Tuesday, October 28, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – After earning Top 10 rankings in the first official NCAA Division II Super Regional III poll of the season, Azusa Pacific and Humboldt State face must-win situations Saturday.

The Cougars (7-1, 4-0) risk their No. 5 regional ranking and a six-game winning streak at home against Western Oregon (4-4, 2-1).  Meanwhile, eighth-ranked Humboldt State (6-1, 2-1) travels to Burnaby, B.C. for a road game with Simon Fraser (2-6, 2-2).

Though its not an absolute certainty, both the Cougars and Lumberjacks will likely need to win all of their remaining games to receive consideration as one of the 24 teams (six from each of the four super regionals) to receive bids to the NCAA Division II Football Championships.

The championships begin Saturday, Nov. 22 with eight first-round games.  The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each region receive byes with the No. 3 seeds and No. 6 seeds and the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds  playing each other.

Azusa Pacific, which is ranked 24th in this week’s AFCA Top 25 national poll, is the highest ranked of the six one-loss teams in this week’s regional poll.

Humboldt State was among “others receiving votes” in this week’s AFCA poll and is 30^th overall.

Two other games are also on this week’s schedule as South Dakota Mines (1-7, 0-4) visits Dixie State (1-7, 0-3) and Central Washington (4-4, 3-2) hosts Lincoln, Mo., in a non-conference contest.

Watson Continues Assault on GNAC Record Book

Azusa Pacific running back Terrell Watson continued his assault on the GNAC record book Saturday rushing for 206 yards and three touchdowns.  It was his 22nd career 100-yard game and seventh career 200-yard game. Both are GNAC records.

The three touchdowns were his 53rd, 54th and 55th in three seasons in the GNAC, breaking the conference record of 54 set by Central Washington wide receiver Johnny Spevak between 2006 and 2009.

Watson also tied the GNAC career scoring record of 330 points set by CWU kicker Garrett Rolsma between 2006 and 2009.

Watson also extended his own career record for rushing  yards.  He now has 4,389, more than 1,500 yards more than the runnerup.

Counting his freshman season prior to APU joining the GNAC, Watson now has 5,086 career rushing yards.

From The Record Book

South Dakota Mines quarterback Trent McKinney gained a GNAC-record 535 yards in the Hardrockers’ 52-30 loss to Azusa Pacific.  McKinney passed for 481 yards and also ran for 54 to break his own GNAC record of 503 he set earlier this season against William Jewell.  He’s the only player in GNAC history to gain 500 yards in a single game.

CWU’s Cedrique Chaney earned his 28th career pass breakup in CWU’s 38-20 loss at Humboldt State, tying the GNAC record set by Albert Meza of Western Oregon between 1999 and 2001.  CWU’s Isaiah Davis ranks sixth with 21.

CWU’s Sean McDonald had his streak of extra points made end at 62, missing after CWU’s second touchdown. 

That enabled Humboldt State’s Matt Bruder to move ahead of McDonald as the GNAC all-time leader for PAT percentage.  Bruder made five of five to increase his career percentage to 97.1 (133-137).  McDonald has made 65 of 67 (97.0 percent).

Nationally Speaking

Watson continues to lead all of college football in rushing with a 185.6 per game average.  He also ranks third in Division II in scoring (15.0) and sixth in all-purpose running (201.0).

Paul Revis of Western Oregon ranks third nationally in all-purpose running averaging 205.1 yards per game.  He is on pace to smash the current GNAC record of 167.2.  Revis also ranks eighth nationally in receiving (112.8).

Also ranked in the Top 10 this week are Alex Markarian of Humboldt State, second in sacks (1.43); Jordan Herdman of Simon Fraser, eighth in tackles (12.8) and Tovar Sanchez of Central Washington, third in tackles for losses (2.3) and seventh in sacks (1.19).

Western Oregon’s Ryan Bergman ranks eighth in passing yards (330.0). Tyree Davis of Azusa Pacific is ninth in kickoff returns (31.0), and Gianni Olivas of Humboldt State, is 10th in punt returns (16.8).

Team wise, Humboldt State is the national leader in sacks (4.29) and third down defense (.229).  The  Lumberjacks also rank second in fourth down defense (.167), sixth in punt returns (18.24), seventh in pass efficiency defense (89.5) and eighth in total defense (282.7).

Azusa Pacific ranks third in fourth down conversions (.800) and  fourth in team sacks (3.75). Central Washington ranks sixth in kickoff returns (25.48). Simon Fraser ranks fifth in punt returns (18.40).

