at #8 Central Washington
Azusa Pacific Sports Information
NCAA Division II Football - Great Northwest Athletic Conference Azusa Pacific (5-3/3-3) at #8 Central Washington (8-0/5-0) Date: Saturday, October 28, 2017 | Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) Location: Ellensburg, Wash. | Tomlinson Stadium | Seating: 4,000 | Surface: Grass
Host Media Information National Broadcast: ESPN3 Talent: Dave Armstrong, Richard Baldinger Live Stats: Central Washington Athletics
Story Lines
Since becoming postseason-eligible in NCAA Divi-
Tickets
Phone: (509) 963-1429 Email: [email protected] Online: Wildcat Tickets
Adult (Reserved) .................................. $25 Adult (General Admission)................... $12 Senior (age 65+) .................................... $7 Student/Youth ........................................ $5
Azusa Pacific
Sports Information Director: Joe Reinsch Associate Director: Stephen Hinkel Graduate Assistant: Sarah Macias Phone: (626) 815-5085 Social Media: @APUCougars athletics.apu.edu
Game Day Weather
sion II in 2014, Azusa Pacific has posted an overall record of 30-11, which is a .732 winning percentage. In that timeframe, the Cougars have posted a GNAC-best 20-6 record in conference play. Azusa Pacific is one of the most consistent winning programs in NCAA Division II over the past five years, ranking in the top-10 of the division over its previous 57 games (see chart to right). Four of the five national championship game participants the past three years (Colorado State-Pueblo, Minnesota State-Mankato, Northwest Missouri State, Shepherd) occupy four of the top five spots on that list. The Cougars are 33-7 in their last 40 conference games, a stretch which dates back to a 2012 Homecoming victory over Central Washington. In last week’s 61-0 win over Simon Fraser, senior QB Andrew Elffers became the second QB in program history to record back-to-back 2,000-yard passing seasons, and sophomore WR Weston Carr became the fifth Cougar to reach 2,000 career receiving yards. With 20 career games, Carr is the fastest to 2,000 yards in program history. Azusa Pacific and Central Washington have done their part to lead the GNAC to an impressive 7-1 non-conference record against Division II competition. The teams have combined for five nonconference wins, with Azusa Pacific posting wins over West Texas A&M and Colorado School of Mines, while Central Washington is perfect in three non-conference games with victories over Texas A&M-Kingsville, Dixie State, and North Alabama.
Weather Forecast from wunderground.com
Conditions Daytime High Temperature Game Time Temperature Wind: Humidity: Cloud Cover: Chance of Precipitation: Sunset:
Clear 63° F 59° F 5 mph NNE 47% 0% 0% 5:53 p.m. PDT
NCAA Division II Win Leaders (last 57 games)
School (Super Region-Conference) 1. Northwest Missouri State (SR3-MIAA) 2. Shepherd (SR1-Mountain East) 3. Minnesota State-Mankato (SR4-NSIC) 4. Ferris State (SR3-GLIAC) 5. Colorado State-Pueblo (SR4-RMAC) 6. Minnesota-Duluth (SR4-NSIC) 7. Sioux Falls (SR4-NSIC) 8. Ashland (SR3-GLIAC) Indianapolis (SR3-GLVC) 10. Azusa Pacific (SR4-GNAC) Grand Valley State (SR3-GLIAC) Harding (SR3-GAC) Henderson State (SR3-GAC) Indiana (Pa.) (SR1-PSAC) Midwestern State (SR4-Lone Star) Virginia State (SR1-CIAA)
W 55 52 50 49 48 47 46 45 45 44 44 44 44 44 44 44
L 2 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13
Series History: Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
PCT .965 .912 .877 .860 .842 .825 .807 .789 .789 .772 .772 .772 .772 .772 .772 .772
2017 8-0 7-0 8-0 6-1 6-2 6-2 7-1 7-1 8-0 5-3 6-2 5-3 4-4 8-0 6-0 7-0
All-time series: Central Washington leads the all-time series with Azusa Pacific, 8-6; the visiting team has won six of the past seven games in the series.
Series Streaks Current: Central Washington (1, 2017) Longest: Central Washington (3, 2008-2012)
In Glendora: Central Washington (1, 2017) In Washington: Azusa Pacific (3, 2013-present)
2017 Azusa Pacific Schedule
Series History (all games): Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
09/02 09/09 09/16 09/23 09/30 10/07 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/04 11/11
Date 11/01/1997 09/19/1998 11/28/1998 11/01/2008 09/19/2009 09/22/2012 10/20/2012 09/28/2013 10/26/2013 10/04/2014 10/03/2015 09/17/2016 10/29/2016 10/29/2016
at West Texas A&M W 24-13 *HUMBOLDT STATE L 19-30 * (#23) L 16-17 *at Simon Fraser W 83-7 *WESTERN OREGON W 48-17 COLORADO MINES W 35-21 *at Humboldt State (#25) L 49-52 *SIMON FRASER W 61-0 * (#8) 1 p.m. *at Western Oregon 1 p.m. COLORADO MESA (#15) 6 p.m.
Location Azusa, Calif. Ellensburg, Wash. Azusa, Calif. (NAIA playoff semifinals) Azusa, Calif. Ellensburg, Wash. Bothell, Wash. (neutral) Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Ellensburg, Wash. Ellensburg, Wash. Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Ellensburg, Wash. Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium)
Winner Central Washington Central Washington Azusa Pacific Central Washington Central Washington Central Washington Azusa Pacific Central Washington Azusa Pacific Azusa Pacific Central Washington Azusa Pacific Azusa Pacific Central Washington
Score 28-7 51-17 35-28 36-6 42-10 41-17 24-17 7-3 24-17 27-20 24-21 27-17 44-7 17-16
*GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game
HEAD COACH VICTOR SANTA CRUZ
WATCH LIFE ON FILM: VICTOR
Head coach Victor Santa Cruz took Azusa Pacific football to a new classification, and he has already established the Cougars as an NCAA Division II destination program. Santa Cruz led Azusa Pacific to its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2016 after claiming the program’s third Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship in the past four years. In its first five years of NCAA Division II competition, Azusa Pacific produced a GNAC-best 39-17 overall record, winning 30 of its past 34 conference games entering the 2017 campaign. The Cougars were a perfect 8-0 in conference play in 2016 and were ranked as high as 13th in the Division II national coaches poll while earning selection into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in just three years of active NCAA membership. In 2013, Santa Cruz took a Cougar team picked fifth in the GNAC preseason poll to a 9-1 league record before concluding the historic season with a dominant postseason win in the Victory Bowl, 67-0 over Greenville College, to give Azusa Pacific its third 10-win season in program history. For his efforts, Santa Cruz was named the 2013 GNAC and National Christian College Athletic Association Coach of the Year. A year later, his team repeated the GNAC title with another 10-win campaign, this time starting the year with a thrilling nationally-televised 26-23 double-overtime win over Division II's all-time winningest program Grand Valley State in front of a school-record crowd of 6,199 plus the national TV audience. The Cougars responded from the season's lone setback with a season-ending nine-game win streak, led by Terrell Watson, who was the NCAA's leading rusher (all divisions) with 195.7 rushing yards per game. The 10-1 campaign was the first time Azusa Pacific produced back-to-back 10-win seasons. In 2015, despite the departures of Watson and offensive tackle Cody Clay to NFL camps, the Cougars extended their streak of producing a 1,000-yard rusher to a fifth straight year, helping produce the program's third consecutive winning season by going 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the GNAC. The outstanding coaching staff Santa Cruz has assembled includes NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, who was instrumental in the development of former walk-on tight end Luke Marquardt into an NFL-caliber offensive lineman (currently with the Detroit Lions) and 2014 graduate Cody Clay, who also signed an NFL free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons and participated in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys. In addition, running backs coach Ben Buys helped develop Watson into the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl MVP, which led to a spot on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in 2015 and a new free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2016. For all his recent success on the field, Santa Cruz is just as proud of the impact he's made on the program by placing his emphasis on the transformation of young men who can achieve success after graduation. His focus on academics has resulted in landing a league-high 44 players from Azusa Pacific on the GNAC All-Academic team over the past four seasons while claiming four consecutive GNAC academic team championships. "I'm a passionate guy," said Santa Cruz. "I'm passionate about Jesus Christ, my family and Azusa Pacific. Through competition on the field and in the classroom, I want to see young men exit this program with an understanding of effective process, a sense of self, and the vision to become successful husbands, fathers, employees and employers." It's a philosophy that has delivered concrete results, as evidenced by Azusa Pacific's recent success both on and off the field. The Cougars used a four-game winning streak at the end of the 2012 season as a springboard into consecutive 10-win seasons and GNAC titles in 2013 and 2014 and a third straight winning season in 2015 as the program has piled up a 30-7 record since winning its Homecoming game in 2012. The first four years of Division II competition came on the heels of back-to-back playoff appearances which wrapped up the program's long-standing affiliation as an NAIA independent program, and Santa Cruz was recognized as the NAIA Independent Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 season, which was Azusa Pacific's final year competing in the NAIA, opened with a narrow 42-40 loss to University of San Diego in a wild shootout that featured 48 combined fourth-quarter points in front of 6,124 (school attendance record at the time). Despite the season-opening defeat, Santa Cruz guided his team to six straight wins by an average margin of 38 points. The only other regular-season loss was a 38-31 setback at Lindenwood, but a resilient set of Cougars regrouped and closed out the regular season with back-to-back blowout wins over fellow NAIA independents Southern Oregon and Menlo to earn a spot in the 16-team NAIA playoffs. Azusa Pacific piled up 587 yards of total offense in a 49-26 first-round playoff win before traveling to Helena, Montana, for the second consecutive postseason, for a quarterfinal matchup with defending national champion Carroll College. The Cougars scored on the game's opening possession and didn't trail until late in the fourth quarter when Carroll chewed up over eight minutes of clock with an 18-play scoring drive to edge the Cougars, 17-14. Santa Cruz's 2011 offense, led by two-time NAIA Independent Offensive Player of the Year QB John van den Raadt, rushed for a school-record 3,915 yards in 2011 (326.2 yards per game) and also set the program's single-season records for scoring (45.6 points per game) and total offense (496.4 yards per game). Van den Raadt, who started 40 consecutive games for Santa Cruz, ended up shattering the program's career record for total offense, finishing with 9,335 yards which included another program-record of 6,639 yards passing. He was the only QB in scholarship college football (non-NCAA Division III) to average 100 yards rushing per game, and he was the leading rusher for Santa Cruz's offense which led the NAIA in rushing (3,915 yards) and scoring average (45.6), and also ranked as college football's most productive rushing offense by averaging 7.6 yards per rush attempt, making Azusa Pacific the only four-year college football program at any level in 2011 to average over seven yards per rush. That final round of Cougar success in the NAIA was even more rewarding due to the process it took for an independent program to get there. Santa Cruz annually clashed with some of the nation’s top programs, putting together schedules comprised primarily of top NCAA Division I FCS, Division II, and NAIA programs while traveling nationwide to play teams in Florida, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Oregon, Louisiana, Missouri, Washington, Montana, and Oklahoma. Now in his 16th year on the Cougar coaching staff, Santa Cruz came to Azusa Pacific in 2001, serving five seasons as an assistant before taking over as head coach in 2006. During his first three seasons he served as the offensive coordinator, overseeing the development of the program's alltime leading passer (Luke Winslow) and the fourth-best all-time rusher (Ben Buys) at the time they graduated. Santa Cruz played his collegiate ball at the University of Hawai'i, where he was a four-year linebacker for the Warriors, tallying 139 tackles (83 solo) during his career. He redshirted the 1990 season and then played in 46 games over the next four seasons (1991-94). As a 1992 sophomore, he played on the Rainbows' Western Athletic Conference championship team that beat Illinois in the Holiday Bowl. The son of a former U.S. Marines major, Santa Cruz lived in Hawai'i, Arizona, Japan, Orange County and San Diego, where he became a prep standout at Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, Calif. He was the Palomar League Defensive Player of the Year while collecting All-CIF honors as a 1989 senior. Santa Cruz graduated from the University of Hawai'i with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1995, and he completed a master's in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific in 2010. Santa Cruz, who also teaches in the university's exercise and sport science department, lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his wife Jamie and their three children, Victor, Jr. (15), Izabella (14), and Levi (11).
