Tuesday, October 23, 2018

It could not have have been a better performance for Central Washington in its final home night game of the season as the Wildcats set records to put itself on the edge of gaining another GNAC championship trophy.

The Wildcats set a GNAC single-game record with 719 yards of total offense in Saturday’s 60-19 defeat of Simon Fraser in Ellensburg. Central Washington set the record with a near balance in the offensive attack, finishing with 380 passing yards and 339 rushing yards.
In addition to the GNAC record, CWU also set school records with 9.2 yards per play and 868 all-purpose yards.

Senior quarterback Reilly Hennessey earned GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his work in setting the single-game record, completing 17 of 25 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 20.6 yards per pass.

The record day for Central Washington does not mean Simon Fraser played poorly. The Clan finished with 425 yards of total offense of its own, led by 470 passing yards by senior quarterback Miles Richardson and a 234-yard receiving day from junior wide receiver Rysen John that ranks as the fourth-best single-day performance in GNAC history.

With the victory, Central Washington needs just one more win to clinch at least a share of its second straight GNAC championship. The Wildcats could claim the title outright with a win and a loss by Azusa Pacific.

Western Oregon was the GNAC’s other winner last week, pulling away in the second half to score a 45-24 victory over Humboldt State in the Wolves’ final home game of the season. Azusa Pacific fell in its final non-conference game of the year, 42-27 to No. 6 Colorado Mines.

This week, Central Washington makes its final trip to Humboldt State in the second-to-last home game before the end of the Lumberjacks’ football program. Western Oregon and Azusa Pacific will play under the lights in Glendora, California. Simon Fraser will take advantage of a bye week.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Reilly Hennessey, Central Washington
QB • 6-3 • Senior • Camas, Wash.

Hennessey completed 17 of 25 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 60-19 victory over Simon Fraser. Hennessey threw touchdown passes to three different receivers as the Wildcats finished with a GNAC single-game record 719 yards of total offense.

Also Nominated: Bryce Grandison (Azusa Pacific), Tyree Marzetta (Humboldt State), Rysen John (Simon Fraser), Thomas Wright (Western Oregon).

DEFENSIVE
Bo Highburger, Western Oregon
LB • 6-0 • Senior • Veneta, Ore.

In Western Oregon’s 45-24 victory over Humboldt State on Saturday, Highburger led the defense with 14 tackles, which included 12 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The fumble came on his lone sack of the contest, forcing a turnover in the third quarter that stunted a potential go-ahead drive for the Lumberjacks.

Also Nominated: Ma’ake Muti (Azusa Pacific), Elisha Pa’aga (Central Washington).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Jacob Hall, Azusa Pacific
P/K • 6-2 • Senior • Greenville, Ill.

Hall played a key role for Azusa Pacific both offensively and defensively to keep the Cougars alive in a 42-27 loss at No. 6 Colorado Mines. Hall connected on field goals of 21 yards and 42 yards and went 3 for 3 on point-after attempts. Defensively, Hall punted five times for 253 yards, averaging 50.6 yards per punt. He had a long punt of 56 yards and had one touchback.

Also Nominated: Chase DeMoor (Central Washington), Jose Morales (Humboldt State), Andrew Gross (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Oct. 20: Lost at Colorado Mines, 42-27
THIS WEEK: Oct. 27: vs. Western Oregon, 6:30 p.m.

• In a competitive game, Azusa Pacific saw its second-half comeback attempt fall just short at No. 6 Colorado Mines, falling 42-27.

• Trailing 21-10 at halftime, the Cougars managed to come within 35-27 on senior kicker Jacob Hall’s 21-yard field goal with 10 minutes left, but could not find the end zone again.

• Hall was selected as the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his work on both offense and defense in the kicking game. He made two field goals, including a 42-yarder in the second quarter, and went 3 for 3 on point-after attempts. He also punted five times, averaging 50.6 yards per punt. Hall enters the week leading the GNAC and ranking seventh in the GNAC with 43.7 yards per punt.

