Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The first half of the 2017 GNAC football season came to an end with an offensive explosion.

Central Washington had the most impactful of the three wins for conference teams, taking control in the battle of the unbeatens with a convincing 55-27 win over Humboldt State in Ellensburg. The Wildcats racked up 546 yards of total offense while holding the Lumberjacks, a team that entered the week averaging 536 yards per game, to 367.

The contest yielded the conference’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. Central quarterback Reilly Hennessey earned the offensive honor after finishing with 334 yards of total offense, including 216 passing yards and five touchdowns. Linebacker Kevin Haynes earned defensive honors with 14 tackles.

Western Oregon, meanwhile, tied GNAC single-game records with 11 total touchdowns and six passing touchdowns and just missed the single-game scoring record in an 82-21 rout of Simon Fraser. The Wolves finished with 604 yards of total behind a Nick Duckworth effort of 294 passing yards and six touchdowns.

The Player of the Week from that game, however, came from the losing side. Simon Fraser wide receiver/return specialist Gavin Cobb finished with 295 kick return yards to set GNAC single-game records for both kick return yards and combined return yards. The performance earned Cobb GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Azusa Pacific closed out the weekend with a solid 35-21 non-conference win at home over Colorado Mines. The Cougars saw Kurt Scoby rush for 191 yards and two touchdowns while Weston Carr caught 10 passes for 162 yards and a pair of scores.

The second half of conference play begins with just two games. Central Washington, which improved to No. 10 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, will travel to Western Oregon while Azusa Pacific plays at Humboldt State.

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

Hennessey finished with 334 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 55-27 victory over Humboldt State. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 216 yards and five touchdowns and also led CWU in rushing with 118 yards on 13 carries. In all, Hennessey accounted for 61 percent of the Wildcats’ total yards as they improved to 6-0 on the season.

Also Nominated: Weston Carr (Azusa Pacific), Nick Duckworth (Western Oregon).

DEFENSE
Kevin Haynes, Central Washington
LB • 6-1 • Senior • Battle Ground, Wash.

The 2016 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year finished with 14 tackles (4 solos) with a tackle for loss and a half-sack in the Wildcats’ 55-27 win over Humboldt State. Haynes keyed a CWU defense that limited the Lumberjacks to 367 yards of total offense (were averaging 534 yards per game entering the contest).

Also Nominated: Taliuaki Suliafu (Azusa Pacific), Bo Highburger (Western Oregon).

SPECIAL TEAMS
Gavin Cobb, Simon Fraser
WR • 5-7 • Sophomore • Victoria, B.C.

Cobb set a GNAC single-game record with 295 yards on nine kickoff returns in the Clan’s loss at home to Western Oregon. He set a Simon Fraser record with his 99-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.

Also Nominated: Chris Hollis (Azusa Pacific), Adrian Saldana (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Oct. 7: Beat Colorado Mines, 35-21
THIS WEEK: Oct. 14: at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.

• Azusa Pacific scored the first two touchdowns of the game and never looked back as the Cougars scored a 35-21 non-conference win over Colorado Mines.

• Running back Kurt Scoby had another big game on the ground, carrying 30 times for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including an 11-yard run for a score late in the game. In three games this season, Scoby is averaging 175 rushing yards per game.

• Wide receiver Weston Carr also posted a big offensive day, catching 10 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, which included touchdown receptions of 22 yards and 26 yards. Carr currently leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II with 124.7 receiving yards per game. He also ranks fifth in Division II with 748 receiving yards, 10th with 7.5 receptions per game and seven receiving touchdowns.

• Quarterback Andrew Elffers completed 20 of 30 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball to five different receivers. Elffers is third in the GNAC with 218.8 receiving yards per game. He ranks third in the GNAC and is 28th in Division II in total offense with 269.8 yards per game. Elffers also ranks fifth in Division II with 15.63 passing yards per completion.

• Cornerback Kenny Norton led the APU defense with eight tackles while Adrian Shocks and Darryl Smith each had seven tackles. Shocks leads the GNAC with 8.8 tackles per game and is second in the GNAC and tied 29th in Division II with teammate Lavell Thomas with 0.33 forced fumbles per game.

• The Cougars continue to receive votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, receiving 18 points.

• Azusa Pacific enters the week leading the GNAC and 28th in Division II in scoring defense, allowing 17.5 points per game. The Cougars also lead the league in pass defense (181.2 yards allowed per game), pass efficiency defense (103.2), punt return average (8.0 per returns), punting (40.8 yards per punt) and field goal percentage (.833). Azusa Pacific is 21st in Division II in scoring offense, averaging 37.5 points per game.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 7: Beat Humboldt State, 55-27
THIS WEEK: Oct. 14: at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.

• Central Washington won the battle of the unbeatens on Saturday, limiting Humboldt State’s potent offense to 367 yards of total offense while racking up 546 yards of its own in a 55-27 victory.

• After beginning the season receiving just 10 votes, Central Washington is now up to No. 10 in this week’s AFCA Division II Coaches Poll.

• Quarterback Reilly Hennessey was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for an impressive performance that included 334 yards of total offense. He completed 21 for 30 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns, but was also the Wildcats’ top rusher as he carried the ball 13 times for 118 yards. Hennessey enters the week averaging 196.5 passing yards and 212 yards of total offense per game. He is 19th in Division II with a .651 completion percentage and 19th with 17 points responsible for per game.