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
NCAA DIVISION II FOOTBALL RANKINGS AFCA Coaches’ Poll (Oct. 23, 2017) Last Rank Week 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 3 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 T-12 13 T-12 14 14 15 15 16 16 20 17 21 18 22 19 7 20 23 21 24 22 NR 23 NR 24 NR 25 18
School (1st place votes) Northwest Missouri State (34) Shepherd Minnesota State-Mankato Indiana (Pa.) Midwestern State Indianapolis Fort Hays State Central Washington Texas A&M-Commerce Winona State Ferris State Ashland Assumption Sioux Falls Colorado Mesa Wingate Virginia State Humboldt State Grand Valley State Bowie State Eastern New Mexico Findlay Central Missouri Colorado State-Pueblo West Alabama
2017 Record 8-0 7-0 8-0 8-0 6-0 8-0 8-0 8-0 6-1 8-0 6-1 7-1 7-0 7-1 7-1 7-0 7-0 6-1 6-2 7-1 6-1 7-1 6-2 6-2 6-2
Pts 850 794 753 749 697 687 646 571 539 537 503 475 475 397 382 349 303 250 216 206 168 115 83 82 70
Others receiving votes: West Georgia, 33; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 26; Delta St. (Miss.), 20; California (Pa.), 19; Washburn (Kan.), 18; Shippensburg (Pa.), 17; Arkansas Tech, 7; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 5; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 3; Catawba (N.C.), 1; Minnesota-Duluth, 1; Notre Dame (Ohio), 1; Southern Arkansas, 1; West Florida, 1.
D2Football.com (Oct. 24, 2017) Last Rank Week School 1 1 Northwest Missouri State 2 2 Indiana (Pa.) 3 3 Minnesota State-Mankato 4 5 Ashland 5 6 Shepherd 6 7 Midwestern State 7 8 Ferris State 8 9 Fort Hays State 9 10 Texas A&M-Commerce 10 11 Indianapolis 11 12 Winona State 12 14 Central Washington 13 15 Sioux Falls 14 4 Grand Valley State 15 16 Assumption 16 18 Wingate 17 20 Central Missouri 18 21 Virginia State 19 22 Colorado Mesa 20 24 West Georgia 21 25 Humboldt State 22 23 Colorado State-Pueblo 23 13 West Alabama 24 NR Minnesota Duluth 25 NR California (Pa.)
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2017 Record 8-0 8-0 8-0 7-1 7-0 6-0 6-1 8-0 6-1 8-0 8-0 8-0 7-1 6-2 7-0 7-0 6-2 7-0 7-1 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2
VS. NCAA DIVISION II Since 1996, Azusa Pacific is 55-35 (.611) vs. NCAA Division II opponents. In 2010, the Cougars snapped a 10-game losing streak to D-II teams by defeating Lincoln (Mo.) University, 59-14, and in 2011 Azusa Pacific split a pair of road games against D-II foes in consecutive weeks, defeating future GNAC rival Dixie State, 4819, before transitioning D-II program Lindenwood (Mo.) edged the Cougars by a 38-31 tally the following week. Azusa Pacific joined Division II’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2012, going 4-6 that year against GNAC foes. The Cougars have faced at least two D-II opponents every season since 2003, when Humboldt State was the Cougars’ lone D-II foe. Azusa Pacific vs. the GNAC (current members)
Opponent Central Washington Humboldt State Simon Fraser Western Oregon
Overall 6-8 13-22 11-1 8-5
2017 schedule L, 16-17 (9/16-H); 10/28 (A) L, 19-30 (9/9-H); L, 49-52 (10/14-A) W, 83-7 (9/23-A); W, 61-0 (10/21-H) W, 48-17 (9/30-H); 11/4 (A)
GNAC ON THE MOVE TO SUPER REGION FOUR In 2017, the NCAA Championships Committee approved the realignment of Division II Football regions, sending the Great Northwest Athletic Conference out of Super Region Three, which previously included teams from the Great American Conference (GAC), Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The GNAC and NSIC have both been moved to Super Region Four, joining the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) to comprise a super region containing 42 institutions. With the change, all three of Azusa Pacific’s nonconference games are against teams within the new super region after realignment. The realigned super regions are listed below: Super Region One (45 institutions) -Great Midwest Athletic Conference -Mountain East Conference -Northeast 10 Conference -Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Super Region Two (43 institutions) -Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association -Gulf South Conference -South Atlantic Conference -Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Super Region Three (42 institutions) -Great American Conference -Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference -Great Lakes Valley Conference -Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Super Region Four (42 institutions) -Great Northwest Athletic Conference -Lone Star Conference -Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference -Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
COUGARS POSTSEASON HISTORY Azusa Pacific made its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2016, which was the program’s third season of NCAA postseason eligibility. Prior to the NCAA Division II era, Azusa Pacific qualified for the NAIA playoffs eight times in a 14-year span (1998-2011), and during its transition to NCAA Division II membership the Cougars made another postseason appearance with a 2013 invitation to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl. The Cougars are 10-8 all-time in postseason play, winning their first six NAIA playoff games, including all four in 1998 to claim the NAIA national title in its firstever postseason appearance.
NCAA Division II Playoff Results 2016 (NCAA Division II Playoffs) at Sioux Falls, S.D. (first round) Sioux Falls 34, Azusa Pacific 21
NAIA/NCCAA Postseason Results 1998 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Azusa Pacific 31, Taylor 28 at Azusa, Calif. (quarterfinals) Azusa Pacific 35, C. Washington 28 at Azusa, Calif. (semifinals) Azusa Pacific 26, Huron 24 at Savannah, Tenn. (championship) Azusa Pacific 17, Olivet Nazarene 14 1999 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Azusa Pacific 31, Doane 12
at Azusa, Calif. (quarterfinals) Azusa Pacific 38, Hastings 35 at Azusa, Calif. (semifinals) Georgetown 66, Azusa Pacific 35 2000 (NAIA Playoffs) at Olathe, Kan. (first round) MidAmerica Naz. 27, Azusa Pacific 21 2003 (NAIA Playoffs) at Bismarck, N.D. (first round) Mary 20, Azusa Pacific 2 2004 (NAIA Playoffs) at Alva, Okla. (first round) Azusa Pacific 16, NW Oklahoma 0 at Azusa, Calif. (quarterfinals) Azusa Pacific 24, Sioux Falls 3 at Helena, Mont. (semifinals) Carroll 14, Azusa Pacific 10
2005 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Montana Tech 24, Azusa Pacific 17 2010 (NAIA Playoffs) at Helena, Mont. (first round) Carroll 35, Azusa Pacific 21 2011 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Azusa Pacific 49, Ottawa 26 at Helena, Mont. (quarterfinals) Carroll 17, Azusa Pacific 14 2013 (NCCAA Victory Bowl) at Rome, Ga. Azusa Pacific 67, Greenville (IL) 0
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
2017 GAME-BY-GAME RECAPS & MATCHUPS Sept. 2, 2017 (away), #13 Azusa Pacific 24, West Texas A&M 13: The Cougar defense kept the Buffs offense out of the end zone in the season opener, and Adrian Shocks sealed the win when he scooped up a fumble and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. QB Andrew Elffers and WR Weston Carr connected nine times for 161 yards of Elffers’ 236-yard passing total to lead the offense. Azusa Pacific Record: 1-0 / box score: page 8
2017 Conference Standings TEAM (ranking)
GNAC OVERALL PF PA (8) 5-0 8-0 315 126 Humboldt State (18) 5-1 6-1 328 230 Azusa Pacific (RV) 3-3 5-3 335 157 Western Oregon 1-5 2-6 266 290 Simon Fraser 0-5 0-7 77 429 Last Week’s Results Central Washington (H) def. North Alabama, 17-10 Humboldt State (H) def. Western Oregon, 42-32 Azusa Pacific (H) def. Simon Fraser, 61-0 This Week’s Schedule (all times local) Azusa Pacific at Central Washington, 1:00 pm *ESPN3 Humboldt State at Simon Fraser, 1:00 pm Western Oregon at Tarleton State, 7:00 pm
2017 Statistical Leaders Scoring Margin
Games
Total Offense
Rush Pass Yards YPP Avg
1. Central Washington 2. Azusa Pacific 3. Humboldt State 4. Western Oregon 5. Simon Fraser
1. Humboldt State 1549 2. Azusa Pacific 1553 3. Central Washington1907 4. Western Oregon 844 5. Simon Fraser 164
Total Defense
PA Margin
315 335 328 266 77
2049 2179 1767 2203 1453
126 157 230 290 429
3598 3732 3674 3047 1617
1592 1588 2226 2098 1770
2082 2925 3423 3016 3706
1. Azusa Pacific 29 (19/10) 2. Humboldt State 24 (17/7) 3. Central Washington 34 (19/15) 4. Western Oregon 20 (10/10) 5. Simon Fraser 8 (2/6)
6 1 6 8 0
Red Zone Defense tds (rush/pass) FG 1. Central Washington 9 (3/6) 2. Azusa Pacific 16 (14/2) 3. Humboldt State 28 (13/15) 4. Western Oregon 22 (9/13) 5. Simon Fraser 35 (20/15)
3rd Down Conversions 1. Humboldt State 2. Central Washington 3. Azusa Pacific 4. Western Oregon 5. Simon Fraser
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4.0 5.3 6.1 6.0 7.4
260.2 365.6 427.9 430.9 529.4
8 (2/6) 11 (3/8) 11 (4/7) 15 (9/6) 19 (6/13)
Red Zone Offense tds (rush/pass) FG
Azusa Pacific Central Washington Humboldt State Simon Fraser Western Oregon
514.0 466.5 459.2 380.9 231.0
Gained Lost (fumb/int) (fumb/int) Margin
1. Azusa Pacific 17 (7/10) 2. Western Oregon 18 (6/12) 3. Humboldt State 16 (7/9) 4. Central Washington 18 (3/15) 5. Simon Fraser 2 (1/1)
Sacks
7.5 7.4 6.1 5.5 3.6
+189 +178 +98 -24 -352
Rush Pass Yards YPP Avg
1. Central Washington490 2. Azusa Pacific 1337 3. Western Oregon 1197 4. Humboldt State 918 5. Simon Fraser 1936
Turnover Margin
PF
8 8 7 8 7
3 3 0 6 6
Conv 44 55 40 48 24
+9 +7 +5 +3 -17
total/opps %
35/41 25/30 40/49 28/36 8/14
85.4 83.3 81.6 77.8 57.1
total/opps %
12/21 19/25 28/35 28/33 41/47
Att 84 111 85 116 98
57.1 76.0 80.0 84.8 87.2
Pct
52.4 49.5 47.1 41.4 24.5
Sacks/Yards Allowed/Yards 25/174 34/214 5/26 4/27 19/104
14/98 5/23 9/48 34/214 17/102
Sept. 9, 2017 (home), Humboldt State 30, #8 Azusa Pacific 19: Andrew Elffers guided the offense to touchdowns on Azusa Pacific's first two possessions, but Humboldt State stopped the next five Cougar drives and regained the lead midway through the third quarter. Ja'Quan Gardner rushed 31 times for 168 yards, leading HSU to 242 yards rushing and 456 yards total offense, and he punched in all three of the Lumberjacks' rushing TDs, including the go-ahead score. Record: 1-1 (1-1 GNAC) / box score: page 9 Sept. 16, 2017 (home), #23 Central Washington 17, #22 Azusa Pacific 16: An Andrew Elffers touchdown run gave the Cougars a 16-14 lead with 4:45 to play, but Central Washington hit a 42yard field goal with one second left for the one-point road win over No. 22 Azusa Pacific. The Cougars took a six-lateral kickoff return into the end zone for what seemed to be the game-winning touchdown, only to have the nearly-miraculous moment called back for an illegal forward pass at its own 34-yard line. Record: 1-2 (0-2 GNAC) / box score: page 10 Sept. 23, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 83, Simon Fraser 7: Azusa Pacific set the school and GNAC scoring records (all in the first three quarters) in an 83-7 road win over Simon Fraser. The Cougars scored on each of their first 10 offensive possessions, plus two defensive scores and two safeties. The offense produced seven touchdown drives lasting less than two minutes, with four of them taking 42 seconds or less; seven of the scoring drives took four plays or less. The previous school record was 68 points, set in 2004 against Valley City State, and the previous GNAC scoring mark of 77 points was set in 2001 by Western Washington, which no longer sponsors football. Record: 2-2 (1-2 GNAC) / box score: page 11 Sept. 30, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 48, Western Oregon 17: Azusa Pacific broke open a tie game midway through the third quarter with 31 consecutive points to finish the game. A week after setting school and conference single-game scoring records, the Cougars’ 48-point outburst produced the highest two-game scoring total (131 points) in program history. Kurt Scoby rushed for 161 yards on 14 carries, and Andrew Elffers completed 18-of-32 passes for 262 yards. Weston Carr provided 11 of those catches for 174 yards and both of Elffers' touchdown passes. Record: 3-2 (2-2 GNAC) / box score: page 12
