Monday, August 14, 2017

WACO, Texas – The defending GNAC champions are among the top teams to watch in the country as Azusa Pacific earned the No. 13 ranking in the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Preseason Division II Coaches Poll, released on Aug. 14.

The Cougars received a total of 302 points to earn the No. 13 ranking, moving up 12 spots from their final 2016 poll ranking of No. 25. Azusa Pacific is also third among teams on the poll from the reapportioned Super Region 4, trailing Texas A&M-Commerce (No. 5) and Colorado St.-Pueblo (No. 12).

Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State was picked No. 1, receiving all 34 first place votes for 850 points.

In addition to Azusa Pacific, both Central Washington and Humboldt State were among teams receiving votes. The Wildcats received 10 points while the Lumberjacks picked up two points.

Azusa Pacific finished 9-3 overall in 2016 and went 8-0 in GNAC play. The Cougars led the GNAC with 435 points and outscored opponents by an average of 20 points per game. The APU defense led the GNAC with 192 points allowed and 334.1 yards allowed per game. The Cougars were also among the leaders in NCAA Division II in interceptions (23), red zone defense (.559), scoring defense (16 points allowed per game) and sacks (4.17 per game).

The Cougars return 58 players from the 2016 championship squad, including 15 starters. Senior quarterback Andrew Elffers, the reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 2,120 yards and 21 touchdowns while also rushing for seven more touchdowns. Elffers was intercepted just three times and his 1.1 interception percentage set a GNAC single season record. Junior running back Kurt Scoby was a First Team All-GNAC selection after rushing for 56.5 yards per game with five touchdowns while sophomore Weston Carr, the 2016 GNAC Freshman of the Year, caught 48 passes for 75.4 receiving yards per game and nine touchdowns.

On defense, senior safety Taliuaki Suliafu was a First Team All-GNAC selection after he finished with 61 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Senior defensive end Jason Schwartz also made the first team list thanks to 47 tackles, nine sacks and a forced fumble.

Azusa Pacific enters 2017 with a nine-game GNAC win streak and an eight-game win streak on its home field at Citrus Stadium. The Cougars open the season on the road, playing at West Texas A&M on Sat., Sept. 2.