Tuesday, September 17, 2019

After two weeks of near misses and blowouts for GNAC teams, two of those squads are looking forward to getting started with conference play.

Azusa Pacific will host Western Oregon on Saturday in the first conference game of the season. Both teams are hungry to put a digit in the win column after games in the first two weeks where the breaks just didn’t go their way.

The Wolves are coming off a heartbreaking 34-27 loss to No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce in Monmouth last weekend. Western Oregon took a 27-20 lead in the fourth quarter on Ty Currie’s 74-yard touchdown strike to Owen Wright, but the seasoned Lions bounced to score the game’s final two touchdowns to escape with the win.

Azusa Pacific will find the friendly confines of Citrus Stadium quite welcoming after a pair of tough road trips. The Cougars went to Missouri S&T on Saturday, where the Miners scored the first 23 points of the game and rolled to the 51-17 win.

The conference’s other two teams will continue in their non-conference schedules for one more week. Central Washington will play on the road, heading to Lone Star country to play at Western New Mexico. The Wildcats are coming off a 62-28 loss to No. 2 ranked Ferris State at home in a game where CWU was within striking distance until early in the fourth quarter.

Simon Fraser will play at home in Burnaby, B.C., for the first time this season, hosting South Dakota Mines. The Clan will play home games at Swangard Stadium, in downtown Burnaby, while the construction project on new stands at Terry Fox Field continues.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Ty Currie, Western Oregon
QB • 6-2 • Senior • Yreka, Calif.

Currie completed 16 of 32 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 27 yards on eight carries in the Wolves’ close 34-27 loss to No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday. His rushing touchdown came on a fourth-down play in the second quarter while his passing touchdown came on a 78-yard strike to Thomas Wright in the fourth quarter that put the Wolves up 27-20.

Also Nominated: Brandon Jackson (Azusa Pacific), Michael Roots (Central Washington), Ethan Beselt (Simon Fraser).

DEFENSIVE
Hamilton Hunt, Central Washington
LB • 6-0 • Junior • Salem, Ore.

Hunt finished with a strong all-around defensive game in the Wildcats’ 62-28 loss to No. 2 Ferris State. Hunt finished with 11 tackles (6 solo, 5 assisted) to go along with a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. The Wildcats converted the fumble into a touchdown on the very next play.

Also Nominated: Lucas Oligati (Azusa Pacific), Griffin Barrett (Simon Fraser), Derek Parnell (Western Oregon).

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

Gross converted on all three point-after attempts for Western Oregon against Texas A&M-Commerce. He also punted four times, averaging 37.8 yards per punt with a 50-yard long punt and one inside the 20-yard line. Gross also kicked off five times, averaging 62.6 yards per kick.

Also Nominated: Ramzee Jardily (Azusa Pacific), Eric Wilkes (Central Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost at Missouri S&T, 51-17
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. Western Oregon, 6:30 p.m.

• Missouri S&T scored the opening 23 points of the game, which proved a hole too deep for Azusa Pacific to dig out of in taking a 51-17 loss to the Miners in Rolla, Missouri.

• The Cougars were strong offensively despite the final score, finishing with 412 yards of total offense and 343 passing yards. Junior quarterback Tyrone Williams, Jr., completed 13 of 24 passes for 263  yards and a touchdown. Junior Anthony Catalano came in later in the game, completing 9 of 13 passes for 80 yards.

• Williams enters the week tied for first in the GNAC in passing and 28th in Division II with 275.5 yards per game. He is 27th in Division II with 516 total passing yards.

• Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jasiah Richard-Lewis made a mark in his second collegiate game, leading the receiving game with his four catches for 123 yards. His game included a long 79-yard reception from Williams that set up an APU field goal (and included a pass interference penalty that was declined). Richard-Lewis enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with 87.5 receiving yards per game.

• Freshman kicker Ramzee Jaridly made his only field goal attempt, connecting on a 27-yarder that takes him to 4 for 4 on the season. He was also 2 for 2 on extra-point attempts. Jaridly is currently eighth in Division II with an average of two field goals per game.

• Defensively, junior linebacker Lucas Ogilati led the Cougars with 14 tackles and two tackles for loss.

• Azusa Pacific leads the GNAC in passing offense with 298 yards per game and is first with a 130.2 pass efficiency rating. The Cougars rank ninth in Division II in net punting (41.36 yards per punt), 18th in passing offense, 20th in fewest penalties per game (5) and 30th in completion percentage (.627).

• The Cougars will host the first GNAC game of the season, welcoming Western Oregon to Citrus Stadium on Saturday night.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost to Ferris State, 62-28
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: at Western New Mexico, Noon (MDT)

• Central Washington went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Ferris State for three quarters, only to see the Bulldogs score the final four touchdowns of the game in the fourth quarter in taking a 62-28 loss in a game streamed nationally on ESPN3.

