Monday, September 16, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Simon Fraser will bring the nation's top-ranked passing offense to Ellensburg this Saturday for an early-season conference showdown with Central Washington. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

The Clan (1-0 overall) and Wildcats (1-1 overall) both bring 1-0 conference records into the contest, which is one of three games on the GNAC schedule.

Elsewhere Azusa Pacific (1-1, 1-0) hosts Humboldt State (0-2, 0-1) in a 6:30 p.m. kickoff and Dixie State (0-2, 0-1) travels to Monmouth to play Western Oregon (0-2, 0-1).  That game kicks off at 1.

Simon Fraser leads Division II nationally in passing after gaining a GNAC-record 518 yards two weeks ago in a 41-27 win at Humboldt.  The Clan, which also ranks seventh in total offense (587.0), was idle last week.

SFU quarterback Ryan Stanford ranks first in passing (446.0) and second in total offense (426.0), while SFU wide receiver Lemar Durant ranks third in catches (11.0) and seventh in receiving yardage (164.0).

Central Washington, meanwhile, ranks 20th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 14 points per game and 21st in pass defense efficiency (95.3).  Simon Fraser ranks 12th in pass defense efficiency (85.3).

In addition to Stanford and Durant, Humboldt State's Matt Bruder, SFU's Casey Chin and Derek Jones and Central Washington's Deionte Gordon also rank in the Top 10 nationally.

Chin is the national leader in interceptions with two in one game.  Gordon and Jones are averaging one interception per game and are tied for fourth.  Bruder has four field goals in two games and ranks sixth nationally.

Gordon earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this past weekend intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble in Central's 20-7 home win over Western Oregon.

Azusa Pacific's Terrell Watson was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week as he rushed for 165 yards in a 36-20 road win at Dixie State to increase his career total to 2,130 yards.  Azusa's Jamie Cacciatore booted a 52-yard field goal in the game to earn GNAC Special Team Player of the Week honors.  That was just two yards shy of the GNAC record and was the 11th 50-yard field goal in conference history.

For more details from last week's games, see the GNAC Weekly Report in the related links.

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Sept. 15): Team (Top 30): Scoring Offense – 25. Simon Fraser 41.0.  Total Offense – 7. Simon Fraser 587.0.  Passing Offense – 1. Simon Fraser 518.0. Pass Efficiency – 11. Simon Fraser 193.8. Scoring Defense – 20. Central Washington 14.0.  Passing Efficiency Defense – 12. Simon Fraser 85.3; 21. Central Washington 95.3.  Kickoff Returns – 16. Central Washington 27.8. Punt Return Defense – 15. Central Washington 0.0.  Individuals (Top 30): Total Offense – 2. Ryan Stanford, SFU, 426.0.  Passing – 1. Ryan Stanford, SFU, 446.0.  Passing Efficiency – 15. Ryan Stanford, SFU, 170.4.  Receiving – 7. Lemar Durant, SFU, 164.0; 27. Tyrell Williams, WOU, 115.0.  Receptions – 3. Lemar Durant, SFU, 11.0; 13. Tyrell Williams, WOU, 9.0; 16. Chase Krivashei, HSU, 8.5. Scoring – 2. Lemar Durant, SFU, 18.0.  Punt Returns – 26. Isaiah Davis, 10.2.  Field Goals – 6. Matt Bruder, HSU, 2.0.  Interceptions – 1. Casey Chin, SFU, 2.0; 4. Deionte Gordon, CWU, and Derek Jones, SFU, 1.0. Tackles For Loss – 12. Gabe Bruno, CWU, 2.5.  Sacks – 12. Dylan Roper, SFU, 1.5. Note: Azusa Pacific, as a provisional NCAA member, is not eligible to be ranked in national statistics.