Oct. 7, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 35, Colorado School of Mines 21: Kurt Scoby rushed for a new season-high with 191 yards on 30 carries, while QB Andrew Elffers completed 20-of-30 passes for 208 yards and 3 TDs with WR Weston Carr hauling in 10 receptions for 162 yards with 2 TDs. The Cougars improved the GNAC record against in-region non-conference foes to 6-1 this year. Record: 4-2 (2-2 GNAC) / box score: page 13 Oct. 14, 2017 (away), #25 Humboldt State 52, Azusa Pacific 49: The Cougars and Lumberjacks combined for 14 touchdowns in an offensive shootout, but HSU secured the win with a field goal with 1:19 left. Andrew Elffers’ school-records for passing yards (475) and total offense (559) were overshadowed by Ja’Quan Gardner’s GNAC-records for all-purpose yards (446) and TDs (6). Record: 4-3 (2-3 GNAC) / box score: page 14 Oct. 21, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 61, Simon Fraser 0: Azusa Pacific posted its first home shutout in a GNAC game since joining the league in 2012, and it was among the most dominant defensive efforts seen under 12th-year head coach Victor Santa Cruz. Azusa Pacific limited the Clan to minus-54 yards rushing and 122 yards of total offense, collecting a season-high 8 sacks. Record: 5-3 (3-3 GNAC) / box score: page 15 Oct. 28, 2017 (away), Azusa Pacific at Central Washington (ESPN3 national broadcast) Series History: Central Washington leads the all-time series 8-6; the road team has won six of the past seven meetings. The national broadcast is the second time Azusa Pacific has appeared before a national audience since becoming an active member of NCAA Division II in 2014 (the Cougars’ first game of active NCAA membership was a nationally-televised 26-23 double-overtime win over preseason No. 2 Grand Valley State). Opponent current overall record / conference record / national rank: 8-0 overall / 5-0 GNAC / #8 Nov. 4, 2017 (away), Azusa Pacific at Western Oregon Series History: Azusa Pacific leads the all-time series 7-5 and has won three of its last four visits to Western Oregon (4-3 all-time in Monmouth), including a 31-2 victory last year. Opponent current overall record / conference record / national rank: 2-5 overall / 1-4 GNAC / NR Nov. 11, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific vs. Colorado Mesa Series History: Colorado Mesa won last year’s matchup, 33-24, as Azusa Pacific visited the Centennial State for its first two games against schools from Colorado in program history. The Cougars host the same schools at Citrus Stadium in 2017, as Colorado Mesa makes its first visit to California since 2005. Opponent current overall record / conference record / national rank: 7-1 overall / 7-1 RMAC / #15
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
5 Adams Jr., Darrell ...................................... duh-RELL 82 Bogardus, Jordan ............................ Bow-GARD-us 18 Bohanna, Robert ........................... Bow-HANN-uh 59 Burnside, Jabrion ................................. JAB-ree-ahn 54 Caraveo, Christian........................ CAR-uh-vay-oh 44 Casebier, Ben ........................................ CASE-beer 11 Elffers, Andrew............................................ELF-furs 70 Fatuesi, Mataio....... mah-TAY-oh fah-too-ESS-ee 56 Garcelli, Clay ........................................ gar-SELL-ee 86 Gerardi, Jake ...................................... jurr-ARR-dee 16 Hanckel, Jesse .......................................... HANK-ull 61 Hobbs, Haden........................................... HAY-den 66 Hungalu, Sakalaia ... SAH-kah-lye-uh hun-GAH-lou 10 Kaufusi, Drew ............................. kah-oo-FOO-see 53 Kragero, Carter .......................... CRAW-guh-row 77 Kupcikevicius, Joe .................... cup-si-KEV-itch-us 96 Muti, Ma’ake.................... mah-AH-kay MOO-tee 6 Olave, Josh ............................................oh-LAH-vay 84 Orzech, Matthew .................................... ORR-zeck 98 Polimeni, Robbie ........................ pole-uh-MEE-nee 23 Reddick, Zikel ........................................... zye-KELL 63 Rew, Kendall .................................................... ROO 20 Sukut, Ben .................................................... SUE-cut 37 Suliafu, Taliuaki .......Tall-ee-WALK-ee soo-lee-AH-foo 68 Sunda, Ahmad .................. ACH-mod SOON-dah 76 Vichot, Ricky ........................................ vish-SHOW 79 Wataru, Jonah .................................... wah-TAR-oo 85 Widmer, Lucas ................................... WIDD-murr
Had 100 Yards Rushing............................................................................................. Kurt Scoby vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 (126 yards) Had 200 Yards Rushing............................................................................................. Kurt Scoby vs. Colorado Mesa, 11/12/16 (211 yards) Had 300 Yards Rushing.................................................................................... Terrell Watson vs. Menlo, 11/15/14 (338 yards) *school record Scored 2 Rushing TDs ................................................................................................... Kurt Scoby vs. Colorado School of Mines, 10/7/17 Scored 3 Rushing TDs ....................................................................................................................Kurt Scoby vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 Scored 4 Rushing TDs ............................................................................................................................ Kurt Scoby vs. Dixie State, 10/17/15 Scored 5 Rushing TDs .................................. Terrell Watson vs. Simon Fraser (10/12/13), Dixie State (10/18/14), Menlo (11/15/14) Had 300 Yards Passing ............................................................................................Andrew Elffers vs. Humboldt State, 9/9/17 (311 yards) Had 400 Yards Passing ....................................................................................... Andrew Elffers vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 (475 yards) Threw 5 TD Passes .............................................................................................................................Rudy Carlton vs. Whitworth, 10/20/07 Had 10+ Receptions ........................................................................................... Weston Carr vs. Simon Fraser, 10/21/17 (10 receptions) Had 100 Yards Receiving.......................................................................................... Weston Carr vs. Simon Fraser, 10/21/17 (178 yards) Had 200 Yards Receiving............................................................................................. Caleb Willis vs. Cal Lutheran, 10/14/00 (249 yards) Two Players with 100 Yards Receiving ........................Darrell Adams Jr. (176) & Weston Carr (171) vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 Caught 4 TD Receptions ................................................................................................... Weston Carr vs. Central Washington, 10/29/16 Returned a Kickoff for a TD .................................................................................... Tyree Davis vs. Colorado Mines, 10/8/16 (100 yards) Returned a Punt for a TD .................................................................................................. Tarik Myles vs. Dixie State, 10/17/15 (57 yards) Returned a Blocked Punt for TD................................................................................. Kenny Norton vs. Simon Fraser, 9/24/16 (0 yards) Returned an Interception for a TD ........................................................................... Taliuaki Suliafu vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 (46 yards) Returned a Fumble for a TD ................................................................................... Robert Bohanna vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 (23 yards) Made 3 Field Goals ..................................................................................Jamie Cacciatore vs. Dixie State, 11/9/13 (19, 34, and 25 yards) Made 4 Field Goals ............................................................... Jamie Cacciatore vs. Western Oregon, 10/5/13 (40, 34, 28, and 26 yards) Made a 50+-Yard Field Goal .........................................................................................Jamie Cacciatore vs. Dixie State, 52 yards, 9/14/13 Had a 60+ Yard Punt............................................................................................... Jacob Hall vs. Central Washington, 9/17/16 (65 yards) Had 70+ Yard Punt .................................................................................................. Jacob Hall vs. Central Washington, 9/16/17 (74 yards) Blocked a Field Goal .......................................................................................................... Mykal Walker vs. Central Washington, 10/29/16 Blocked a Punt ...................................................................................................................................... Aaron Berry vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 Blocked a PAT ....................................................................................................................................Kendall Rew vs. Humboldt State, 9/9/17 Intercepted 2 Passes .......................................................................................................... C.J. Broussard vs. Central Washington, 10/29/16 Intercepted 3 Passes ............................................................................................................ Matt Zaengle vs. Central Washington, 11/28/98 Made a 2-Point Conversion ......................................................................................... Chad Jeffries rush vs. Central Washington, 10/3/15 Scored a Safety ........................................................................................................................................................... vs. Simon Fraser, 10/21/17 Scored 2 Safeties .......................................................................................................................................................... vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 Conceded a Safety ................................................................................................................................................vs. Western Oregon, 10/1/16