By The Numbers

100 Yard Rushing Games (200): 7 – Terrell Watson, APU (4). 3 – Ja’Quan Gardner, HSU; Nick Ricciardulli, HSU.  2 – Trent McKinney, SDM (1); 1 – Myles Burton, DSU; Nathaniel Penaranda, WOU; Colton Peterson, DSU; Ishmael Stinson, CWU; Kevin Thompson, SDM; Jordan Todd, CWU; Cole Tudor, SFU; Stephen Spagnuolo, SFU.

300 Yard Passing Performances (400): 4 – Ryan Bergman, WOU (2). 3 - Trent McKinney, SDM (1). 2 - Jake Nelson, CWU; Ryan Stanford, SFU.  1 – Hayden Gavett, DSU; Ben Longshore, DSU; Trey Shimabukuro, WOU.

100 Yard Receiving Performances:  5 – Paul Revis, WOU. 4 - Tyrell Williams, WOU.  2 – Lemar Durant, SFU; Daniel Ziegler, SDM; Marcus Sanchez, SDM; Greg Logan, CWU; Bobby Pospischil, SFU; Kent McKinney, CWU.  1 – Tanner Henry, APU; Kamakana Apelu, WOU; Nate Stephens, DSU; Cass White, HSU; Jesse Zalk, CWU; Justin Buren, SFU.

Game Recaps For Oct. 25:

Azusa Pacific 52, South Dakota Mines 30 (at Rapid City, SD): Terrell Watson rushed for 206 yards and set a GNAC career record for touchdowns and Chad Jeffries had 306 yards of total offense as the Cougars ran their win streak to six with a 22-point road win … The Cougars, who gained 509 yards, won despite surrendering 606 including a GNAC-record 535 by Mines quarterback Trent McKinney who completed 36 of 54 passes for 481 yards and ran for 54.  McKinney broke his own GNAC record of 503 he set earlier this season against William Jewell.  He’s the only player in GNAC history to gain 500 yards in a single game … McKinney’s total offense, passing and pass completions are all South Dakota Mines records …  Marcus Sanchez had one of the most productive receiving games in GNAC history catching 12 for 200 yards.  His yardage total ranks eighth in GNAC history … Watson scored on runs of 1,  27 and 12 yards.  The latter was his 55th in three seasons in the GNAC breaking Johnny Spevak’s record.   Watson also tied the GNAC career record for points of 330 held by CWU kicker Garrett Rolsma (2006-09) … Jeffries completed 12 of 22 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.  He added 55 rushing yards … Tanner Henry caught three passes for 104 yards … APU’s Tyree Davis had 184 yards on four returns.  He scored on a 65-yard punt return and had 119 yards on three kickoffs, setting up one touchdown … The top tacklers in the game were APU linebacker Steven Fanua, who had 11, including three for losses of seven yards.  Linebacker Nai’m Colbert had 10 and forced and recovered a fumble.  DB Jonathan Thropay had two takeaways, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble …  Linebacker Daniel Duarte led Mines with 12 tackles and also forced a fumble.  DB John Tyler had an interception and broke up two passes.

Western Oregon 27, Simon Fraser 16 (at Monmouth):   Trailing 16-14 in the fourth quarter, the Wolves drove 94 yards in seven plays including the final 29 on a pass from quarterback Ryan Bergman to freshman wide receiver Paul Revis to go-ahead and then got an insurance score on a 54-yard Revis-Bergman hookup to beat Simon Fraser 27-16 … The first of Revis’ two TDs were set up on catches of 37 and  12 yards by Tyrell Williams, who had nine receptions for 157 yards.  Revis finished with four catches for 129 yards …  Bergman completed 18 of 42 passes for 332 and four touchdowns, also tossing six pointers to Williams (35 yards) in the first quarter and James DePew (1 yard) early in the third period … Joe Harris led the Wolf ground attack with 53 yards on 16 carries …Simon Fraser running back Stephen Spagnuolo netted 132 yards on 24 carries.  However, most of the SFU points came from kicker Tiernan Docherty who made three of five field goals, converting from 26, 39 and 25 yards and on an extra point following a 51-yard TD pass from Ryan Stanford to Lemar Durrant.  Docherty missed from 48 and 42 yards … Durant, who also had a 60-yard reception, had 10 catches for 184 yards to increase his career totals to 160 catches for 2205 yards.  Both numbers rank 10^th on the GNAC’s all-time career charts … DBs Danny Hankins and  Roger Garrett led WOU with nine tackles each.  Hankins also had an interception in the end zone to thwart  a SFU drive early in the fourth quarter that could have extended its lead to nine points. SFU linebacker Jordan Herdman, who ranks eighth nationally in tackles averaging 12.8, had 10 including one for a loss of six and an interception.

