Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Off the field, it was Simon Fraser’s new stadium that was the star. On the field, it was Central Washington and junior running back Rashaad Boddie.

After a close first half that included an hour-long lightning delay, the Wildcats scored three unanswered second-half touchdowns to pick up the first conference win of the season, 36-14, over SFU.

Boddie did most of the damage, earning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors by carrying the ball 25 times for 279 yards and three touchdowns. The 279 rushing yards is the eighth-best single-game performance in conference history and the most since Humboldt State’s Ja’quan Gardner rushed for 293 yards against Azusa Pacific on October 14, 2017.

As a team, Central Washington finished with 370 rushing yards, which ranks as the 13th-best single-game performance in conference history.

Simon Fraser had its stars on the field as well. Junior defensive back Kolby Buljevic was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after leading SFU with 13 tackles, which included eight solo tackles and two tackles for loss for five yards.

In the other game of the week, Western Oregon gave Portland State a run for its money until two third-quarter touchdowns in a 21-7 victory at Hillsboro Stadium. The Wolves limited the Vikings to the 21 points despite a 417-yard day for the Vikings.

After Simon Fraser celebrated the opening of the new SFU Stadium last week, it will welcome Western Oregon this week for the team’s 2021 home finale. With an expected October 2 game against Texas Permian Basin canceled, SFU will play its final four games of the season on the road.

Central Washington will play at home for the first time this season on Saturday night, hosting Lone Star Conference rival Angelo State. The Rams are 2-1 on the season and are coming off a 35-17 loss to No. 20 Midwestern State.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Rashaad Boddie, Central Washington
RB • 6-2 • Junior • Clayton, N.C.

Boddie carried the ball 25 times for 279 yards and three touchdowns and 284 all-purpose yards to lead Central Washington in its 36-14 win at Simon Fraser to open GNAC play. The rushing performance was the eighth-best in GNAC history and the most by a CWU player since 2010.

Also Nominated: Riley Morrison (Simon Fraser), Ryan Worthley (Western Oregon).

DEFENSIVE
Kolby Buljevic, Simon Fraser
DB • 6-1 • Junior • Burnaby, B.C.

Buljevic led all players with 13 tackles, including eight solo tackles, and two tackles for loss for five yards in Simon Fraser’s 36-14 loss to Central Washington. The defensive effort helped keep SFU within one point of the Wildcats at halftime.

Also Nominated: Luis Vicino (Western Oregon).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Andrew Gross, Western Oregon
K/P • 6-1 • Senior • Gladstone, Ore.

Gross averaged 36.7 yards per punt on six punts, which included a long punt of 49 yards and two that landed inside the 20-yard line in Western Oregon’s 21-7 loss to Division I-FCS Portland State.

Also Nominated: Robert Meadors (Simon Fraser).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 18: Won at Simon Fraser, 36-14
THIS WEEK: Sept. 25: vs. Angelo State, 6 p.m.

• Central Washington rolled up 553 yards of total offense, including an impressive 370 rushing yards, to open GNAC play with a 36-14 victory at Simon Fraser.

• The 370 team rushing yards is the most by a GNAC team since the Wildcats finished with 514 yards against Southwest Baptist on Nov. 3, 2018. It is the 13th-best team single-game rushing performance in GNAC history.

• Junior running back Rashaad Boddie was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after finishing with 279 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. It is the eighth-best single-game rushing performance in GNAC history. He also finished with 284 all-purpose yards in the victory. Boddie is ranked 15th in Division II with 331 rushing yards and 10th with four rushing touchdowns.

• Sophomore quarterback JJ Lemming completed 14 of 31 passes for 147 yards in the win while freshman quarterback Quincy Glasper completed 3 of 5 passes late in the game for 53 yards and the only passing touchdown. Lemming is averaging 165.7 passing yards per game and ranks 11th in Division II with 15.53 passing yards per completion.

• Senior wide receiver Tony Archie led seven CWU receivers, catching four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Samuel Sanchez caught three passes for 49 yards. Archie is third in the GNAC with 63.7 receiving yards per game.

• Sophomore defensive back Patrick Rogers led the Wildcats’ defense with six tackles, including one sack, a tackle for loss for 11 yards, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Sophomore defensive back Jahleel Breeland also had six tackles, including five solo tackles. Breeland is second in the GNAC with 29 tackles and is 27th in Division II with 9.7 tackles per game.

• Central Washington is averaging 38.6 points per game and 435 yards of total offense per game. The Wildcats rank 23rd in rushing offense, averaging 216 yards per game. The Wildcats are also 23rd in Division II with 14.93 passing yards per completion and 25th in scoring offense.