2017 AZUSA PACIFIC GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS Date (site) 09/02 (A) 09/09 (H)* 09/16 (H)* 09/23 (A)* 09/30(H)* 10/07 (H) 10/14 (A)* 10/21 (H)* 10/28 (A)* 11/04 (A)* 11/11 (H)
Opponent West Texas A&M Humboldt St. Central Wash. Simon Fraser Western Ore. Colorado Mines Humboldt St. Simon Fraser Central Wash. Western Ore. Colorado Mesa
WR Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr
TE/HB/WR Orzech Orzech Hursh Widmer Hursh Hursh Hursh Widmer
LT Vichot Vichot Vichot Northup Northup Northup Northup Northup
LG Murphy Murphy Rew Murphy Rew Rew Rew Rew
C Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu
RG Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda
RT Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius
QB Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers
TB McDaniel McDaniel McDaniel Scoby Scoby Scoby Scoby Scoby
WR Allen Allen Allen Bogardus Bogardus Widmer Bogardus Bogardus
WR Adams Adams C. Schwab Adams Adams Adams Adams Adams
Date (site) 09/02 (A) 09/09 (H)* 09/16 (H)* 09/23 (A)* 09/30(H)* 10/07 (H) 10/14 (A)* 10/21 (H)* 10/28 (A)* 11/04 (A)* 11/11 (H)
Opponent West Texas A&M Humboldt St. Central Wash. Simon Fraser Western Ore. Colorado Mines Humboldt St. Simon Fraser Central Wash. Western Ore. Colorado Mesa
DE Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz
NT Muti Muti Caraveo Caraveo Muti Muti Muti Muti
DE Garcelli Garcelli Bohanna Garcelli Bohanna Bohanna Bohanna Krall
DT/BANDIT Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Jimenez Jimenez Fair
WHIP Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry
MLB Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks
ROVER Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith
CB Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas
SS Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu
FS Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Frazier Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson
CB Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton
CAREER STATS
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Christian Okoye (1984-86)
Terrell Watson (2011-14)
34 3,569 6.76 94 18 6 10 26 1,680 21 7.15
79 5,756 6.20 80 27 9 23 52 2,153 29 6.75
Touchdowns Rushing Yards Avg. yards per carry Longest Rush 100-yard rushing games 200-yard rushing games Games with 2 or more TDs Rushes of 20-plus yards Best single-season rush yards Best single-season rushing TDs Best season avg. (yards per carry)
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
Azusa Pacific Numerical Roster NO 1 2 3 5 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 29 30 32 36 37 40 41 44 46 52 53 56 58 59 60 61 63 66 68 69 76 77 79 80 81 82 85 87 90 93 94 96
NAME Gavin McDaniel Kurt Scoby LeAndre Jefferson Lavell Thomas Tyrone Williams Josh Olave Weston Carr Darrell Adams Jr. Drew Kaufusi Andrew Elffers Ronnie Holley Kenny Norton III Jesse Hanckel Darryl Smith Robert Bohanna Rawston Redick Ben Sukut Quentin Frazier Aaron Berry Zikel Reddick Chris Hollis Isaiah Cordova Adrian Shocks Blaine Aguiar Andrew Ramirez Jacob Hall Taliuaki Suliafu Willie Fair Ray Riley Ben Casebier Abe Berg Tevin Krall Carter Kragero Clay Garcelli Maeaeafe Alailima Jabrion Burnside Ben Northup Haden Hobbs Kendall Rew Sakalaia Hungalu Ahmad Sunda Jasaan Andrews Ricky Vichot Joe Kupcikevicius Jonah Wataru Brensten Lindsey Andrew Anderson Jordan Bogardus Lucas Widmer Shane Hursh David Jimenez Conrado Simpson Jason Schwartz Ma’ake Muti
POS RB RB DB DB QB DB WR WR LB QB WR CB QB DB DE CB DB DB LB RB WR DB DB K S K/P SS LB RB LB LB DL LS DL DL LB OL DE OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE WR TE/HB TE DL DE DE DL
HT 5-8 5-8 5-10 5-11 6-3 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-10 5-8 5-10 6-1 6-0 5-8 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-10 5-9 5-9 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-5 6-3 5-11
WT 180 180 215 185 215 180 200 230 220 220 205 210 210 215 240 190 210 185 210 205 175 170 210 195 180 195 200 240 200 190 200 260 190 215 280 225 300 235 320 290 300 290 315 315 290 170 230 195 235 245 280 290 245 280
CLASS Junior Junior Junior Junior Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Senior Junior Senior Sophomore Senior Sophomore Junior Freshman Freshman Junior Freshman Senior Freshman Junior Junior Junior Junior Senior Sophomore Sophomore Senior Sophomore Junior Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Junior Sophomore Senior Senior Junior Senior Freshman Senior Senior Junior Junior Freshman Freshman Junior Sophomore Sophomore Senior Senior Junior
MAJOR HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/LAST SCHOOL) Business Finance Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS/Washington) Criminal Justice Duarte, Calif. (Monrovia HS) Criminal Justice Tulare, Calif. (Mission Oak HS) Communication Studies Riverside, Calif. (Arlington HS/Riverside CC) Criminal Justice Merced, Calif. (Merced HS) Business Administration San Ysidro, Calif. (Mission Hills HS) Sociology Benicia, Calif. (Benicia HS) Business Management Oakland, Calif. (Stellar Prep) Business Entrepreneurship Waimanalo, Hawai‘i (Kaiser HS) Business (M.B.A.) Arcadia, Calif. (Maranatha HS) Communication Visalia, Calif. (Mount Whitney HS/Adams State) Business Management Bellevue, Wash. (Issaquah HS) Business Management Sunland, Calif. (Village Christian HS/Pasadena CC) Kinesiology Covina, Calif. (St. Joseph HS/Missouri Southern State) Criminal Justice Fresno, Calif. (Central HS) Applied Exercise Science Castaic, Calif. (West Ranch HS/College of the Canyons) Business San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Capistrano Valley HS/Arkansas State) Business Management Spring Valley, Calif. (Mater Dei HS) Physical Education Perris, Calif. (Perris HS) Applied Exercise Science Simi Valley, Calif. (Grace Brethren HS) Sociology Pasadena, Calif. (Pasadena HS/Mt. San Antonio CC) Fresno, Calif. (Clovis North HS) Finance Federal Way, Wash. (Todd Beamer HS/San Francisco) Applied Exercise Science Atascadero, Calif. (Atascadero HS) Applied Exercise Science Havelock, N.C. (Havelock HS) Engineering Greenville, Ill. (Greenville HS) Sociology Moreno Valley, Calif. (Moreno Valley HS) Applied Exercise Science Chula Vista, Calif. (Steele Canyon HS) Business Management Murrieta, Calif. (Chaparral HS) History Medford, Ore. (South Medford HS) Business Management Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS) Sociology Ventura, Calif. (Ventura HS) Finance Happy Valley, Ore. (Clackamas HS) Allied Health Ontario, Calif. (Chino Hills HS) Business La Mesa, Calif. (Helix HS) Business Management San Diego, Calif. (Helix HS) Kinesiology Glendora, Calif. (Glendora HS/Fresno State) Accounting Visalia, Calif. (Redwood HS) Business Management Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS) Criminal Justice Honolulu, Hawai‘i (McKinley HS) Business (M.B.M.) Anaheim Hills, Calif. (Canyon HS) Finance Oakland, Calif. (Skyline HS) Applied Exercise Science Downey, Calif. (Warren HS) Sociology Oak Lawn, Ill. (Richards HS/Mt. San Antonio CC) Business Management Honolulu, Hawai‘i (Iolani HS) Psychology Warner Robins, Ga. (Houston County HS/Alabama State) Criminal Justice La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada HS) Business Management Eastvale, Calif. (Norco HS/Arizona) Applied Exercise Science Lathrop, Calif. (Sierra HS) Philosophy Fairbanks, Alaska (North Pole HS) Business Hacienda Heights, Calif. (Los Altos HS/Mt. San Antonio CC) Business Management Rosemead, Calif. (Rosemead HS/East Los Angeles CC) Business Marketing Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dos Pueblos HS) Criminal Justice Wahiawa, Hawai‘i (Leilehua HS)
HEAD COACH: Victor Santa Cruz ASSISTANTS: Cesar Rivas-Sandoval (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator), Rudy Carlton (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Bo Beatty (whips & bandits), Richard Brown (wide receivers), Ben Buys (running backs/run game coordinator), Gabe Higerd (special teams coordinator/strength & conditioning), Matt Johnson (tight ends), Jackie Slater (offensive line), Manako Tuifua (defensive line), Jake Thomas (offensive assistant), C.J. Broussard (defensive assistant), Tyler Davis (defensive assistant), Ronald Douglas (defensive assistant)
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
NCAA Division II Football - Great Northwest Athletic Conference Azusa Pacific (5-3/3-3) at #8 Central Washington (8-0/5-0) Date: Saturday, October 28, 2017 | Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) Location: Ellensburg, Wash. | Tomlinson Stadium | Seating: 4,000 | Surface: Grass
Host Media Information National Broadcast: ESPN3 Talent: Dave Armstrong, Richard Baldinger Live Stats: Central Washington Athletics
Story Lines
Since becoming postseason-eligible in NCAA Divi-
Tickets
Phone: (509) 963-1429 Email: [email protected] Online: Wildcat Tickets
Adult (Reserved) .................................. $25 Adult (General Admission)................... $12 Senior (age 65+) .................................... $7 Student/Youth ........................................ $5
Azusa Pacific
Sports Information Director: Joe Reinsch Associate Director: Stephen Hinkel Graduate Assistant: Sarah Macias Phone: (626) 815-5085 Social Media: @APUCougars athletics.apu.edu
Game Day Weather
sion II in 2014, Azusa Pacific has posted an overall record of 30-11, which is a .732 winning percentage. In that timeframe, the Cougars have posted a GNAC-best 20-6 record in conference play. Azusa Pacific is one of the most consistent winning programs in NCAA Division II over the past five years, ranking in the top-10 of the division over its previous 57 games (see chart to right). Four of the five national championship game participants the past three years (Colorado State-Pueblo, Minnesota State-Mankato, Northwest Missouri State, Shepherd) occupy four of the top five spots on that list. The Cougars are 33-7 in their last 40 conference games, a stretch which dates back to a 2012 Homecoming victory over Central Washington. In last week’s 61-0 win over Simon Fraser, senior QB Andrew Elffers became the second QB in program history to record back-to-back 2,000-yard passing seasons, and sophomore WR Weston Carr became the fifth Cougar to reach 2,000 career receiving yards. With 20 career games, Carr is the fastest to 2,000 yards in program history. Azusa Pacific and Central Washington have done their part to lead the GNAC to an impressive 7-1 non-conference record against Division II competition. The teams have combined for five nonconference wins, with Azusa Pacific posting wins over West Texas A&M and Colorado School of Mines, while Central Washington is perfect in three non-conference games with victories over Texas A&M-Kingsville, Dixie State, and North Alabama.
