Wednesday, November 16, 2016

After a 33-24 loss at Colorado Mesa on Saturday, Azusa Pacific’s chances to make the NCAA Division II Playoffs was on the ropes.

Thankfully, the ropes swung the Cougars back into the ring. The No. 7 seed in Super Region 3, Azusa Pacific will make its first appearance in the NCAA Division II postseason on Saturday when they travel to face Sioux Falls.

With a 9-2 overall record, the Cougars’ body of work certainly worked to convince the committee they were worthy of selection. Azusa Pacific enters the tournament averaging 37.6 points per game, 26th in Division II.

Defensively, the Panthers will have their hands full with the Cougars. Azusa Pacific is second in Division II with seven defensive touchdowns, 23 interceptions and 4.55 sacks per game. The Cougars’ have limited opponents to 14.4 points per game, fifth best in Division II.

While Azusa Pacific may hold the edge defensively, Sioux Falls is potent offensively. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champions enter the season seed No. 2 in Super Region 3 and ranked No. 4 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Panthers are averaging an impressive 532 yards of total offense per game, 323 of which comes on the ground.

Max Mickey is the Panthers’ top running back, averaging 140.9 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Luke Papilion leads the offense with an average of 183.8 passing yards per game, but has also been intercepted 12 times, which could play to Azusa Pacific’s favor.

The other four GNAC teams saw its seasons come to a close on Saturday. Central Washington closed the season with a 7-3 overall record and a 6-2 GNAC mark with a 37-30 win over Humboldt State. Western Oregon capped its season with its third road win of the year, a 40-13 victory at Simon Fraser.

AZUSA PACIFIC IN THE POSTSEASON: Azusa Pacific enters the game 10-7 all-time in postseason competitions, including their time as a NAIA member. The Cougars last made the playoffs in 2011, their final year as a NAIA program. That year, the Cougars beat Ottawa (Kan.) 49-26 before falling in the second round to Carroll (Mont.), 17-14. Azusa Pacific won the 1998 NAIA national championship, a run that included a 35-28 win over now GNAC rival Central Washington.

While this is their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, this is not Azusa Pacific’s first postseason game since joining the GNAC. The Cougars earned an invitational to the NCCAA Victory Bowl in 2013, defeating Greenville 67-0.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Justin Lane, Central Washington
QB • 6-1 • 211 • Senior • Battle Ground, Wash.

Lane threw for a Central Washington single-game record of 469 yards to end the season with a 37-30 win over Humboldt State. He completed 28 of 36 passes for the 469 yards with three touchdowns. Lane broke the previous passing record of 467 yards set by Beau Baldwin in 1991.

Also Nominated: Kurt Scoby (Azusa Pacific), Nick Duckworth (Western Oregon), Marjani Ellison (Humboldt State).

DEFENSE
Sean Elledge, Central Washington
LB • 6-0 • 221 • Junior • Monroe, Wash.

Elledge led the Central Washington defensive effort with 17 tackles, including seven solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, a half-sack and a forced fumble in the Wildcats’ 37-30 win over Humboldt State.

Also Nominated: C.J. Broussard (Azusa Pacific), Bo Highburger (Western Oregon).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Cameron Southward, Humboldt State
K • 6-1 • 200 • Senior • Auburn, Calif.

Southward went 3 for 4 on field goals, connecting on a long attempt of 38 yards, and went 3 for 3 on point-after attempts in the Lumberjacks’ 37-30 loss to Central Washington.

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
• A string of three third quarter touchdowns was not enough for Azusa Pacific to complete a comeback Saturday as the Cougars fell 33-24 at Colorado Mesa.

• Despite the loss, APU remained in the national rankings. The Cougars are tied for 24th in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, dropping 11 spots, and fell to No. 23 in the D2Football.com Poll.

• Azusa Pacific won the total offense battle, finishing with 396 yards, but went 0 for 14 on third down conversions and 3 of 4 on fourth down conversions. The Cougars did convert on 4 of 5 red zone opportunities.

• Quarterback Andrew Elffers completed 10 of 26 passes for 111 yards. He did not throw for a touchdown, but he also rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Elffers enters the playoffs third in the GNAC with 212.5 yards of total offense per game and 182.5 passing yards per game. His pass efficiency rating of 159.5 is 16th in Division II.

• Running back Kurt Scoby put together his best performance of the season, carrying 24 times for 211 yards and a touchdown. The performance allowed Scoby to move up to second in the GNAC in rushing with 60.4 yards per game.

• Safety Aaron Berry and cornerback CJ Broussard led the APU defense with 11 tackles and a half-sack apiece. Berry enters the playoffs fourth in the GNAC with 8.9 tackles per game. Broussard, meanwhile, leads the GNAC and is 25th in Division II with 0.5 interceptions per game.

• The Cougars continue to have a strong defense. Azusa Pacific leads Division II in red zone defense with a .500 percentage and in turnovers gained with 33. They are also second in interceptions (23) and team sacks (4.55 per game) and fifth in scoring defense (14.4 points per game).

• On offense, Azusa Pacific leads the GNAC in scoring offense (37.6 points per game) and kickoff returns (26.3 yards per return) and is second in rushing offense (143.5 yards per game) and pass efficiency (162.1). In the Division II stats, APU is third in kickoff returns, 14th in pass efficiency and 26th in scoring offense.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington used a pair of second half touchdowns to hold off a potential comeback by Humboldt State, beating the Lumberjacks 37-30 in the season finale in Ellensburg.