• One of the least penalized teams through three weeks, Central Washington is 22nd in Division II with five penalties per game.

• After spending the first three weeks on the road, Central Washington will play a home game on Saturday. The Wildcats host Lone Star Conference rival Angelo State at 6 p.m.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 18: Lost to Central Washington, 36-14
THIS WEEK: Sept. 25: vs. Western Oregon, 6 p.m.
 
• Simon Fraser finished with 305 yards of total offense and was within one point of Central Washington in the opening football game in the new SFU Stadium. The team could not keep up in the second half, falling 36-14 on Saturday night.

• A total of 704 fans came for the first football game in the new stadium and stayed despite an hour-long lightning delay that stopped the game with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

• Simon Fraser finished with a total of 285 passing yards. Sophomore quarterback Justin Sieber completed 23 of 50 passes for 285 yards and one of the team’s two touchdowns. In two games, Sieber is averaging 291 passing yards per game in two games.

• Sophomore wide receiver Riley Morrison led nine SFU receivers, making nine catches for 76 yards. Morrison leads the GNAC and is 11th in Division II with 7.67 receptions per game and is second in the conference with 64.7 receiving yards per game.

• Junior wide receiver Robert Meadors caught two passes for 30 yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown. Simon Fraser’s primary return specialist, Meadors also returned five kicks for 88 yards. Meadors leads the GNAC with 87.7 all-purpose yards per game and is seventh in Division II with 230 combined kick return yards.

• Junior defensive back Kolby Buljevic was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after he led SFU with 13 tackles, including eight solo tackles and two tackles for loss for five yards. Buljevic is seventh in the GNAC with 16 total tackles.

• Senior linebacker Griffin Barrett finished with 10 tackles, including seven solo tackles and one tackle for loss. Barrett leads the GNAC with 33 total tackles and is ninth in Division II with 11 tackles per game. He is also eighth in Division II with 7.3 solo tackles per game.

• Simon Fraser enters the week averaging 264 yards of total offense per game and 231.7 passing yards per game. Simon Fraser is tied for 20th in Division II with four fumble recoveries.

• Simon Fraser will play its final home game this Saturday, hosting Western Oregon at 6 p.m. The team’s scheduled Oct. 2 home game against Texas Permian Basin was canceled.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 18: Lost at Portland State, 21-7
THIS WEEK: Sept. 25: at Simon Fraser, 6 p.m.
 
• Western Oregon held its own at Division I-FCS Portland State, keeping the game close until the Vikings scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns in a 21-7 loss at Hillsboro Stadium.

• The Wolves held Portland State to 21 points despite the Vikings finishing with 417 yards of total offense. Western Oregon, meanwhile, finished with 278 yards of total offense, with 211 of those coming in the air.

• Junior quarterback Ryan Worthley completed 24 of 37 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed eight times for 12 yards to finish with 223 total offense yards. Worthley leads the GNAC with 224.7 passing yards per game and 215.3 total offense yards per game.

• Sophomore wide receive Jarren Ford led six Western Oregon receivers with seven catches for 61 yards. Junior wide receiver Thomas Wright caught six passes for 50 yards and sophomore wide receiver Damon Hickok caught four passes for 49 yards and the Wolves’ lone touchdown. Wright is fourth in the GNAC with 57.3 receiving yards per game while Ford is fifth with 40.7 receiving yards per game.

• Junior running back Omari Land once again led WOU on the ground, rushing 17 times for 47 yards. Land leads the GNAC with 50 rushing yards per game and is fifth with 63 all-purpose yards per game.

• Senior kicker Andrew Gross was named the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after punting six times for an average of 36.7 yards per punt. He had a long punt of 49 yards and placed two inside the 20-yard line. Gross leads the GNAC with 39.4 yards per punt.

• Junior defensive back Ryan Minniti led the WOU defense with seven tackles. Junior linebacker Jaylin Parnell had six tackles and one tackle for loss. Minniti is tied for third in the GNAC with 21 total tackles while Parnell is fifth with 19 total tackles.

• Western Oregon is averaging 283.3 yards of total offense per game and leads the GNAC with 238.3 passing yards per game. The Wolves rank 29th in Division II with 24.57 yards per kickoff return.

• Western Oregon plays its fourth consecutive road game, playing its first GNAC game at Simon Fraser on Saturday. The Wolves open the home schedule against West Texas A&M on Saturday, October 2.