Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Central Washington sits four games away from a potential repeat of its GNAC football championship and the Wildcats don’t seem to be letting off the gas in trying to make that happen.

For the second time this season, the Wildcats posted a big victory over Western Oregon. This time, it was under the newly-installed lights at Tomlinson Stadium. Central Washington limited the Wolves to 160 yards of total offense in a 48-10 victory that improved CWU to 5-2 overall and 5-0 in GNAC play.

While the offense certainly did its job, finishing with 477 yards of total offense, the defense was stellar in shutting down Western Oregon. The Wolves went just 5 of 14 on third-down conversions and were 0 for 3 on trips to the red zone.

Junior defensive back Donte Hamilton was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for his work to lead the CWU defense, finishing with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and two of the team’s three sacks for 19 yards lost.

Azusa Pacific, meanwhile, had to outlast a scrappy Simon Fraser team to keep pace with the Wildcats in the quest for the trophy. After scoring the first three touchdowns of the game, the Cougars had to hold off a Simon Fraser surge that saw the Clan score two touchdowns and kick a field goal in the final quarter to hold on for the 28-17 victory.

The contest yielded the conference’s other two players of the week. Simon Fraser senior quarterback Miles Richardson was named the Offensive Player of the Week after he accounted for 252 of the Clan’s 385 yards of total offense. He completed 14 of 27 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 17 times for 53 yards and caught five passes for 53 yards.

Azusa Pacific junior cornerback Josh Olave picked up the Special Teams Player of the Week award after he returned three punts for a total of 60 yards, including a 44-yard return in the second quarter.

The Cougars will complete their non-conference schedule this weekend, traveling to No. 6 ranked Colorado Mines. Western Oregon will host Humboldt State and Central Washington hosts Simon Fraser.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Miles Richardson, Simon Fraser
QB • 6-2 • Senior • Burien, Wash.

Richardson kept Simon Fraser in the game with 252 yards of total offense in the Clan’s 28-17 loss to Azusa Pacific. He completed 14 of 27 passes for 199 yards. He also rushed for 53 yards on 17 carries and caught five passes for 53 yards. Richardson accounted for 252 of the Clan’s 385 yards in the game.

Also Nominated: Reilly Hennessey (Central Washington), Kaleo Garrigan (Humboldt State).

DEFENSIVE
Donte Hamilton, Central Washington
DB • 6-2 • Junior • Mission Viejo, Calif.

Hamilton led a big Central Washington defensive effort that allowed Western Oregon to 160 yards of total offense in a 48-10 victory over the Wolves. Hamilton finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and two of the team’s three sacks for 19 yards.

Also Nominated: Aaron Berry (Azusa Pacific), Demetrick Watts (Humboldt State), Griffin Barrett (Simon Fraser), Bo Highburger (Western Oregon).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Josh Olave, Azusa Pacific
CB • 5-10 • Sophomore • San Ysidro, Calif.

Olave returned three punts for 60 yards, including two returns back into Simon Fraser territory, in the Cougars’ 28-17 win at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Also Nominated: Chase DeMoor (Central Washington), Adrian Saldana (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Oct. 13: Beat Simon Fraser, 28-17
THIS WEEK: Oct. 20: at Colorado Mines, 1 p.m.

• Azusa Pacific scored the first three touchdowns of the game, which proved to be the difference in a challenging 28-17 victory at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

• The Cougars finished with 323 yards of total offense, but were limited to 2 of 9 on third-down conversions and 3 of 4 in trips to the red zone.

• Handling the majority of the quarterback duties for the second straight week, junior Jesse Hanckel completed 7 of 18 passes for 85 yards and also rushed five times for 13 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Tryone Williams, Jr., completed 2 of 3 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Williams leads the GNAC and is 21st in Division II with 283.8 yards of total offense per game. He also leads the GNAC and is 27th in Division II with 244.3 passing yards per game. In four games, Hanckel is averaging 108 passing yards per game.