Humboldt State 38, Central Washington 20 (at Arcata): Nick Ricciardulli rushed for 178 of the Lumberjacks’ 284 yards and freshman QB Robert Webber completed 12 of 27 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns as the Lumberjacks, improved to 6-1 with an 18-point win. … Trailing 7-0 in the opening quarter, HSU tied the game on a two-yard pass from Webber to Ricciardulli, then took the lead on a 51-yard interception return by Nick Sharpe … Two Webber to Chase Krivashei TD passes in the second half (15, 32) and a one-yard run by Richard Doctor kept HSU safely ahead as the HSU defense held Central Washington to just 230 yards, including 95 passing … Doctor rushed for 67 yards on 12 rushes and Krivashei finished the game with four catches for 82 yards … CWU quarterback Jake Nelson was limited to 95 yards passing and just 15 completions in 37 attempts.  He was picked off twice – once by Sharpe and once by Gianni Olivas … CWU’s touchdowns came on runs of 30 and 2 yards by Jordan Todd and on a 9-yard pass from Nelson to Austin Pernell late in the fourth quarter … In addition to its two interceptions, the Lumberjacks got two fumble recoveries from Alex Markarian.   Markarian also had 2 ½ quarterback sacks for losses of 10 yards. DB Jeremiah Maluia and lineman Silas Sarvinski each had eight tackles …. Kevin Haynes led the CWU defense with 11 tackles.  DB DeAndre Baines had 10.

Dixie State 28, Menlo 6  (at St. George, Utah): Nate Stephens caught three touchdown passes and the Red Storm’s defense limited Menlo to 257 yards in earning its first victory of the season.  Stephens scored on a 19-yard pass in the first quarter, then iced the game with two fourth-quarter six-pointers from 1 and 9 yards.  He ended up with eight receptions for 96 yards as quarterback Ben Longshore completed 19 of 32 passes for 240 yards … Dixie also scored in the second quarter on a three-yard run by Colton Peterson …. The first three drives for the Red Storm all started in Menlo territory (49, 23 and 49) following punts.  The final score was an eight-play, 70-yard drive …  Peterson led a productive rushing  attack gaining 64 yards on 12 carries.  Stephens, meanwhile, had 156 all-purpose yards, returning one kickoff for 25 yards, three punts for 33 yards and also rushing once for two yards … Defensive back Robert Metz had 15 tackles for Dixie.  DB Will Bostic was credited with nine and two players defensive back Zac Christian and linebacker Trevor Oakley had seven  each.  Linebacker Garland Munns and DB Jacob Witham each had interceptions.

GNAC Players of the Week

Offense – Marcus Sanchez, South Dakota Mines (WR, 6-2, 198, Jr., Anaheim, CA - Canyon) and Paul Revis, Western Oregon (WR, 5-9, 165, Fr., Scappoose, OR) … Sanchez gained 200 yards on 12 catches, both GNAC season highs, as the Hardrockers gained 606 yards in a 52-30 loss to GNAC league-leader Azusa Pacific..  Sanchez’s receiving total, which is the eighth highest single-game total in GNAC history, included touchdowns catches of 23 and 20 in the final minute of the second quarter.  Revis, who ranks third in Division II in all-purpose yards averaging 205.1 yards per game, caught four passes for 129 yards including two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Wolves rallied for a 27-16 win over Simon Fraser.  Revis’ 29-yard TD catch with 7:46 left gave WOU the lead and his 54-yard reception four minutes later iced it. 

Defense – Robert Metz, Dixie State (DB, 6-4, 210. Jr., Tucson, AZ – Canyon Del Oro) had 15 tackles as the Red Storm limited Menlo to 257 yards in a 28-6 home win.  Metz had 11 solo tackles and four assists, including one that resulted in a loss.  

Special Teams – Tyree Davis, Azusa Pacific (KR/PR, 5-11, 172, So., Spring Valley, CA) gained 184 yards on just four touches, returning three kickoffs for 119 yards and one punt for a 65-yard first-quarter touchdown.  His third kickoff return, which he brought back 53 yards, set up a touchdown after the Hardrockers had cut APU’s lead in the fourth quarter to just 11 points.