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GLENDORA, Calif. (Sept. 28) -- Sophomore Jordan Todd (Bellevue/Interlake HS) ran for 189 yards on a career-high 37 carries, and the Central Washington University defense made a first-quarter touchdown catch by junior Adam Schechter (Simi Valley, Calif.) stand as the Wildcats (2-2, 2-1 GNAC) defeated host Azusa Pacific University (2-2, 2-1 GNAC), 7-3, on Saturday night at Citrus Stadium in Glendora, Calif. The 10 combined points were the fewest in a game involving CWU since a 10-0 Wildcat victory in the 2009 season opener at Mesa State.

The Wildcats and Cougars are now part of a four-way tie atop the six-team Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with 2-1 league records. Simon Fraser and Western Oregon are also 2-1 in conference games.

"Our defense played an outstanding game," CWU head coach John Picha said. "To be able to hold any team (to three points and 176 yards of offense) is pretty good. The guys played with everything that had, and the defensive coaching staff did an excellent job preparing them for this game."

The Wildcats' defense held an Azusa Pacific team that had been averaging 27 points per game in its first three outings to just a second-quarter field goal by Jamie Cacciatore. The Cougars also managed just 176 total yards -- 21 fewer than the number of all-purpose yards by the Wildcats' Todd alone -- against a stout CWU defense that is now allowing just 13 points per contest in 2013.

Meanwhile, on offense, the Wildcats tried to jumpstart themselves early by recovering an on-side kick to start the game, but that drive -- as well as the next two -- stalled without any points on the scoreboard. Then, three carries by Todd including a 53-yarder helped march CWU down the field, and starting quarterback Jake Nelson (Fr., Lake Stevens) then connected with Schechter on a third-and-goal play to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

"We tried to give ourselves an added possession early (with the on-side kick)," Picha said. "We just weren't able to convert on it. That, as well as the fumble on the next series, hurt us offensively and we had a hard time moving the ball through the air as a whole."

Aside from the four-yard scoring pass from Nelson to Schechter in the opening quarter, CWU didn't accomplish much through the air with just 50 passing yards on a combined 10 of 22 completions from Nelson and fellow freshman Justin Lane (Arlington/Lakewood HS).

Todd, meanwhile, had 23 of his carries in the second half as CWU worked to keep the clock as an ally while holding its four-point lead. Seventeen of his carries came in the final quarter alone, when he netted 73 total rushing yards and when the Wildcats held onto possession for nearly 10 of the final 15 minutes.

Defensively, the Wildcats had balanced totals in the tackle department, with southern California native Austin Schnizler (Sr., Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS) and senior Stan Langlow (University Place/Curtis HS) sharing team-best honors with seven tackles. Three other players finished with six tackles, and CWU as a squad had nine total tackles for losses. Senior defensive tackle Donnie Johnson (Olympia/Capital HS) had a pair of quarterback sacks and the Wildcats held Azusa Pacific to just 46 net rushing yards and only 11 of 33 pass completions.

The Cougars' standout running back, Terrell Watson, was held to just 40 yards on 13 carries.

CWU will make a return trip to California next weekend, visiting Humboldt State University (0-4, 0-3 GNAC) in Arcata for a 6 p.m. contest on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Wildcats will then have their annual Homecoming game on Oct. 12 against Dixie State University.