• Senior quarterback Tyrone Williams, Jr., took all of the snaps for the Cougars, completing 20 of 36 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball nine times for 49 yards. Williams leads the GNAC and is 24th in Division II in total offense with 278.4 yards per game. He is also second in the GNAC with 237.6 passing yards per game and 13th in Division II with 18.3 points responsible for per game.

• Junior running back Bryce Grandison had a big day on the ground, finishing with 159 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries including a 54-yard run in the third quarter. Grandison enters the week sixth in the GNAC with 45.6 rushing yards per game. Junior wide receiver Darrell Adams, Jr., led the air game with 103 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.

• Junior linebacker Willie Fair and senior defensive back Ulysses Pickett led the APU defense with 10 tackles.

• Azusa Pacific is still among teams receiving votes in this week’s AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, receiving five points. The Cougars are also 10th in the first NCAA Super Region 4 rankings of the year.

• Azusa Pacific enters the week second in the GNAC with 425.1 total offense yards and 163.2 rushing yards per game. The Cougars are fourth in Division II in team sacks (4 per game), fifth in tackles for loss allowed (3.38 per game) ninth in net punting (38.93 yards per punt) and 19th in tackles for loss (8.6 per game).

• Azusa Pacific plays its final home game of the season on Saturday, hosting Western Oregon.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 20: Beat Simon Fraser, 60-19
THIS WEEK: Oct. 27: at Central Washington, 6 p.m.

• Central Washington set a GNAC record with 719 yards of total offense and set a number of school offensive records in Saturday’s 60-19 win over Simon Fraser.

• The 719 yards eclipsed the previous GNAC record of 707 yards set by Humboldt State against Augustana (S.D.) in 2015. The Wildcats and Clan combined for a total of 1,144 yards of total offense. In the process, Central Washington set school records with 9.2 yards per game and 868 all-purpose yards.

• With the win, Central Washington moved up one spot to No. 20 in this week’s AFCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll. The Wildcats are No. 8 in the first NCAA Super Region 4 rankings of the season.

• Senior quarterback Reilly Hennessey was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for his work on the record day, completing 17 of 25 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Hennessey enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 28th in Division II with 243.8 passing yards per game. He is also second in the GNAC and 25th in Division II with 278.3 total offense yards per game.

• The Wildcats finished with 380 passing yards in the contest. Freshman wide receiver Quinton Lewis led the way as he caught five passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns, including a long reception of 51 yards and a touchdown reception for 39 yards. Lewis enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 59.2 receiving yards per game.

• The Wildcats had two 100-plus yard rushers in its 339 rushing yards in the game. Sophomore running back Michael Roots carried seven times for 117 yards and two touchdowns, which included an 80-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Roots also caught a pass for 52 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Cedric Cooper carried 17 times for 112 yards and also had two touchdowns. Roots leads the GNAC with 91.8 rushing yards per game and is 30th in Division II with 730 rushing yards. Cooper is second in the GNAC with 75.5 rushing yards per game.

• Junior defensive back Donte Hamilton led the CWU defense with seven tackles and an interception. Junior defensive lineman Elisha Pa’aga finished with six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for 11 yards. Hamilton is fourth in the GNAC with 7.8 tackles per game.

• Senior defensive lineman Chase DeMoor blocked his sixth kick of the season and now leads all NCAA divisions with six blocked kicks.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is seventh in Division II with 514.9 yards of total offense per game. The Wildcats lead the league and are 16th with 244.2 rushing yards per game. The Wildcats are also 12th in Division II in turnovers lost, losing just eight this season.

• Central Washington will travel to Arcata, California for the final time this Saturday as the Wildcats play at Humboldt State.

HUMBOLDT STATE
LAST WEEK: Oct. 20: Lost at Western Oregon, 45-24
THIS WEEK: Oct. 27: vs. Central Washington, 6 p.m.
 
• Humboldt State came to life to come within four points of Western Oregon in the third quarter, but the Wolves scored 24 points over the final 16 minutes of the game to beat the Lumberjacks on Saturday, 45-24.

• The Lumberjacks had one of its best offensive days of the season, finishing with 426 yards of total offense. The HSU defense held the Wolves to 364 total yards.

• Junior quarterback Joey Sweeney completed 23 of 39 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Sweeney enters the week averaging 146.7 passing yards per game.