• Junior cornerback Josh Olave was named the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after he returned three punts for 60 yards, which included a long return of 44 yards. Olave also added three tackles and an interceptive on the defensive side of the ball. He is second int he GNAC and 17th in Division II with 0.6 interceptions per game.

• Junior running back Bryce Grandison led the APU rushing game, carrying 16 times for 49 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sophomore running back Zikel Reddick rushed seven times 47 yards. Reddick is currently third in the GNAC with 67.7 rushing yards per game while APU is second as a team with 156.1 yards per game.

• Senior kicker Jacob Hall tied a GNAC record with his 74-yard punt in the third quarter, a punt that was subsequently fumbled and recovered by APU. The punt tied the record set by Central Washington’s Cody Sadler against Montana-Western in 2004 and later equaled by Dixie State’s Jameson Schultz against Adams State in 2011.

• Azusa Pacific is still among teams receiving votes in this week’s AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, receiving 13 points.

• Azusa Pacific is second in the GNAC with 427.3 yards of total offense per game and 271.1 passing yards per game. The Cougars are third in Division II with 4.29 sacks per game, seventh with 18 turnovers gained and 12th with 9.1 tackles for loss per game.

• The Cougars complete their non-conference schedule this Saturday, taking the trip to No. 6 Colorado Mines.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 13: Beat Western Oregon, 48-10
THIS WEEK: Oct. 20: Hosts Simon Fraser, 6 p.m.

• Central Washington dominated the offensive side of the ball with 477 yards of total offense while the defense limited Western Oregon to just 160 yards in a 48-10 victory over the Wolves.

• With the win, Central Washington stood pat at No. 21 in this week’s AFCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll.

• Senior quarterback Reilly Hennessey completed 17 of 25 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for eight yards and one more touchdown. Redshirt freshman Christian Moore took over in the second half and proceeded to complete 8 of 12 passes for 113 yards. Hennessey is second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II with 268.1 yards of total offense per game. He is also second in the GNAC with 228.4 passing yards per game and is 11th with 120 points responsible for.

• Junior defensive back Donte Hamilton was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for his role in pacing the CWU defense. Hamilton finished with seven tackles, which included two tackles for loss and two of the team’s three sacks. Hamilton is fourth in the GNAC with 7.7 tackles per game.

• Sophomore running back Michael Roots had another solid rushing performance, carrying 12 times for 90 yards and a touchdown while senior running back Cedric Cooper rushed nine times for 81 yards and a touchdown. Roots continues to lead the GNAC with 88.1 rushing yards per game while Cooper is second with 70.3 rushing yards per game. Roots is also 10th in Division II with 7.01 yards per carry.

• The Wildcats also had a pair of 70-plus yard receivers. Junior wide receiver Christian Stafford caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown while redshirt freshman Quentin Lewis caught six passes for 73 yards. Lewis is third in the GNAC with 51.7 receiving yards per game.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II in scoring offense, averaging 42 points per game. The Wildcats also lead the GNAC and rank 11th in total offense with an average of 485.7 yards per game. The team’s .638 completion percentage ranks 16th in Division II while its .895 red zone conversion percentage ranks 18th.

• Central Washington is back under the lights at Tomlinson Stadium this Saturday, hosting Simon Fraser.

HUMBOLDT STATE
LAST WEEK: Oct. 13: Lost at UT Permian Basin, 36-17
THIS WEEK: Oct. 20: at Western Oregon, 1:05 p.m.
 
• Playing in its final non-conference game, Humboldt State could not hold off a 595-yard performance by UT Permian Basin in a 36-17 loss in Odessa, Texas.

• The game, however, was close in the third quarter when back-to-back touchdowns from Joseph Sweeney to Kaleo Garrigan brought the Lumberjacks to within 22-17. Humboldt, however, could not get into the end zone in the fourth quarter as UT Permian Basin scored twice to close out the game.

• Sweeney completed 12 of 24 passes for 192 yards and threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was one of four HSU players to throw passes. Garrigan, meanwhile, was one of seven Humboldt players to catch passes he made four receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman running back Christian Quirarte caught two passes for 51 yards.