Weather Forecast from wunderground.com
Conditions Daytime High Temperature Game Time Temperature Wind: Humidity: Cloud Cover: Chance of Precipitation: Sunset:
Clear 63° F 59° F 5 mph NNE 47% 0% 0% 5:53 p.m. PDT
NCAA Division II Win Leaders (last 57 games)
School (Super Region-Conference) 1. Northwest Missouri State (SR3-MIAA) 2. Shepherd (SR1-Mountain East) 3. Minnesota State-Mankato (SR4-NSIC) 4. Ferris State (SR3-GLIAC) 5. Colorado State-Pueblo (SR4-RMAC) 6. Minnesota-Duluth (SR4-NSIC) 7. Sioux Falls (SR4-NSIC) 8. Ashland (SR3-GLIAC) Indianapolis (SR3-GLVC) 10. Azusa Pacific (SR4-GNAC) Grand Valley State (SR3-GLIAC) Harding (SR3-GAC) Henderson State (SR3-GAC) Indiana (Pa.) (SR1-PSAC) Midwestern State (SR4-Lone Star) Virginia State (SR1-CIAA)
W 55 52 50 49 48 47 46 45 45 44 44 44 44 44 44 44
L 2 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13
Series History: Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
PCT .965 .912 .877 .860 .842 .825 .807 .789 .789 .772 .772 .772 .772 .772 .772 .772
2017 8-0 7-0 8-0 6-1 6-2 6-2 7-1 7-1 8-0 5-3 6-2 5-3 4-4 8-0 6-0 7-0
All-time series: Central Washington leads the all-time series with Azusa Pacific, 8-6; the visiting team has won six of the past seven games in the series.
Series Streaks Current: Central Washington (1, 2017) Longest: Central Washington (3, 2008-2012)
In Glendora: Central Washington (1, 2017) In Washington: Azusa Pacific (3, 2013-present)
2017 Azusa Pacific Schedule
Series History (all games): Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
09/02 09/09 09/16 09/23 09/30 10/07 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/04 11/11
Date 11/01/1997 09/19/1998 11/28/1998 11/01/2008 09/19/2009 09/22/2012 10/20/2012 09/28/2013 10/26/2013 10/04/2014 10/03/2015 09/17/2016 10/29/2016 10/29/2016
at West Texas A&M W 24-13 *HUMBOLDT STATE L 19-30 * (#23) L 16-17 *at Simon Fraser W 83-7 *WESTERN OREGON W 48-17 COLORADO MINES W 35-21 *at Humboldt State (#25) L 49-52 *SIMON FRASER W 61-0 * (#8) 1 p.m. *at Western Oregon 1 p.m. COLORADO MESA (#15) 6 p.m.
Location Azusa, Calif. Ellensburg, Wash. Azusa, Calif. (NAIA playoff semifinals) Azusa, Calif. Ellensburg, Wash. Bothell, Wash. (neutral) Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Ellensburg, Wash. Ellensburg, Wash. Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Ellensburg, Wash. Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium) Glendora, Calif. (Citrus Stadium)
Winner Central Washington Central Washington Azusa Pacific Central Washington Central Washington Central Washington Azusa Pacific Central Washington Azusa Pacific Azusa Pacific Central Washington Azusa Pacific Azusa Pacific Central Washington
Score 28-7 51-17 35-28 36-6 42-10 41-17 24-17 7-3 24-17 27-20 24-21 27-17 44-7 17-16
*GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game *GNAC game
HEAD COACH VICTOR SANTA CRUZ
WATCH LIFE ON FILM: VICTOR
Head coach Victor Santa Cruz took Azusa Pacific football to a new classification, and he has already established the Cougars as an NCAA Division II destination program. Santa Cruz led Azusa Pacific to its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2016 after claiming the program’s third Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship in the past four years. In its first five years of NCAA Division II competition, Azusa Pacific produced a GNAC-best 39-17 overall record, winning 30 of its past 34 conference games entering the 2017 campaign. The Cougars were a perfect 8-0 in conference play in 2016 and were ranked as high as 13th in the Division II national coaches poll while earning selection into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in just three years of active NCAA membership. In 2013, Santa Cruz took a Cougar team picked fifth in the GNAC preseason poll to a 9-1 league record before concluding the historic season with a dominant postseason win in the Victory Bowl, 67-0 over Greenville College, to give Azusa Pacific its third 10-win season in program history. For his efforts, Santa Cruz was named the 2013 GNAC and National Christian College Athletic Association Coach of the Year. A year later, his team repeated the GNAC title with another 10-win campaign, this time starting the year with a thrilling nationally-televised 26-23 double-overtime win over Division II's all-time winningest program Grand Valley State in front of a school-record crowd of 6,199 plus the national TV audience. The Cougars responded from the season's lone setback with a season-ending nine-game win streak, led by Terrell Watson, who was the NCAA's leading rusher (all divisions) with 195.7 rushing yards per game. The 10-1 campaign was the first time Azusa Pacific produced back-to-back 10-win seasons. In 2015, despite the departures of Watson and offensive tackle Cody Clay to NFL camps, the Cougars extended their streak of producing a 1,000-yard rusher to a fifth straight year, helping produce the program's third consecutive winning season by going 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the GNAC. The outstanding coaching staff Santa Cruz has assembled includes NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, who was instrumental in the development of former walk-on tight end Luke Marquardt into an NFL-caliber offensive lineman (currently with the Detroit Lions) and 2014 graduate Cody Clay, who also signed an NFL free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons and participated in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys. In addition, running backs coach Ben Buys helped develop Watson into the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl MVP, which led to a spot on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in 2015 and a new free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2016. For all his recent success on the field, Santa Cruz is just as proud of the impact he's made on the program by placing his emphasis on the transformation of young men who can achieve success after graduation. His focus on academics has resulted in landing a league-high 44 players from Azusa Pacific on the GNAC All-Academic team over the past four seasons while claiming four consecutive GNAC academic team championships. "I'm a passionate guy," said Santa Cruz. "I'm passionate about Jesus Christ, my family and Azusa Pacific. Through competition on the field and in the classroom, I want to see young men exit this program with an understanding of effective process, a sense of self, and the vision to become successful husbands, fathers, employees and employers." It's a philosophy that has delivered concrete results, as evidenced by Azusa Pacific's recent success both on and off the field. The Cougars used a four-game winning streak at the end of the 2012 season as a springboard into consecutive 10-win seasons and GNAC titles in 2013 and 2014 and a third straight winning season in 2015 as the program has piled up a 30-7 record since winning its Homecoming game in 2012. The first four years of Division II competition came on the heels of back-to-back playoff appearances which wrapped up the program's long-standing affiliation as an NAIA independent program, and Santa Cruz was recognized as the NAIA Independent Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 season, which was Azusa Pacific's final year competing in the NAIA, opened with a narrow 42-40 loss to University of San Diego in a wild shootout that featured 48 combined fourth-quarter points in front of 6,124 (school attendance record at the time). Despite the season-opening defeat, Santa Cruz guided his team to six straight wins by an average margin of 38 points. The only other regular-season loss was a 38-31 setback at Lindenwood, but a resilient set of Cougars regrouped and closed out the regular season with back-to-back blowout wins over fellow NAIA independents Southern Oregon and Menlo to earn a spot in the 16-team NAIA playoffs. Azusa Pacific piled up 587 yards of total offense in a 49-26 first-round playoff win before traveling to Helena, Montana, for the second consecutive postseason, for a quarterfinal matchup with defending national champion Carroll College. The Cougars scored on the game's opening possession and didn't trail until late in the fourth quarter when Carroll chewed up over eight minutes of clock with an 18-play scoring drive to edge the Cougars, 17-14. Santa Cruz's 2011 offense, led by two-time NAIA Independent Offensive Player of the Year QB John van den Raadt, rushed for a school-record 3,915 yards in 2011 (326.2 yards per game) and also set the program's single-season records for scoring (45.6 points per game) and total offense (496.4 yards per game). Van den Raadt, who started 40 consecutive games for Santa Cruz, ended up shattering the program's career record for total offense, finishing with 9,335 yards which included another program-record of 6,639 yards passing. He was the only QB in scholarship college football (non-NCAA Division III) to average 100 yards rushing per game, and he was the leading rusher for Santa Cruz's offense which led the NAIA in rushing (3,915 yards) and scoring average (45.6), and also ranked as college football's most productive rushing offense by averaging 7.6 yards per rush attempt, making Azusa Pacific the only four-year college football program at any level in 2011 to average over seven yards per rush. That final round of Cougar success in the NAIA was even more rewarding due to the process it took for an independent program to get there. Santa Cruz annually clashed with some of the nation’s top programs, putting together schedules comprised primarily of top NCAA Division I FCS, Division II, and NAIA programs while traveling nationwide to play teams in Florida, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Oregon, Louisiana, Missouri, Washington, Montana, and Oklahoma. Now in his 16th year on the Cougar coaching staff, Santa Cruz came to Azusa Pacific in 2001, serving five seasons as an assistant before taking over as head coach in 2006. During his first three seasons he served as the offensive coordinator, overseeing the development of the program's alltime leading passer (Luke Winslow) and the fourth-best all-time rusher (Ben Buys) at the time they graduated. Santa Cruz played his collegiate ball at the University of Hawai'i, where he was a four-year linebacker for the Warriors, tallying 139 tackles (83 solo) during his career. He redshirted the 1990 season and then played in 46 games over the next four seasons (1991-94). As a 1992 sophomore, he played on the Rainbows' Western Athletic Conference championship team that beat Illinois in the Holiday Bowl. The son of a former U.S. Marines major, Santa Cruz lived in Hawai'i, Arizona, Japan, Orange County and San Diego, where he became a prep standout at Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, Calif. He was the Palomar League Defensive Player of the Year while collecting All-CIF honors as a 1989 senior. Santa Cruz graduated from the University of Hawai'i with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1995, and he completed a master's in organizational leadership from Azusa Pacific in 2010. Santa Cruz, who also teaches in the university's exercise and sport science department, lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his wife Jamie and their three children, Victor, Jr. (15), Izabella (14), and Levi (11).