• Senior running back Tyree Marzetta posted his second straight 100-plus yard rushing game as he carried the ball 14 times for 140 yards, which included a GNAC season-best 89-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Marzetta is third in the GNAC with 71.1 rushing yards per game.

• Junior wide receiver Kaleo Garrigan also had a big day as he caught eight passes for 145 yards and a 33-yard touchdown reception. Garrigan enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC with 52.5 receiving yards per game.

• Freshman linebacker Moses Finau led the Humboldt State defense with nine solo tackles, which included two tackles for loss and a sack. Finau enters the week ranked sixth in the GNAC with 7.1 tackles per game.

• Humboldt State enters the week averaging 299.6 yards of total offense per game and is fourth in the GNAC with 123.6 rushing yards per game. The Lumberjacks are 29th in Division II in time of possession, averaging 32:32 per game, and are tied for 23rd with two defensive touchdowns.

• Humboldt State will host Central Washington for the final time on Saturday in the second-to-last home game before the program is discontinued.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Oct. 20: Lost at Central Washington, 60-19
THIS WEEK: Idle

• A day that saw Simon Fraser roll up 425 yards of total offense was not enough to keep up with Central Washington’s GNAC-record 719 yards as the Clan fell to the Wildcats, 60-19.

• The Clan finished with 470 passing yards, but were held to minus 45 yards of rushing. Simon Fraser made the most of its scoring opportunities, going 2 for 2 in the red zone.

• Senior quarterback Miles Richardson completed 27 of 46 passes for 470 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He enters the week third in the GNAC with 202.2 passing yards per game and fourth with 217.6 total offense yards per game.

• Junior wide receiver Rysen John had a career day, catching 12 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 55-yard scoring reception in the second quarter. The performance is the fourth best in GNAC history by a receiver. John is ranked second in the GNAC with 65.5 receiving yards per game.

• The SFU defense kept quite busy with sophomore linebacker Griffin Barrett, freshman cornerback Mason Glover and sophomore defensive back Anthony Crescenzo all finishing with nine tackles each. Six of Glover’s tackles were solo efforts. Barrett enters the week eighth in the GNAC with 6.4 tackles per game.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 15th in Division II with 298 passing yards per game. The Clan ranks third in the GNAC with 358.4 yards of total offense per game. In the Division II stats, Simon Fraser is third with 11 fumble recoveries and tied for seventh with 20 turnovers gained.

• Simon Fraser will enjoy a bye week and a little rest this weekend. The Clan returns to the field on Sat., Nov. 3, hosting Western Oregon.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 20: Beat Humboldt State, 45-24
THIS WEEK: Oct. 27: at Azusa Pacific, 6:30 p.m.
 
• Western Oregon used a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and an Adrian Saldana field goal to pull away from Humboldt State for a 45-24 victory in Monmouth.

• The Wolves won despite being outgained by Humboldt State in total offense, 426 to 364. Western Oregon made the most of its opportunities, though, going 5 for 5 in red zone scoring opportunities with the defense making two interceptions.

• Junior quarterback Ty Currie led the Western Oregon offense, completing 14 of 20 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns. He also was WOU’s top rusher, carrying 14 times for 56 yards. Currie enters the week ranked third in the GNAC with 221.8 yards of total offense per game and fourth with 191.1 passing yards per game.

• Senior linebacker Bo Highburger was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after he finished with 14 tackles, including 12 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The sack and fumble sequence helped stunt the Lumberjacks’ potential go-ahead drive in the third quarter. Highburger is tied for first in the GNAC with 8.8 tackles per game and three forced fumbles.

• Freshman wide receiver Thomas Wright paced the Western Oregon receiving game, catching three passes for 74 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He opened scoring in the game with a 50-yard touchdown reception of the Wolves’ first drive of the game.

• Western Oregon enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 321.6 total offense yards per game and third with 26.4 points per game. The Wolves rank 28th in Division II in rushing defense with 113.3 yards allowed per game and are tied for seventh with 20 turnovers gained.

• Western Oregon closes the 2018 season with three straight road games, beginning on Saturday at Azusa Pacific.