Tuesday, September 19, 2017

One of the wildest finishes you will ever see to a football game and a pair of blowouts were the measures of the day in the third week of GNAC football action.

The wild finish came in the showdown between the league’s two nationally ranked teams. Central Washington rebounded from a 10-0 first quarter deficit against Azusa Pacific to take a 17-16 lead on Gavin Todd’s 42-yard field goal with one second left.

The Cougars did not go away quietly. On the ensuing kickoff, Azusa Pacific succeeded in pulling off a crazy hook-and-ladder lateral play to run back 58 yards for the touchdown and the win...or so they thought. An illegal forward pass negated the whole run back and provided the Wildcats the win.

In the other conference game of the day, Humboldt State fell just short of setting GNAC single-game records for scoring and total touchdowns in a 72-14 win over Simon Fraser at the Redwood Bowl. The Lumberjacks did tie single game records with six passing touchdowns and 10 point-after kicks made in the contest.

Quarterback Robert Webber was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after his 224 passing yards and 15 completions allowed him to become the Humboldt career leader in both categories. He stands No. 3 on the GNAC career list in both categories.

Western Oregon was hitting on all cylinders to earn its first win of the season at Western New Mexico, 58-21. The Wolves finished with 436 yards of total offense and picked off quarterback Javia Hall five times. Curtis Anderson had two of those picks, one returned 72 yards for a touchdown, to earn GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Western Oregon will have a tough test in its first home game of the season, hosting now No. 22 Humboldt State. Azusa Pacific and Simon Fraser, meanwhile, will try to return to the win column as the two teams face one another in Burnaby. B.C. Central Washington will take its No. 20 national ranking on the road to St. George, Utah, and a meeting with former GNAC foe Dixie State.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Robert Webber, Humboldt State
QB • 5-9 • 180 • Senior • Corona, Calif.

Webber completed 15 of 18 passes (83.3 completion percentage) for 224 yards and five touchdowns in the Lumberjacks’ 72-14 rout of Simon Fraser. In the process, Webber became the Humboldt State career leader in passing yards (8,155) and completions (664).

Also Nominated: Nick Duckworth (Western Oregon).

DEFENSE
Curtis Anderson, Western Oregon
DB • 6-2 • 195 • Freshman • Klamath Falls, Ore.

Anderson led the Wolves with seven tackles (3 solo, 4 assists) and had two interceptions in a 58-21 road win at Western New Mexico. He had two of WOU’s five total interceptions and one of two returned for a touchdown, going 72 yards to the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Also Nominated: Kevin Haynes, Central Washington.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Adrian Saldana, Western Oregon
K • 5-8 • 170 • Junior • West Covina, Calif.

Saldana went 3 for 4 on field goals and 5 for 5 on extra-point attempts in the Wolves’ 58-21 win at Western New Mexico. His three field goals came from 26, yards, 35 yards and 38 yards.

Also Nominated: Gavin Todd (Central Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
AZUSA PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Lost to Central Washington, 17-16
THIS WEEK: at Simon Fraser, Saturday, 1 p.m.

• Azusa Pacific saw a close game come to the final seconds as a 42-yard field goal with one second left allowed Central Washington a 17-16 win. The Cougars appeared to have pulled off a miracle win with the hook-and-ladder play on the ensuing kickoff, but was negated by an illegal forward pass.

• With the loss, APU dropped out of the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, but continues to receive votes with 10.

• The Cougars managed just 284 yards of total offense, with 178 of those coming on the ground. Gavin McDaniel had most of those yards, carrying 17 times for 125 yards.

• Quarterback Andrew Elffers completed just 5 of 15 passes for 108 yards and was intercepted twice. He also rushed 19 times for 53 yards and the Cougars’ two touchdowns. Elffers enters the week averaging 218.3 passing yards per game and is 22nd in Division II with 9.10 yards per pass attempt.

• The APU defense continued to be stout. Aaron Berry finished with 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and half sack. Adrian Shocks finished with 12 tackles. Berry enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 10th in Division II with 12 tackles per game.

• Azusa Pacific enters the week averaging 334.3 yards of total offense per game. The Cougars lead the league is pass defense, allowing 171 yads per game. Azusa Pacific is 10th in Division II in tackles for loss allowed (3.67 per game) and passing yards per completion (15.98).

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Won at Azusa Pacific, 17-16
THIS WEEK: at Dixie State, 5 p.m. (MDT)

• Central Washington bounced back from a 10-0 first quarter deficit to win the game on Gavin Todd’s 42-yard field goal with one second left as the Wildcats downed Azusa Pacific 17-16.

• With the win, Central Washington jumped three spots to No. 20 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, one of two GNAC teams in the top-25.

• Central Washington had possession for over 34 minutes and finished with 468 yards of total offense. Christian Cummings carried 17 times for 110 yards as CWU rushed for 263 yards. Jordan Tufaga carried 16 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Cummings is second in the GNAC in rushing with 72.7 yards per game.

• Quarterback Reilly Hennessey completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and rushed 10 times for 28 yards and a touchdown. The junior transfer enters the week averaging 208 yards per game.