• Senior running back Tyree Marzetta led the SFU ground game with 102 yards on 12 carries, including a long run of 30 yards. Marzetta enters the week fourth in the GNAC with 59.7 rushing yards per game.

• Sophomore linebacker Demetrick Watts had another big game to lead the Lumberjacks defensively. He finished with 15 tackles, including 10 solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.  Watts is tied for second in the GNAC with eight tackles per game.

• Freshman defensive back Evan Camarena had both of HSU’s interceptions. He now leads the GNAC and is 10th in Division II with 0.7 interceptions per game.

• Humboldt State enters the week averaging 278.5 yards of total offense per game. The Lumberjacks rank 21st in Division II with just four passes intercepted this season and 29th with a 0.83 turnover margin.

• It is the beginning of the end for Humboldt State with four games remaining in the final season. The Lumberjacks will face Western Oregon for the final time in Monmouth on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Oct. 13: Lost to Azusa Pacific, 28-17
THIS WEEK: Oct. 20: at Central Washington, 6 p.m.

• Simon Fraser gave Azusa Pacific a close battle, but could not overcome the Cougars’ three touchdowns in the first three quarters in a 28-17 loss at Terry Fox Field.

• The Clan actually led the contests with 385 yards of total offense, 326 of which came in the passing game. The Clan also dominated time of possession as it held onto the ball for over 35 minutes.

• Senior quarterback Miles Richardson was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after an all-around contest with 252 yards of total offense. Richardson completed 14 of 27 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, carried 17 times for 53 yards and also caught five passes for 53 yards. Richardson enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 186.4 total offense yards per game and with 164 passing yards per game.

• Junior wide receiver Rysen John led the SFU receiving attack as he caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Freshman wide receiver Devin O’Hea caught four passes for 68 yards. John enters the week ranked seventh in the GNAC with 41.4 receiving yards per game while O’Hea is ninth with 40.7 receiving yards per game.

• Sophomore linebacker Griffin Barrett led the Simon Fraser defense with 11 tackles, which included seven solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. Barrett is ninth in the GNAC with six tackles per game.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 25th in Division II with 273.4 passing yards per game. The Clan ranks third in the GNAC with 348.9 yards of total offense per game. Simon Fraser leads Division II with 11 recovered fumbles and is third with 19 turnovers gained.

• The Clan will play under the lights once again on Saturday, traveling to GNAC-leading Central Washington.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 13: Lost at Central Washington, 48-10
THIS WEEK: Oct. 20: Hosts Humboldt State, 1:05 p.m.
 
• Western Oregon was limited to 160 yards of total offense and 11 first downs in a 48-10 loss at Central Washington.

• The Wolves’ only offensive score was a 50-yard field goal by senior kicker Adrian Saldana in the first quarter. It is the second straight week that Saldana has made a field goal of 50 or more yards. He set the GNAC record with a 55-yard field goal last week. Saldana enters the week 22nd in Division II with 1.14 field goals per game.

• Freshman linebacker Jaylin Parnell had the Wolves’ only touchdown when he blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone. It was the third blocked kick by Western Oregon, ranking the team 27th in Division II.

• Junior quarterback Ty Currie led the Western Oregon offense, completing 16 of 29 passes for 133 yards with two interceptions. He also rushed 11 times for 12 yards. Currie spread his offense around to eight receivers, led by junior wide receiver Chris Mack’s 29 yards on three catches. Currie is currently third in the GNAC with 190.4 passing yards per game and 217.4 total offense yards per game.

• On defense, senior linebacker Bo Highburger led the Wolves with his 10 tackles, which included six solo tackles. Junior linebacker Andrew Weber finished with eight tackles, including six solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Highburger is second in the GNAC with eight tackles per game.

• Western Oregon enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 23.7 points per game and fourth with 315.6 total offense yards per game. The Wolves are fifth in Division II with three defensive touchdowns and 22nd in red zone defense (.677).

• Western Oregon will close out its 2018 home schedule on Saturday, hosting Humboldt State for the final time.