• Linebacker Kevin Haynes earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after he led CWU with 14 tackles, one tackle for loss and a half-sack. Haynes ranks fourth in the GNAC with 7.5 tackles per game and is eighth in the league in both sacks and tackles for loss per game.

• Wide receiver Kyle Self led eight Central Washington players to make catches, making five receptions for 75 yards and three touchdowns.

• Defensive back Tyler Hasty had his fifth interception of the season, running his pick back 58 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. Hasty leads the GNAC and is third in Division II with 0.8 interceptions per game. As a team, CWU is second in Division II with 13 total interceptions.

• Central Washington enters the week leading the GNAC and is ranked ninth in Division II in rushing, averaging 258.8 yards per game. The Wildcats are sixth in Division II in fourth down conversion percentage (.800), seventh in third-down conversion percentage (.506) and sacks allowed (0.67 per game) and 19th in total offense (470.2 yards per game).

• Defensively, Central Washington is third in Division II with 4.17 team sacks per game, eighth with 9.5 tackles for loss per game and 12th in total defense (276.5 yards allowed per game).

HUMBOLDT STATE
LAST WEEK: Oct. 7: Lost at Central Washington, 55-27
THIS WEEK: Oct. 14: vs. Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.
 
• Humboldt State mustered just one first-half touchdown and was limited to 367 yards of total offense (after averaging 534 per game) in a 55-27 loss at Central Washington.

• The loss has the Lumberjacks down, but not out, in this week’s AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. Humboldt State dropped eight spots to No. 25.

• Quarterback Robert Webber accounted for most of Humboldt State’s yards, completing 28 of 41 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Webber enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 16th in Division II with 287 passing yards per game. He also leads the GNAC and ranks third in Division II with a pass efficiency rating of 192.2 and ranks sixth with 17 passing touchdowns.

• Wide receiver Chase Krivashei had his best performance of the season, catching eight passes for 100 yards with a 25-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Krivashei enters the week eighth in the GNAC in receiving with 51 yards per game.

• Running back Ja’Quan Gardner was kept quiet by the Central Washington defense, rushing for just 64 yards on 17 carries. He also caught two passes for 15 yards and had two kick returns for 37 yards. Garnder continues to lead the GNAC and is eighth in Division II with 132.8 rushing yards per game. He is second in the GNAC and 12th in Division II with 173.4 all-purpose yards per game.

• Humboldt State leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II in scoring offense, averaging 46.8 points per game. The Lumberjacks also lead the league and are fifth in Division II with 501.2 yards of total offense per game. Humboldt State is second in Division II with a team pass efficiency rating of 192.31 and is fourth with a .693 pass completion percentage.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Oct. 7: Lost to Western Oregon, 82-21
THIS WEEK: Idle

• A series of GNAC single-game records by Gavin Cobb proved the highlight for Simon Fraser in a loss to Western Oregon that closed the first half of the GNAC schedule.

• Cobb finished with nine kick returns for 295 yards. He broke the single-game record for kick return yards of 195 set by Cache Morgan of Dixie State in 2012 and the record of 210 combined return yards by Lucas Gonsalves of Western Oregon in 2010. His 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter set an SFU record and earned the sophomore GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Cobb enters the week leading the GNAC and seventh in Division II with 192.1 all-purpose yards per game and is second in Division II with 843 combined kick return yards.

• Combined with Jethro Questad’s 94 return yards, the Clan set a GNAC team single-game record with 389 kickoff return yards.

• Quarterback Miles Richardson completed 24 of 43 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Rysen John was his top target, catching six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

• Defensive lineman Brad Lyons led the Simon Fraser defense with 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a blocked kick. As a team, Simon Fraser is 12th in Division II with four blocked kicks.

• Simon Fraser is averaging 249.2 yards of total offense per game and leads the GNAC with 23.1 yards per kickoff return.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 7: Won at Simon Fraser, 82-21
THIS WEEK: Oct. 14: vs. Central Washington, 1 p.m.
 
• Western Oregon finished one point short of tying the GNAC single-game record for scoring, racking up 604 yards of total offense in an 82-21 rout of Simon Fraser.

• In addition to setting a WOU Division II era record for scoring, the Wolves tied GNAC single-game marks for total touchdowns (11) and passing touchdowns (6).

• Quarterback Nick Duckworth tied the GNAC single-game record with six passing touchdowns as he completed 14 of 23 passes for 294 yards. Five of those scoring strikes came in the first half. Duckworth is second in the GNAC and 17th in Division II with 286 passing yards per game. He is also second in the GNAC and 27th in Division II in total offense with 279.7 yards per game.

• Wide receiver Keoni Piceno led eight WOU receivers to make catches, needing just two of them for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring catches were 56 yards.

• Running back Taylor Poyadue made the most of the extended playing time, carrying 13 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Kicker Adrian Saldana was 10 of 11 on point-after attempts and also nailed field goals from 23 yards and 35 yards.

• Western Oregon leads the GNAC and is fifth in turnover margin at 1.67. The Wolves are sixth in Division II with 17 turnovers gained and 21st with three team sacks per game. Offensively, Western Oregon is third in the GNAC and 20th in Division II in scoring offense, averaging 39 points per game. The Wolves are second in the GNAC and 18th in Division II with 298.2 passing yards per game.