Nov. 5, 2014 (Week 9)
Contact: Bob Guptill ([email protected])
503-305-8756 / www.gnacsports.com
Azusa Pacific Ranked 8th in Region; Holds Out Hope to Earn Playoff Berth
GNAC STANDINGS
x-Azusa Pacific
Central Washington
Humboldt State
Western Oregon
Simon Fraser
South Dakota Mines
Dixie State
x – GNAC champion
Conf.
W
L
6
0
4
2
3
2
3
2
2
4
1
4
0
5
Both Humboldt State (7-2, 3-2) and Western Oregon (5-5, 3-2) can
earn a share of second with wins against Dixie State (1-9, 0-5) and
South Dakota Mines (2-8, 1-4), respectively.
All
W
9
6
7
5
2
2
1
L
1
4
2
5
8
8
9
H
5-0
3-1
4-0
4-0
1-4
0-5
1-5
A
4-1
2-3
3-2
1-5
1-3
2-3
0-4
N
0-0
1-0
0-0
0-0
0-1
0-0
0-0
LAST SATURDAY’S SCORES
*Azusa Pacific 21 at Simon Fraser 6
*Central Washington 49 at Dixie State 17
*Humboldt State 31 at Western Oregon 33
Southwest Baptist 54 at South Dakota Mines 50
THIS SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
Menlo at Azusa Pacific, 4 p.m.
Central Washington at Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.
*Dixie State at Humboldt State, 1 p.m.
*Western Oregon at South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m.
*Conference Game
PORTLAND, Ore. – GNAC champion Azusa Pacific still has hope to
advance to the opening round of next Saturday’s NCAA football
championships. But they will likely need some help.
Two weeks – and two wins - after earning a No. 5 regional rank,
the Cougars (9-1) are now ranked eighth in Super Regional III and
will need to move ahead of two teams after Saturday’s games to
qualify.
The NCAA will announce the qualifiers Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific
with a web cast on ncaa.com.
There are two games matching Top 10 teams Saturday – No. 2
Ouachita Baptist (9-0) plays at No. 9 Henderson State (9-1) and
No. 4 Pittsburg State (9-1) visits No. 10 Central Oklahoma (8-2).
Azusa Pacific, which finished its conference season with a perfect
6-0 record to earn its second straight GNAC title, concludes its
regular-season Saturday against NAIA Menlo.
Central Washington (6-4, 4-2), which plays at Simon Fraser in a
non-conference contest Saturday, will finish no worse than a tie
th
for second. CWU will finish in the Top 2 in the GNAC for the 10
time in 11 years.
The Lumberjacks are at home to conclude their season; the
Wolves visit Rapid City, S.D.
GAMES TO WATCH IN THE REGION: Upper Iowa (6-4) at #1 Minn.
St. Mankato (10-0); #2 Ouachita Baptist (9-0) at #9 Henderson
State (9-1); #3 Minnesota Duluth (10-0) at Minot State (1-9); #4
Pittsburg State (9-1) at #10 Central Oklahoma (8-2); #5 Northwest
Missouri (9-1) at Washburn (4-6); Arkansas Tech (3-7) at #6
Harding (8-1); Wayne State (5-5) at #7 Sioux Falls (9-1).
Defense and Special Teams
Central Washington’s defense and special teams have accounted
for eight touchdowns this season, two more than the rest of the
GNAC’s six teams combined.
The Wildcats have five of the GNAC’s seven interception return
touchdowns and rank fourth nationally in defensive TDs. They
lead the GNAC in interceptions with 19 for 452 yards
CWU’s Jesse Zalk returned a kickoff 90 yards last Saturday at Dixie
State for the first and only GNAC kickoff return TD of the season
th
so far. Zalk ranks 11 nationally in kickoff returns averaging 29.9.
The Wildcats have also produced two of six punt return
touchdowns in the conference.
Milestones and Records
In his first two seasons, Zalk has established himself as the GNAC
all-time leader in kickoff return average (30.4). CWU’s Isaiah
Davis ranks second with a 25.3 average.
Simon Fraser’s Earl Anderson had three kickoff returns for 45
yards against Azusa Pacific establish himself as the first player in
GNAC history to record 100 returns and 2,000 career yards. He
has 100 for 2,018.
th
Chris Campbell’s next punt will be his 200 . The Humboldt State
punter ranks fifth in GNAC history with a 40.5 average. This year
he’s second in the conference with a 40.8 average.
CWU defensive back Cedrique Chaney is the conference career
leader in career pass break ups with 30; Davis ranks fifth with 25.