• Quarterback Justin Lane was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after he completed 28 of 36 passes for a school-record 469 yards and three touchdowns. He broke the record of 467 yards passing set in 1991 by Beau Baldwin (now Esastern Washington head coach). Lane finished the season averaging 265.3 yards per game, second in the GNAC. His pass efficiency rating of 169.0 is ninth in Division II.

• Linebacker Sean Elledge was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after he finished with 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a half-sack and a forced fumble. Fellow linebacker Kevin Haynes also had 17 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Haynes finishes the season third in the GNAC and 18th in Division II with 10.9 tackles per game. Haynes also leads the GNAC and is 10th in Division II with 1.9 tackles for loss per game.

• Justin Peterson was Lane’s top offensive target with 148 receiving yards on six catches. Jesse Zalk caught five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns with Nate Rauda caught six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Zalk finished the season second in the GNAC with 102.9 receiving yards per game and third with 154.2 all-purpose yards per game. Zalk is also sixth in Division II with his 15 receiving touchdowns.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC in passing offense (303.7 yards per game), pass efficency (166.1), rushing defense (81.3 yards allowed per game) and opponent first downs (189) and is second in total offense (433.2 yards per game), scoring defense (20.5 points allowed per game), total defense (340 yards allowed per game) and pass defense efficiency (125.4).

• In the Division II stats, Central Washington leads the nation with 10.7 tackles for loss per game.The Wildcats are also fifth in fourth down conversion defense (.500) and ninth in passing yards per completion (15.82).

HUMBOLDT STATE
• Humboldt State’s season ended with a loss as a second half rally fell short in a 37-30 loss at Central Washington.

• Quarterback Robert Webber had another big game offensively to end the season, completing 41 of 60 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns. He led an effort that saw the Lumberjacks finish with 524 yards of total offense. Webber finishes the season leading the GNAC with 292.5 yards of total offense and 297.3 passing yards per game.Webber also ranks ninth in Division II in passing yards per game.

• Kicker Cameron Southward was named the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after he went 3 for 4 on field goal attempts and 3 for 3 on point-after opportunities. Southward finished the season leading the GNAC as he went 9 for 15 in field goals and averaged 6.8 points kicking per game.

• Wide receiver Marjani Ellison finished with his biggest performance of the season, catching 13 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Ellison finishes the season 76.1 receiving yards per game, third in the GNAC. He is also sixth in the GNAC with 76.1 all-purpose yards per game.

• Running back Ja’Quan Gardner saw his season end quietly, carrying the ball 25 times for 52 yards and catching seven passes for 44 yards. Gardner closes the season leading the GNAC and ranking 13th in Division II with 118.2 rushing yards per game. He is also second in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with 159.9 all-purpose yards per game.

• Humboldt State closes the season leading the GNAC in rushing offense (157.6 yards per game), total offense (460.2 yards per game), first downs (273), punting (35.5 yards per punt) and field goals (.625, 10 for 16).

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser closed it season with one of its better offensive performances of the season, finishing with 243 yards of total offense in a 40-13 loss at home to Western Oregon.

• Quarterback Miles Richardson completed 29 of 50 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown, a 4-yard scoring pass to Rysen John late in the second quarter. Richardson finished season fourth in the GNAC with 160 passing yards per game.

• Linebacker Jordan Herdman completed his standout GNAC career with eight tackles and one tackle for loss. The GNAC all-time leader in tackles, Herdman finished the season leading the GNAC and ranked ninth in Division II with 11.3 tackles per game. Herdman finished his career with 429 tackles and 224 assisted tackles, both GNAC career records.

• Wide receiver Justin Buren finished the season with just one catch for 35 yards. Buren finishes ranked fifth in the GNAC with 63 receiving yards per game.

• Simon Fraser finished the season ranked eighth in Division II with 14 fumbles recovered, 21st with 8.7 team tackles for loss per game and 25th with five blocked kicks.

• Wide receiver Gavin Cobb ends the season ranked third in Division II with 909 combined kick return yards. He finished third in the GNAC with 20.2 yards per kick return.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon finished with just 280 yards of total offense, but made the most of every one of those yards to end the year with a 40-13 win at Simon Fraser.

• Quarterback Nick Duckworth has his best individual performance of the season, completing 22 of 36 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Part of a two-quarterback system for the Wolves much of the season, Duckworth finishes the year averaging 182 yards per game.

• Jack Suarez was Duckworth’s top target on offense, catching six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Paul Revis caught eight passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.

• Revis finished the season leading the GNAC and ranking sixth in Division II with 179.2 all-purpose yards per game. He also leads the league and is 13th in Division II with 105.7 receiving yards per game. In addition, Revis leads Division II with 24.3 yards per kick return.

• Bo Highburger finished strong for the Wolves with 19 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. Highburger finishes the season second in the GNAC and 11th in Division II with 11.1 tackles per game and is also 11th in Division II with 6.3 solo tackles per game.

• As a team, Western Oregon finishes the season leading the GNAC and third in Division II with 22.06 yards per punt return. The Wolves finished the year with 338.9 yards of total offense per game.