Thursday, November 19, 2015

It has been a long time in coming, but the Great Northwest Athletic Conference is back in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs.

After a five-year absence, the GNAC is represented by Humboldt State in the 28-team tournament. Finishing as the No. 4 ranked team in Super Region 3, the Lumberjacks will host Augustana (S.D.) on Saturday, 1 p.m., at the Redwood Bowl in Arcata, Calif. Not only is it the GNAC’s first playoff appearance since 2009, but is it also the Lumberjacks’ first appearance in the postseason since 1968.

Humboldt State is also the first team not from Ellensburg, Wash., to represent the GNAC in the football playoffs. Central Washington appeared as the GNAC representative in 2001, 2008 and 2009.

The Lumberjacks enter the game as one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the nation. Led by GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore running back Ja’Quan Gardner, Humboldt State is third in scoring offense at 44.5 points per game, sixth in total offense at 493.1 yards per game and seventh in rushing offense at 295.9 yards per game.

Gardner enters the week as the Division II leader with 209.1 all-purpose yards per game, 1,996 rushing yards and 199.6 rushing yards per game.

Humboldt State rolled rather easily through the GNAC, claiming their first football championship since 2010 with a 6-0 conference mark and a 9-1 overall record. The Lumberjacks outscored opponents by an average of 26.2 points per game, scoring 30 or more points in seven of their 10 games. Only one conference team, Western Oregon, kept games close. The Wolves lost 29-20 in the season opener on Sept. 5 and fell 29-13 in the season finale.

Humboldt State’s only loss of the season was a 35-10 defeat at Midwestern State (Texas) on Oct. 10. Midwestern State is in the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Super Region 4.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Ja’Quan Gardner, Humboldt State
RB • 5-9 • 160 • Sophomore • Ceres, Calif.

Gardner completed an outstanding regular season by carrying 38 times for 261 yards, including 183 in the first half, and two touchdowns as the Lumberjacks beat Western Oregon 29-13. Gardner enters the Division II playoffs leading the nation in all-purpose yards (209.1 yards per game) and rushing yards (199.6 yards per game). Also Nominated: Ben Broeker (South Dakota Mines), DeJon Coleman (Dixie State), Blake Robertson (Azusa Pacific).

DEFENSE
John Tyler, South Dakota Mines
SS • 5-9 • 190 • Senior • Tampa, Fla.

Tyler finished with four tackles, recovered a pair of fumbles (one of which led to a South Dakota Mines touchdown) and had an interception and return for 19 yards as the Hardrockers finished their GNAC run with a 35-14 non-conference win over William Jewell. Also Nominated: Tyree Davis (Azusa Pacific), Donte Haddock (Humboldt State), Robert Metz (Dixie State), George Swartzlender (Western Oregon).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Cameron Southward, Humboldt State
K • 6-1 • 185 • Junior • Auburn, Calif.

Southward went 3 for 3 on field goals in windy conditions, connecting on opportunities of 30 yards, 37 yards and 47 yards in the Lumberjacks’ 29-13 win at Western Oregon. He also went 2 for 2 on point-after attempts. Also Nominated: Jason Diffee (Central Washington), Robbie Gerarden (South Dakota Mines), Tarik Myles (Azusa Pacific).

AROUND THE GNAC
GARDNER, HERDMAN LEAD ALL-GNAC TEAM: For the second straight season, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s top offensive player is one of the most dynamic running backs in the nation. And for the second straight year, the top defensive players comes from north of the border.

Humboldt State sophomore running back Ja’Quan Gardner was the unanimous selection of conference coaches as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year while Simon Fraser junior linebacker Jordan Herdman was the unanimous repeat selection as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. The two headline the selections to the 2015 GNAC Football All-Conference Team, released on Nov. 18.

Gardner was the prime mover in Humboldt State’s run to the GNAC championship and the Lumberjacks’ first postseason appearance since 1968. The sophomore finished the regular season leading Division II with 209.1 all-purpose yards per game, 1,996 rushing yards, 199.6 rushing yards per game and 13.8 points per game. He finished with 200-plus yard rushing performances in five games, topped by a 305-yard effort against Azusa Pacific on Oct. 10.

Herdman was the coaches’ selection for Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The junior led the GNAC and finished the regular season ranked fifth in Division II with an average of 14.8 tackles per game. He also led the league in tackles for loss and was ranked third in Division II with eight solo tackles per game. Herdman’s season was capped by a 26-tackle performance against Humboldt State on Oct. 31, one short of his own GNAC single game record. He set a conference record with 17 solo tackles in that contest.

The Lumberjacks, the first GNAC squad to appear in the NCAA Division II Playoffs since 2009, claimed 15 spots on the first and second teams and all but two of the conference’s special awards. Sophomore Alex Cappa was the unanimous choice for Offensive Lineman of the Year, winning the award for the second straight season. Senior Dillon Huffman was named the league’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and junior defensive back Chris Hannible was named the Newcomer of the Year.

Cappa led a stellar Humboldt State offensive line that allowed just 0.9 sacks per game, eighth best in Division II, and allowed the offense an average of 493.1 yards per game, sixth best in Division II. Huffman and Hannible anchored a Lumberjacks’ defense that finished 25th in Division II with 8.1 tackles for loss per game and held teams to 17.3 points per game, 13th best in the nation. Hannible led the GNAC with six interceptions and finished sixth in Division II with 0.8 interceptions per game.

Humboldt State’s Rob Smith was named the GNAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. He shared the honors with Azusa Pacific’s Victor Santa Cruz in 2014. Smith has now won six GNAC Coach of the Year honors, four at Humboldt State (2010, 2011, 2014 & 2015) and two at Western Washington (2001 & 2003).