• The teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense. The Wildcats finished with 490 yards of total offense, which included 318 passing yards.

• Junior linebacker Hamilton Hunt was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week, giving CWU and players with the name of Hamilton the award for two consecutive weeks. He finished with 11 tackles in the contest (6 solo, 5 assisted) to go along with a tackle for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. The other Hamilton, senior linebacker Donte Hamilton, finished with 13 tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Hamilton is second in Division II with his 15 tackles per game.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Canon Racanelli completed 8 of 29 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown, the score coming on a 48-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Drake Owen in the first quarter. Racanelli is third in the GNAC with 180.5 passing yards per game. Sophomore Christian Moore finished the game, going 6 for 14 for 103 yards.

• Senior running back Michael Roots posted his second straight 100-plus yard rushing afternoon, carrying 21 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns. His ledger included a 43-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Roots leads the GNAC and is 24th in Division II with 107.5 rushing yards per game. He is also tied for 12th in Division II with three rushing touchdowns and 20th with 215 total rushing yards.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC in scoring offense (29.5), rushing offense (143 yards per game) and total offense (424.5 yards per game). The Wildcats rank seventh in Division II in passing yards per completion (19.41) and 23rd in team sacks (3 per game).

• Central Washington plays its third straight non-conference game this weekend, returning to the road to play at Western New Mexico.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost at Angelo State, 68-7
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: vs. South Dakota Mines, 6 p.m.

• Where Simon Fraser had opened scoring against Portland State the week before, the Clan watched Angelo State rattle off 54 points before scoring themselves in a 68-7 loss to the Rams in San Angelo, Texas.

• The Clan finished the game with 289 yards of total offense, 250 of which were in the passing game. Freshman quarterback Brandon Niksich, starting in place of the injured Justin Sieber, completed 16 of 34 passes for those 250 yards and a touchdown. His scoring pass was a 19-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Robert Meadors five minutes into the third quarter.

• Junior wide receiver Ethan Beselt led the Clans’ receiving game, making eight passes for 123 yards. He enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC with 75.5 receiving yards per game.

• Junior linebacker Griffin Barrett once again led the Simon Fraser defense with 18 tackles (5 solo, 13 assisted). Barrett enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and fifth in Division II with 14.5 tackles per game. Sophomore defensive back Brendan Lowry matched Barrett with 18 tackles. He ranks third in the GNAC and 19th in Division II with 11.5 tackles per game.

• Sophomore kicker Kees Metselaar punted nine times in the contest, averaging 43 yards per punt with three inside the 20-yard line and a long punt of 62 yards. He is ranked 10th in Division II in punting, averaging 43.3 yards per punt.

• Simon Fraser enters the week averaging 201 yards per game and 214 passing yards per contest. The Clan is 14th in Division II with three recovered fumbles and is 26th with 15.85 passing yards per completion.

• Simon Fraser is home at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium for the first time this season, hosting South Dakota Mines on Saturday night.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 14: Lost to Texas A&M Commerce, 34-27.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21: at Azusa Pacific, 6:30 p.m.
 
• Western Oregon held a 27-20 lead over No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce in an exciting home opener on Saturday, but the Lions came back to score the final two touchdowns of the game to escape Monmouth with the 34-27 victory.

• The Wolves finished with 301 yards of total offense, 226 of which came in the passing game. Senior quarterback Ty Currie was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after he completed 16 of 32 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown. He also carried eight times for 27 yards and a second touchdown. Currie enters the week tied for first in the GNAC with his 257.5 passing yards per game.

• Sophomore wide receiver Thomas Wright was Currie’s top target, catching five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. He was one of nine WOU players to catch passes in the game.

• Junior kicker Andrew Gross was named the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his all-around work to keep the Wolves in the game. He converted on all three point-after attempts, punted four times for an average of 37.8 yards per punt and kicked off five times, averaging 62.6 yards per kick. Gross is third in the GNAC in punting, averaging 40.4 yards per punt.

• Senior linebacker Tyler Wharf paced the defense with his 10 tackles and a tackle for loss. The Wolves finished with seven tackles for loss in the game, which included two for six yards by senior linebacker Nate Proctor, Jr.

• Of the Wolves four touchdowns, three came in the rushing game. Senior running back Niko Jackson led the way with nine carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Omari Land also had a touchdown, allowing him to remain tied for 12th in Division II with three rushing scores.

• Western Oregon is second in the GNAC in scoring offense (23.5 points per game), rushing offense (136 yards per game) and pass efficiency (123.4) while leading the conference in total defense (411.5 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (186 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (225.5 yards allowed per game).

• The Wolves open conference play on Saturday at Azusa Pacific.