• Linebacker Kevin Haynes led the defense with 10 tackles with a sack and a tackle for loss. He is tied for sixth in the GNAC in tackles with seven per game. Elisha Pa’aga had two sacks and two tackles for loss and enters the week 27th in Division II with 1.00 sacks per game.

• Todd went 2 for 2 on PAT attempts and is 4 for 4 this season on field goals with his game-winning 42 yarder. He is 20th in Division II with 1.33 field goals per game.

• Central Washington leads the GNAC and is 22nd in scoring defense with 16.3 points allowed per game. The Wildcats also lead the GNAC in total defense with 295 yards allowed per game. Offensively, CWU is averaging 421 yards per game and is 15th in Division II in first downs (70). The Wildcats are also fifth in Division II in team sacks (4) and 24th in time of possession (33:09 per game).

HUMBOLDT STATE
LAST WEEK: Beat Simon Fraser, 72-14
THIS WEEK: at Western Oregon, Saturday, 1 p.m.
 
• Humboldt State scored 10 touchdowns and rolled for 636 yards of total offense in a 72-14 rout of Simon Fraser in both team’s GNAC opener.

• With the win, the Lumberjacks jumped up into the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll at No. 22. They had received votes in each of the first three polls of the season.

• In the victory, Humboldt State tied GNAC single-game records with six passing touchdowns and 10 point-after kicks made. The Lumberjacks fell just short of the conference records of 11 touchdowns and 77 points.

• Quarterback Robert Webber completed 15 of 18 passes for 224 yards and threw for five touchdowns. In the process, Webber became Humboldt State’s career leader in passing yards (8,155) and pass completions (664). He is No. 3 on the GNAC career list in both categories. His effort earned the senior selection as GNAC Football Offensive Player of the Week. Webber enters the week leading the GNAC and fourth in Division II with a 201.3 pass efficency ranking. He is also 17th in Division II in points responsible for (18 per game).

• Running back Ja’Quan Gardner carried 12 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. The senior enters the week second in the GNAC and 18th in Division II with 169 all-purpose yards per game. He also leads the GNAC and is seventh in Division II with 144.5 rushing yards per game.

• A total of 10 players had rushing yards and 11 had at least one catch. Chase Krivashei led the receiving effort as he caught five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Four different players had receiving touchdowns for the Lumberjacks.

• As a team, Humboldt State leads the GNAC and is fifth in Division II in total offense with 546 yards per game and is second in Division II in scoring offense with 51 points per game. The Lumberjacks are fourth in Division II in rushing offense with 289.5 yards per game and eighth in rushing defense with 71 yards allowed per game. In addition, the Lumberjacks are third in team pass efficiency at 200.38.

• Humboldt State is among the least penalized teams in Division II. The Lumberjacks are second in Division II with eight penalties called, fifth in fewest penalty yards with 80 and seventh in fewest penalties per game with four.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Lost at Humboldt State, 72-14
THIS WEEK: vs. Azusa Pacific, Saturday, 1 p.m.

• Simon Fraser was limited to 193 yards of total offense in a 72-14 loss to Humboldt State at the Redwood Bowl.

• Quarterback Miles Richardson accounted for the majority of the offense, completing 20 of 41 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came in the second quarter on short passes to receiver Gavin Cobb. Richardson enters the week second in the GNAC and 16th in Division II with 282 passing yards per game.

• Cobb was one of eight Simon Fraser receivers with catches and also was the Clan’s top return man, bringing back six kicks for 224 yards. He enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 11th in Division II with 190.3 yards of total offense per game. He is also fifth in Division II with 346 combined kick return yards.

• Justin Buren was the Clan’s top receiver in the loss, catching six passes for a total of 59 yards.

• Defensively, Trevor Kemp and Brandon Lowry led the Clan with eight tackles each while Rey Arcega finished with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack.

• Simon Fraser enters the week ranked second in the GNAC and is 24th in passing offense, averaging 282 yards per game. The Clan is also tied for 12th in Division II with one fumble lost.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Won at Western New Mexico, 58-21
THIS WEEK: vs. Humboldt State, Saturday, 1 p.m.
 
• A total of 436 yards of total offense, five offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns provided Western Oregon its first win of the season, a 58-21 rout of Western New Mexico.

• Defensive back Curtis Anderson was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after finshing with seven tackles and two of the Wolves’ five interceptions. He returned one of those interceptions 72 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

• Kicker Adrian Saldana was named the GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week after he went 5 for 5 in point-after attempts and 3 for 4 on field goals in the victory. His field goals came from 26 yards, 35 yards and 38 yards. Saldana enters the week leading the GNAC and Division II with two field goals per game.

• Quarterback Nick Duckworth completed 17 of 24 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. He leads the GNAC and is 15th in Division II with 865 passing yards and 288.3 passing yards per game. Duckworth is also 13th in Division II with 23.33 completions per game.

• Wide receiver Paul Revis caught 10 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. He enters the week leading the GNAC and ranked 11th in Division II with 128 receiving yards per game. He is also second in Division II with 11.7 receptions per game and 30th with 158 all-purpose yards per game.

• Western Oregon enters the week leading the GNAC and 14th in Division II in passing offense with 310 yards per game. The Wolves lead Division II with three defensive touchdowns (two of which came against Western New Mexico) and fitth with four team sacks per game and fourth with seven passes intercepted.