Azusa Pacific running back Kurt Scoby was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year. Scoby finished second to Gardner in the GNAC and ranked 27th in Division II in rushing, averaging 110.3 yards per game. Scoby also finished the season ranked 32nd in Division with a total of 1,108 rushing yards.

This year’s GNAC All-Conference Team features 29 unanimous selections, including all but one player on the defensive first team. Eighteen players are repeat selections to the squad. Repeating as first team selections are Cappa, Herdman, Western Oregon wide receiver Paul Revis, Central Washington kick returner Jesse Zalk and Wildcats’ linebacker Kevin Haynes. Revis and Zalk were named to the first team as both wide receivers and return specialists.

Three players were named to the team for the third consecutive year: Zalk at kick returner, Humboldt State wide receiver Chase Krivashei and Western Oregon linebacker Shane Kuenzi.

A LONG AWAITED RETURN: It has been six years since the GNAC has been represented in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. This year is the fourth time in the conference’s 15-year history that the GNAC has been represented in the playoffs, and it is the first year that the league representive hasn’t been Central Washington. The Wildcats have have appeared as the GNAC representative each of those previous three years, going 1-3. The Wildcats had the GNAC’s only playoff win in 2009, beating Tarleton State 27-6 in a game played in Ellensburg, Wash.

Central Washington also made the postseason in 2007, advancing that year to the quarterfinals. The GNAC’s football programs played in 2006 and 2007 as members of the North Central Conference.

Humboldt State, meanwhile will be making their playoff appearance in football since 1968, when the Lumberjacks beat Fresno State 29-14 in the Camelia Bowl to win the NCAA Pacific Coast Championship. Humboldt hosted a NAIA playoff game in 1960, beating Whitworth 13-7 to advance to the NAIA Championship game in St. Petersburg, Fla., where they lost 15-14 in Lenoir Rhyne in the  Holiday Bowl (no relation to the game of the same name currently played in San Diego).

MAN ON THE RUN: Few thought that the amazing season of Azusa Pacific’s Tyrell Watson would be equaled for some time. Those same people likely were not watching Humboldt State’s Ja’Quan Gardner. The sophomore was selected as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and enters the playoffs as the top running back by the numbers in Division II.

Gardner enters the game with Augustana (S.D.) leading Division II with 1,996 rushing yards, an average of 199.6 rushing yards per game and an average of 209.10 all-purpose yards per game. Gardner is also second in rushing touchdowns with 23. Gardner has eight games this season with 150 rushing yards or more and four of 200 yards or more, led by a 305-yard performance against Azusa Pacific on Oct. 10. He tied GNAC single game records for rushing touchdowns (5) and scoring (30) against South Dakota Mines on Oct. 2.

As he enters the playoffs, Gardner finds himself within reach of a number of GNAC single-season records that Watson set last season. He needs just 157 yards to break Watson’s record of 2,153 rushing yards and is on pace to break his records of 195.7 rushing yards per game and 6.7 yards per rush.

DEFENDING THE NORTH: It may not make sense to have the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year come from an 0-9 team, but the conference coaches were all in agreement that Simon Fraser’s Jordan Herdman was the right choice. He not only repeated as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, but was a unanimous choice.

Herdman, a junior linebacker, led the GNAC with 133 total tackles and an average of 14.8 tackles per game. He combined with his twin brother, Justin, to account for nearly a third of the Clan’s total tackles. Jordan finished his season ranked fifth in Division II in total tackles and third in solo tackles, averaging eight per game.

Jordan came up one tackle short of tying his own GNAC single game record with his 26 tackles against Humboldt State on Oct. 31. He did, however, set a new record in that game with 17 solo tackles, smashing the mark of 13 that was set in 2002.

CHOPPING AT THE NATIONAL STATS: Humboldt State is all over the place in the NCAA Division II statistics. The Lumberjacks are ranked in the top-30 as a team in 21 statistical categories. They lead the nation in fumbles lost, having given up just two all season. Humboldt is third in scoring offense (44.5 points per game), sixth in total offense (493.1 yards per game) and turnover margin (1.40), seventh in rushing offense (295.9 yards per game) and eighth in sacks allowed (0.9 per game).

Among other team entries in the top-10, Central Washington is second in fourth down conversion percentage (.211) and seventh in kickoff returns (26.14 yards per return). South Dakota Mines is third in blocked punts (5). Simon Fraser is eighth in fewest penalty yards (414) and Azusa Pacific is second in passing yards allowed (133.1 yards allowed per game).

CLEAN MACHINES: Not only can GNAC teams play football well, but do well within the rules. Five of the GNAC’s seven teams rank in the NCAA top-100 in fewest penalty yards per game. South Dakota Mines took the fewest flags in the league, ranking 13th with 54 penalties assessed and 41.73 penalty yards per game. Simon Fraser took the fewest total penalty yards, ranking eighth with 414.

WHAT’S NEXT: The winner of Saturday’s game will travel to Maryville, Mo., on Nov. 28 to take on Northwest Missouri State. The champions of the MIAA with an unblemished 11-0 record, the Bearcats earned the No. 1 seed in Super Region 3 and are ranked No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the D2Football.com Top-25 Poll.

HARDROCKERS, RED STORM BID FAREWELL: With last weekend’s games, the GNAC bids farewell to affiliate members South Dakota Mines and Dixie State. The Hardrockers played the last two seasons in the GNAC while the Red Storm had been a football-only member of the GNAC since 2008. Both programs will compete in football in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Confertence beginning in 2016.