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
NCAA DIVISION II FOOTBALL RANKINGS AFCA Coaches’ Poll (Oct. 23, 2017) Last Rank Week 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 3 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 T-12 13 T-12 14 14 15 15 16 16 20 17 21 18 22 19 7 20 23 21 24 22 NR 23 NR 24 NR 25 18
School (1st place votes) Northwest Missouri State (34) Shepherd Minnesota State-Mankato Indiana (Pa.) Midwestern State Indianapolis Fort Hays State Central Washington Texas A&M-Commerce Winona State Ferris State Ashland Assumption Sioux Falls Colorado Mesa Wingate Virginia State Humboldt State Grand Valley State Bowie State Eastern New Mexico Findlay Central Missouri Colorado State-Pueblo West Alabama
2017 Record 8-0 7-0 8-0 8-0 6-0 8-0 8-0 8-0 6-1 8-0 6-1 7-1 7-0 7-1 7-1 7-0 7-0 6-1 6-2 7-1 6-1 7-1 6-2 6-2 6-2
Pts 850 794 753 749 697 687 646 571 539 537 503 475 475 397 382 349 303 250 216 206 168 115 83 82 70
Others receiving votes: West Georgia, 33; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 26; Delta St. (Miss.), 20; California (Pa.), 19; Washburn (Kan.), 18; Shippensburg (Pa.), 17; Arkansas Tech, 7; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 5; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 3; Catawba (N.C.), 1; Minnesota-Duluth, 1; Notre Dame (Ohio), 1; Southern Arkansas, 1; West Florida, 1.
D2Football.com (Oct. 24, 2017) Last Rank Week School 1 1 Northwest Missouri State 2 2 Indiana (Pa.) 3 3 Minnesota State-Mankato 4 5 Ashland 5 6 Shepherd 6 7 Midwestern State 7 8 Ferris State 8 9 Fort Hays State 9 10 Texas A&M-Commerce 10 11 Indianapolis 11 12 Winona State 12 14 Central Washington 13 15 Sioux Falls 14 4 Grand Valley State 15 16 Assumption 16 18 Wingate 17 20 Central Missouri 18 21 Virginia State 19 22 Colorado Mesa 20 24 West Georgia 21 25 Humboldt State 22 23 Colorado State-Pueblo 23 13 West Alabama 24 NR Minnesota Duluth 25 NR California (Pa.)
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2017 Record 8-0 8-0 8-0 7-1 7-0 6-0 6-1 8-0 6-1 8-0 8-0 8-0 7-1 6-2 7-0 7-0 6-2 7-0 7-1 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2
VS. NCAA DIVISION II Since 1996, Azusa Pacific is 55-35 (.611) vs. NCAA Division II opponents. In 2010, the Cougars snapped a 10-game losing streak to D-II teams by defeating Lincoln (Mo.) University, 59-14, and in 2011 Azusa Pacific split a pair of road games against D-II foes in consecutive weeks, defeating future GNAC rival Dixie State, 4819, before transitioning D-II program Lindenwood (Mo.) edged the Cougars by a 38-31 tally the following week. Azusa Pacific joined Division II’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2012, going 4-6 that year against GNAC foes. The Cougars have faced at least two D-II opponents every season since 2003, when Humboldt State was the Cougars’ lone D-II foe. Azusa Pacific vs. the GNAC (current members)
Opponent Central Washington Humboldt State Simon Fraser Western Oregon
Overall 6-8 13-22 11-1 8-5
2017 schedule L, 16-17 (9/16-H); 10/28 (A) L, 19-30 (9/9-H); L, 49-52 (10/14-A) W, 83-7 (9/23-A); W, 61-0 (10/21-H) W, 48-17 (9/30-H); 11/4 (A)
GNAC ON THE MOVE TO SUPER REGION FOUR In 2017, the NCAA Championships Committee approved the realignment of Division II Football regions, sending the Great Northwest Athletic Conference out of Super Region Three, which previously included teams from the Great American Conference (GAC), Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The GNAC and NSIC have both been moved to Super Region Four, joining the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) to comprise a super region containing 42 institutions. With the change, all three of Azusa Pacific’s nonconference games are against teams within the new super region after realignment. The realigned super regions are listed below: Super Region One (45 institutions) -Great Midwest Athletic Conference -Mountain East Conference -Northeast 10 Conference -Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Super Region Two (43 institutions) -Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association -Gulf South Conference -South Atlantic Conference -Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Super Region Three (42 institutions) -Great American Conference -Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference -Great Lakes Valley Conference -Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Super Region Four (42 institutions) -Great Northwest Athletic Conference -Lone Star Conference -Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference -Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
COUGARS POSTSEASON HISTORY Azusa Pacific made its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2016, which was the program’s third season of NCAA postseason eligibility. Prior to the NCAA Division II era, Azusa Pacific qualified for the NAIA playoffs eight times in a 14-year span (1998-2011), and during its transition to NCAA Division II membership the Cougars made another postseason appearance with a 2013 invitation to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl. The Cougars are 10-8 all-time in postseason play, winning their first six NAIA playoff games, including all four in 1998 to claim the NAIA national title in its firstever postseason appearance.
NCAA Division II Playoff Results 2016 (NCAA Division II Playoffs) at Sioux Falls, S.D. (first round) Sioux Falls 34, Azusa Pacific 21
NAIA/NCCAA Postseason Results 1998 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Azusa Pacific 31, Taylor 28 at Azusa, Calif. (quarterfinals) Azusa Pacific 35, C. Washington 28 at Azusa, Calif. (semifinals) Azusa Pacific 26, Huron 24 at Savannah, Tenn. (championship) Azusa Pacific 17, Olivet Nazarene 14 1999 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Azusa Pacific 31, Doane 12
at Azusa, Calif. (quarterfinals) Azusa Pacific 38, Hastings 35 at Azusa, Calif. (semifinals) Georgetown 66, Azusa Pacific 35 2000 (NAIA Playoffs) at Olathe, Kan. (first round) MidAmerica Naz. 27, Azusa Pacific 21 2003 (NAIA Playoffs) at Bismarck, N.D. (first round) Mary 20, Azusa Pacific 2 2004 (NAIA Playoffs) at Alva, Okla. (first round) Azusa Pacific 16, NW Oklahoma 0 at Azusa, Calif. (quarterfinals) Azusa Pacific 24, Sioux Falls 3 at Helena, Mont. (semifinals) Carroll 14, Azusa Pacific 10
2005 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Montana Tech 24, Azusa Pacific 17 2010 (NAIA Playoffs) at Helena, Mont. (first round) Carroll 35, Azusa Pacific 21 2011 (NAIA Playoffs) at Azusa, Calif. (first round) Azusa Pacific 49, Ottawa 26 at Helena, Mont. (quarterfinals) Carroll 17, Azusa Pacific 14 2013 (NCCAA Victory Bowl) at Rome, Ga. Azusa Pacific 67, Greenville (IL) 0
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
2017 GAME-BY-GAME RECAPS & MATCHUPS Sept. 2, 2017 (away), #13 Azusa Pacific 24, West Texas A&M 13: The Cougar defense kept the Buffs offense out of the end zone in the season opener, and Adrian Shocks sealed the win when he scooped up a fumble and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. QB Andrew Elffers and WR Weston Carr connected nine times for 161 yards of Elffers’ 236-yard passing total to lead the offense. Azusa Pacific Record: 1-0 / box score: page 8
2017 Conference Standings TEAM (ranking)
GNAC OVERALL PF PA (8) 5-0 8-0 315 126 Humboldt State (18) 5-1 6-1 328 230 Azusa Pacific (RV) 3-3 5-3 335 157 Western Oregon 1-5 2-6 266 290 Simon Fraser 0-5 0-7 77 429 Last Week’s Results Central Washington (H) def. North Alabama, 17-10 Humboldt State (H) def. Western Oregon, 42-32 Azusa Pacific (H) def. Simon Fraser, 61-0 This Week’s Schedule (all times local) Azusa Pacific at Central Washington, 1:00 pm *ESPN3 Humboldt State at Simon Fraser, 1:00 pm Western Oregon at Tarleton State, 7:00 pm
2017 Statistical Leaders Scoring Margin
Games
Total Offense
Rush Pass Yards YPP Avg
1. Central Washington 2. Azusa Pacific 3. Humboldt State 4. Western Oregon 5. Simon Fraser
1. Humboldt State 1549 2. Azusa Pacific 1553 3. Central Washington1907 4. Western Oregon 844 5. Simon Fraser 164
Total Defense
PA Margin
315 335 328 266 77
2049 2179 1767 2203 1453
126 157 230 290 429
3598 3732 3674 3047 1617
1592 1588 2226 2098 1770
2082 2925 3423 3016 3706
1. Azusa Pacific 29 (19/10) 2. Humboldt State 24 (17/7) 3. Central Washington 34 (19/15) 4. Western Oregon 20 (10/10) 5. Simon Fraser 8 (2/6)
6 1 6 8 0
Red Zone Defense tds (rush/pass) FG 1. Central Washington 9 (3/6) 2. Azusa Pacific 16 (14/2) 3. Humboldt State 28 (13/15) 4. Western Oregon 22 (9/13) 5. Simon Fraser 35 (20/15)
3rd Down Conversions 1. Humboldt State 2. Central Washington 3. Azusa Pacific 4. Western Oregon 5. Simon Fraser
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4.0 5.3 6.1 6.0 7.4
260.2 365.6 427.9 430.9 529.4
8 (2/6) 11 (3/8) 11 (4/7) 15 (9/6) 19 (6/13)
Red Zone Offense tds (rush/pass) FG
Azusa Pacific Central Washington Humboldt State Simon Fraser Western Oregon
514.0 466.5 459.2 380.9 231.0
Gained Lost (fumb/int) (fumb/int) Margin
1. Azusa Pacific 17 (7/10) 2. Western Oregon 18 (6/12) 3. Humboldt State 16 (7/9) 4. Central Washington 18 (3/15) 5. Simon Fraser 2 (1/1)
Sacks
7.5 7.4 6.1 5.5 3.6
+189 +178 +98 -24 -352
Rush Pass Yards YPP Avg
1. Central Washington490 2. Azusa Pacific 1337 3. Western Oregon 1197 4. Humboldt State 918 5. Simon Fraser 1936
Turnover Margin
PF
8 8 7 8 7
3 3 0 6 6
Conv 44 55 40 48 24
+9 +7 +5 +3 -17
total/opps %
35/41 25/30 40/49 28/36 8/14
85.4 83.3 81.6 77.8 57.1
total/opps %
12/21 19/25 28/35 28/33 41/47
Att 84 111 85 116 98
57.1 76.0 80.0 84.8 87.2
Pct
52.4 49.5 47.1 41.4 24.5
Sacks/Yards Allowed/Yards 25/174 34/214 5/26 4/27 19/104
14/98 5/23 9/48 34/214 17/102
