman finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Jordan Herdman continues to lead the GNAC with 13 tackles per game while Justin Herdman is fourth at 9.2 per game. Just is also second in the GNAC in tackles for loss (1.75 per game) and forced fumbles (0.33 per game).

• Simon Fraser will play two of their final three games of the season on the road. Their lone remaining home game is a Fri., Nov. 6 matchup with Central Washington.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
• South Dakota Mines was on the losing end of a match-up of highly potent offenses, dropping a 56-27 decision at Azusa Pacific.

• The Hardrockers finished with 404 yards of total offense, but went 4 of 8 in red zone scoring oppportunities. They were also just 5 for 15 on third down conversions.

• Anthony Wright led the Hardrockers in rushing, finishing with 73 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Trent McKinney completed 10 of 14 passes for 79 yards and also rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Devin Nixon had 66 yards on 17 carries.

• McKinney and Jake Sullivan threw to 11 different receivers. Zach Huber was the top target with 44 yards on five receptions.

• Martin Rodriguez continues to lead the GNAC and is ranked 19th in Division II in punting, averaging 41.3 yards per punt. Rodriguez punted four times against Azusa Pacific for 181 yards, averaging 45.3 yards per punt.

• South Dakota Mines enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in scoring offense (32.6 points per game), rushing offense (229.6 yards per game), total offense (436.5 yards per game) and kickoff returns (22 yards per return). The Hardrockers are also first in punt return average, averaging 14.4 yards per return.

• In the Division II stats, South Dakota Mines is fourth in blocked punts (3), sixth in fewest penalrty yards per game (38.25), seventh in fewest penalty yards (306), ninth in fewest penalties (38) and fewest penalties per game (4.75) and13th in first downs (201).

• This is South Dakota Mines’ final season in the GNAC. The Hardrockers will join the RMAC for the 2016 season.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon once again waited until late to secure their fourth win in a row to take a 37-26 victory fat Simon Fraser.

• Freshman Malik Braxton secured the win with a GNAC record 99-yard touchdown run with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter. Braxton was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after he rushed for 176 yarda and two touchdowns on 13 carries, caught two passes for 10 yards and threw a pass for 23 yards and a touchdown. Braxton enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC with 61.2 rushing yards per game.

• Quarterback Trey Shimabukuro returned to the WOU lineup and completed 5 of 10 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

• Paul Revis led the WOU receivers with five receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 136.9 all-purpose yards per game and third with 72.8 receiving yards per game. Revis is first in the GNAC and 10th in Division II with 15 yards per punt return. He is also ranked 28th in combined kick returns with 498 yards.

• Senior Shane Kuenzi lead the WOU defense with 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 9.6 tackles per game and leads the GNAC with 0.38 forced fumbles per game. Kuenzi is ranked 16th in Division II with 6.1 solo tackles per game.

• Senior Myles Carelock enters the week ranked 24th in Division II with 0.5 interceptions per game. He is also tied for first in the GNAC in passes defended with 1.38 passes defended per game. Senior Max Jackson leads the league in tackles for loss with 1.38 per game.

• As a team, Western Oregon is second in the GNAC in rushing defense (133.2 yards allowed per game), punt return average (13.1 yards per return) and punting (33.2 yards per punt).

• Western Oregon will play their final three games at home, ending with a Nov. 14 non-conference rematch with Humboldt State.