Sept. 9, 2017 (home), Humboldt State 30, #8 Azusa Pacific 19: Andrew Elffers guided the offense to touchdowns on Azusa Pacific's first two possessions, but Humboldt State stopped the next five Cougar drives and regained the lead midway through the third quarter. Ja'Quan Gardner rushed 31 times for 168 yards, leading HSU to 242 yards rushing and 456 yards total offense, and he punched in all three of the Lumberjacks' rushing TDs, including the go-ahead score. Record: 1-1 (1-1 GNAC) / box score: page 9 Sept. 16, 2017 (home), #23 Central Washington 17, #22 Azusa Pacific 16: An Andrew Elffers touchdown run gave the Cougars a 16-14 lead with 4:45 to play, but Central Washington hit a 42yard field goal with one second left for the one-point road win over No. 22 Azusa Pacific. The Cougars took a six-lateral kickoff return into the end zone for what seemed to be the game-winning touchdown, only to have the nearly-miraculous moment called back for an illegal forward pass at its own 34-yard line. Record: 1-2 (0-2 GNAC) / box score: page 10 Sept. 23, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 83, Simon Fraser 7: Azusa Pacific set the school and GNAC scoring records (all in the first three quarters) in an 83-7 road win over Simon Fraser. The Cougars scored on each of their first 10 offensive possessions, plus two defensive scores and two safeties. The offense produced seven touchdown drives lasting less than two minutes, with four of them taking 42 seconds or less; seven of the scoring drives took four plays or less. The previous school record was 68 points, set in 2004 against Valley City State, and the previous GNAC scoring mark of 77 points was set in 2001 by Western Washington, which no longer sponsors football. Record: 2-2 (1-2 GNAC) / box score: page 11 Sept. 30, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 48, Western Oregon 17: Azusa Pacific broke open a tie game midway through the third quarter with 31 consecutive points to finish the game. A week after setting school and conference single-game scoring records, the Cougars’ 48-point outburst produced the highest two-game scoring total (131 points) in program history. Kurt Scoby rushed for 161 yards on 14 carries, and Andrew Elffers completed 18-of-32 passes for 262 yards. Weston Carr provided 11 of those catches for 174 yards and both of Elffers' touchdown passes. Record: 3-2 (2-2 GNAC) / box score: page 12
Oct. 7, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 35, Colorado School of Mines 21: Kurt Scoby rushed for a new season-high with 191 yards on 30 carries, while QB Andrew Elffers completed 20-of-30 passes for 208 yards and 3 TDs with WR Weston Carr hauling in 10 receptions for 162 yards with 2 TDs. The Cougars improved the GNAC record against in-region non-conference foes to 6-1 this year. Record: 4-2 (2-2 GNAC) / box score: page 13 Oct. 14, 2017 (away), #25 Humboldt State 52, Azusa Pacific 49: The Cougars and Lumberjacks combined for 14 touchdowns in an offensive shootout, but HSU secured the win with a field goal with 1:19 left. Andrew Elffers’ school-records for passing yards (475) and total offense (559) were overshadowed by Ja’Quan Gardner’s GNAC-records for all-purpose yards (446) and TDs (6). Record: 4-3 (2-3 GNAC) / box score: page 14 Oct. 21, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific 61, Simon Fraser 0: Azusa Pacific posted its first home shutout in a GNAC game since joining the league in 2012, and it was among the most dominant defensive efforts seen under 12th-year head coach Victor Santa Cruz. Azusa Pacific limited the Clan to minus-54 yards rushing and 122 yards of total offense, collecting a season-high 8 sacks. Record: 5-3 (3-3 GNAC) / box score: page 15 Oct. 28, 2017 (away), Azusa Pacific at Central Washington (ESPN3 national broadcast) Series History: Central Washington leads the all-time series 8-6; the road team has won six of the past seven meetings. The national broadcast is the second time Azusa Pacific has appeared before a national audience since becoming an active member of NCAA Division II in 2014 (the Cougars’ first game of active NCAA membership was a nationally-televised 26-23 double-overtime win over preseason No. 2 Grand Valley State). Opponent current overall record / conference record / national rank: 8-0 overall / 5-0 GNAC / #8 Nov. 4, 2017 (away), Azusa Pacific at Western Oregon Series History: Azusa Pacific leads the all-time series 7-5 and has won three of its last four visits to Western Oregon (4-3 all-time in Monmouth), including a 31-2 victory last year. Opponent current overall record / conference record / national rank: 2-5 overall / 1-4 GNAC / NR Nov. 11, 2017 (home), Azusa Pacific vs. Colorado Mesa Series History: Colorado Mesa won last year’s matchup, 33-24, as Azusa Pacific visited the Centennial State for its first two games against schools from Colorado in program history. The Cougars host the same schools at Citrus Stadium in 2017, as Colorado Mesa makes its first visit to California since 2005. Opponent current overall record / conference record / national rank: 7-1 overall / 7-1 RMAC / #15
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
5 Adams Jr., Darrell ...................................... duh-RELL 82 Bogardus, Jordan ............................ Bow-GARD-us 18 Bohanna, Robert ........................... Bow-HANN-uh 59 Burnside, Jabrion ................................. JAB-ree-ahn 54 Caraveo, Christian........................ CAR-uh-vay-oh 44 Casebier, Ben ........................................ CASE-beer 11 Elffers, Andrew............................................ELF-furs 70 Fatuesi, Mataio....... mah-TAY-oh fah-too-ESS-ee 56 Garcelli, Clay ........................................ gar-SELL-ee 86 Gerardi, Jake ...................................... jurr-ARR-dee 16 Hanckel, Jesse .......................................... HANK-ull 61 Hobbs, Haden........................................... HAY-den 66 Hungalu, Sakalaia ... SAH-kah-lye-uh hun-GAH-lou 10 Kaufusi, Drew ............................. kah-oo-FOO-see 53 Kragero, Carter .......................... CRAW-guh-row 77 Kupcikevicius, Joe .................... cup-si-KEV-itch-us 96 Muti, Ma’ake.................... mah-AH-kay MOO-tee 6 Olave, Josh ............................................oh-LAH-vay 84 Orzech, Matthew .................................... ORR-zeck 98 Polimeni, Robbie ........................ pole-uh-MEE-nee 23 Reddick, Zikel ........................................... zye-KELL 63 Rew, Kendall .................................................... ROO 20 Sukut, Ben .................................................... SUE-cut 37 Suliafu, Taliuaki .......Tall-ee-WALK-ee soo-lee-AH-foo 68 Sunda, Ahmad .................. ACH-mod SOON-dah 76 Vichot, Ricky ........................................ vish-SHOW 79 Wataru, Jonah .................................... wah-TAR-oo 85 Widmer, Lucas ................................... WIDD-murr
Had 100 Yards Rushing............................................................................................. Kurt Scoby vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 (126 yards) Had 200 Yards Rushing............................................................................................. Kurt Scoby vs. Colorado Mesa, 11/12/16 (211 yards) Had 300 Yards Rushing.................................................................................... Terrell Watson vs. Menlo, 11/15/14 (338 yards) *school record Scored 2 Rushing TDs ................................................................................................... Kurt Scoby vs. Colorado School of Mines, 10/7/17 Scored 3 Rushing TDs ....................................................................................................................Kurt Scoby vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 Scored 4 Rushing TDs ............................................................................................................................ Kurt Scoby vs. Dixie State, 10/17/15 Scored 5 Rushing TDs .................................. Terrell Watson vs. Simon Fraser (10/12/13), Dixie State (10/18/14), Menlo (11/15/14) Had 300 Yards Passing ............................................................................................Andrew Elffers vs. Humboldt State, 9/9/17 (311 yards) Had 400 Yards Passing ....................................................................................... Andrew Elffers vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 (475 yards) Threw 5 TD Passes .............................................................................................................................Rudy Carlton vs. Whitworth, 10/20/07 Had 10+ Receptions ........................................................................................... Weston Carr vs. Simon Fraser, 10/21/17 (10 receptions) Had 100 Yards Receiving.......................................................................................... Weston Carr vs. Simon Fraser, 10/21/17 (178 yards) Had 200 Yards Receiving............................................................................................. Caleb Willis vs. Cal Lutheran, 10/14/00 (249 yards) Two Players with 100 Yards Receiving ........................Darrell Adams Jr. (176) & Weston Carr (171) vs. Humboldt State, 10/14/17 Caught 4 TD Receptions ................................................................................................... Weston Carr vs. Central Washington, 10/29/16 Returned a Kickoff for a TD .................................................................................... Tyree Davis vs. Colorado Mines, 10/8/16 (100 yards) Returned a Punt for a TD .................................................................................................. Tarik Myles vs. Dixie State, 10/17/15 (57 yards) Returned a Blocked Punt for TD................................................................................. Kenny Norton vs. Simon Fraser, 9/24/16 (0 yards) Returned an Interception for a TD ........................................................................... Taliuaki Suliafu vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 (46 yards) Returned a Fumble for a TD ................................................................................... Robert Bohanna vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 (23 yards) Made 3 Field Goals ..................................................................................Jamie Cacciatore vs. Dixie State, 11/9/13 (19, 34, and 25 yards) Made 4 Field Goals ............................................................... Jamie Cacciatore vs. Western Oregon, 10/5/13 (40, 34, 28, and 26 yards) Made a 50+-Yard Field Goal .........................................................................................Jamie Cacciatore vs. Dixie State, 52 yards, 9/14/13 Had a 60+ Yard Punt............................................................................................... Jacob Hall vs. Central Washington, 9/17/16 (65 yards) Had 70+ Yard Punt .................................................................................................. Jacob Hall vs. Central Washington, 9/16/17 (74 yards) Blocked a Field Goal .......................................................................................................... Mykal Walker vs. Central Washington, 10/29/16 Blocked a Punt ...................................................................................................................................... Aaron Berry vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 Blocked a PAT ....................................................................................................................................Kendall Rew vs. Humboldt State, 9/9/17 Intercepted 2 Passes .......................................................................................................... C.J. Broussard vs. Central Washington, 10/29/16 Intercepted 3 Passes ............................................................................................................ Matt Zaengle vs. Central Washington, 11/28/98 Made a 2-Point Conversion ......................................................................................... Chad Jeffries rush vs. Central Washington, 10/3/15 Scored a Safety ........................................................................................................................................................... vs. Simon Fraser, 10/21/17 Scored 2 Safeties .......................................................................................................................................................... vs. Simon Fraser, 9/23/17 Conceded a Safety ................................................................................................................................................vs. Western Oregon, 10/1/16
2017 AZUSA PACIFIC GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS Date (site) 09/02 (A) 09/09 (H)* 09/16 (H)* 09/23 (A)* 09/30(H)* 10/07 (H) 10/14 (A)* 10/21 (H)* 10/28 (A)* 11/04 (A)* 11/11 (H)
Opponent West Texas A&M Humboldt St. Central Wash. Simon Fraser Western Ore. Colorado Mines Humboldt St. Simon Fraser Central Wash. Western Ore. Colorado Mesa
WR Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr Carr
TE/HB/WR Orzech Orzech Hursh Widmer Hursh Hursh Hursh Widmer
LT Vichot Vichot Vichot Northup Northup Northup Northup Northup
LG Murphy Murphy Rew Murphy Rew Rew Rew Rew
C Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu Hungalu
RG Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda Sunda
RT Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius Kupcikevicius
QB Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers Elffers
TB McDaniel McDaniel McDaniel Scoby Scoby Scoby Scoby Scoby
WR Allen Allen Allen Bogardus Bogardus Widmer Bogardus Bogardus
WR Adams Adams C. Schwab Adams Adams Adams Adams Adams
Date (site) 09/02 (A) 09/09 (H)* 09/16 (H)* 09/23 (A)* 09/30(H)* 10/07 (H) 10/14 (A)* 10/21 (H)* 10/28 (A)* 11/04 (A)* 11/11 (H)
Opponent West Texas A&M Humboldt St. Central Wash. Simon Fraser Western Ore. Colorado Mines Humboldt St. Simon Fraser Central Wash. Western Ore. Colorado Mesa
DE Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz Schwartz
NT Muti Muti Caraveo Caraveo Muti Muti Muti Muti
DE Garcelli Garcelli Bohanna Garcelli Bohanna Bohanna Bohanna Krall
DT/BANDIT Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Jimenez Jimenez Fair
WHIP Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry Berry
MLB Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks Shocks
ROVER Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith
CB Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas
SS Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu Suliafu
FS Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Frazier Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson
CB Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton Norton
CAREER STATS
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Christian Okoye (1984-86)
Terrell Watson (2011-14)
34 3,569 6.76 94 18 6 10 26 1,680 21 7.15
79 5,756 6.20 80 27 9 23 52 2,153 29 6.75
Touchdowns Rushing Yards Avg. yards per carry Longest Rush 100-yard rushing games 200-yard rushing games Games with 2 or more TDs Rushes of 20-plus yards Best single-season rush yards Best single-season rushing TDs Best season avg. (yards per carry)
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
Azusa Pacific Numerical Roster NO 1 2 3 5 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 29 30 32 36 37 40 41 44 46 52 53 56 58 59 60 61 63 66 68 69 76 77 79 80 81 82 85 87 90 93 94 96
NAME Gavin McDaniel Kurt Scoby LeAndre Jefferson Lavell Thomas Tyrone Williams Josh Olave Weston Carr Darrell Adams Jr. Drew Kaufusi Andrew Elffers Ronnie Holley Kenny Norton III Jesse Hanckel Darryl Smith Robert Bohanna Rawston Redick Ben Sukut Quentin Frazier Aaron Berry Zikel Reddick Chris Hollis Isaiah Cordova Adrian Shocks Blaine Aguiar Andrew Ramirez Jacob Hall Taliuaki Suliafu Willie Fair Ray Riley Ben Casebier Abe Berg Tevin Krall Carter Kragero Clay Garcelli Maeaeafe Alailima Jabrion Burnside Ben Northup Haden Hobbs Kendall Rew Sakalaia Hungalu Ahmad Sunda Jasaan Andrews Ricky Vichot Joe Kupcikevicius Jonah Wataru Brensten Lindsey Andrew Anderson Jordan Bogardus Lucas Widmer Shane Hursh David Jimenez Conrado Simpson Jason Schwartz Ma’ake Muti
POS RB RB DB DB QB DB WR WR LB QB WR CB QB DB DE CB DB DB LB RB WR DB DB K S K/P SS LB RB LB LB DL LS DL DL LB OL DE OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE WR TE/HB TE DL DE DE DL
HT 5-8 5-8 5-10 5-11 6-3 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-10 5-8 5-10 6-1 6-0 5-8 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-10 5-9 5-9 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-5 6-3 5-11
WT 180 180 215 185 215 180 200 230 220 220 205 210 210 215 240 190 210 185 210 205 175 170 210 195 180 195 200 240 200 190 200 260 190 215 280 225 300 235 320 290 300 290 315 315 290 170 230 195 235 245 280 290 245 280
CLASS Junior Junior Junior Junior Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Senior Junior Senior Sophomore Senior Sophomore Junior Freshman Freshman Junior Freshman Senior Freshman Junior Junior Junior Junior Senior Sophomore Sophomore Senior Sophomore Junior Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Junior Sophomore Senior Senior Junior Senior Freshman Senior Senior Junior Junior Freshman Freshman Junior Sophomore Sophomore Senior Senior Junior
MAJOR HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/LAST SCHOOL) Business Finance Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS/Washington) Criminal Justice Duarte, Calif. (Monrovia HS) Criminal Justice Tulare, Calif. (Mission Oak HS) Communication Studies Riverside, Calif. (Arlington HS/Riverside CC) Criminal Justice Merced, Calif. (Merced HS) Business Administration San Ysidro, Calif. (Mission Hills HS) Sociology Benicia, Calif. (Benicia HS) Business Management Oakland, Calif. (Stellar Prep) Business Entrepreneurship Waimanalo, Hawai‘i (Kaiser HS) Business (M.B.A.) Arcadia, Calif. (Maranatha HS) Communication Visalia, Calif. (Mount Whitney HS/Adams State) Business Management Bellevue, Wash. (Issaquah HS) Business Management Sunland, Calif. (Village Christian HS/Pasadena CC) Kinesiology Covina, Calif. (St. Joseph HS/Missouri Southern State) Criminal Justice Fresno, Calif. (Central HS) Applied Exercise Science Castaic, Calif. (West Ranch HS/College of the Canyons) Business San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Capistrano Valley HS/Arkansas State) Business Management Spring Valley, Calif. (Mater Dei HS) Physical Education Perris, Calif. (Perris HS) Applied Exercise Science Simi Valley, Calif. (Grace Brethren HS) Sociology Pasadena, Calif. (Pasadena HS/Mt. San Antonio CC) Fresno, Calif. (Clovis North HS) Finance Federal Way, Wash. (Todd Beamer HS/San Francisco) Applied Exercise Science Atascadero, Calif. (Atascadero HS) Applied Exercise Science Havelock, N.C. (Havelock HS) Engineering Greenville, Ill. (Greenville HS) Sociology Moreno Valley, Calif. (Moreno Valley HS) Applied Exercise Science Chula Vista, Calif. (Steele Canyon HS) Business Management Murrieta, Calif. (Chaparral HS) History Medford, Ore. (South Medford HS) Business Management Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS) Sociology Ventura, Calif. (Ventura HS) Finance Happy Valley, Ore. (Clackamas HS) Allied Health Ontario, Calif. (Chino Hills HS) Business La Mesa, Calif. (Helix HS) Business Management San Diego, Calif. (Helix HS) Kinesiology Glendora, Calif. (Glendora HS/Fresno State) Accounting Visalia, Calif. (Redwood HS) Business Management Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS) Criminal Justice Honolulu, Hawai‘i (McKinley HS) Business (M.B.M.) Anaheim Hills, Calif. (Canyon HS) Finance Oakland, Calif. (Skyline HS) Applied Exercise Science Downey, Calif. (Warren HS) Sociology Oak Lawn, Ill. (Richards HS/Mt. San Antonio CC) Business Management Honolulu, Hawai‘i (Iolani HS) Psychology Warner Robins, Ga. (Houston County HS/Alabama State) Criminal Justice La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada HS) Business Management Eastvale, Calif. (Norco HS/Arizona) Applied Exercise Science Lathrop, Calif. (Sierra HS) Philosophy Fairbanks, Alaska (North Pole HS) Business Hacienda Heights, Calif. (Los Altos HS/Mt. San Antonio CC) Business Management Rosemead, Calif. (Rosemead HS/East Los Angeles CC) Business Marketing Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dos Pueblos HS) Criminal Justice Wahiawa, Hawai‘i (Leilehua HS)
HEAD COACH: Victor Santa Cruz ASSISTANTS: Cesar Rivas-Sandoval (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator), Rudy Carlton (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Bo Beatty (whips & bandits), Richard Brown (wide receivers), Ben Buys (running backs/run game coordinator), Gabe Higerd (special teams coordinator/strength & conditioning), Matt Johnson (tight ends), Jackie Slater (offensive line), Manako Tuifua (defensive line), Jake Thomas (offensive assistant), C.J. Broussard (defensive assistant), Tyler Davis (defensive assistant), Ronald Douglas (defensive assistant)
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
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Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
#APUonESPN
Azusa Pacific vs. Central Washington
October 28, 2017, 1:00 p.m.
