The Central Washington University football team (2-0, 1-0 GNAC) looks to stay unbeaten when they travel to Glendora, Calif. to take on the reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Champions of Azusa Pacific (1-1, 0-1 GNAC) this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Both teams enter the week ranked in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25, with the Wildcats breaking into the mix at 23, while the Cougars sit at 22. The Wildcats opened its GNAC schedule with a 30-23 win last week, while Azusa Pacific broke its nine game GNAC winning streak, falling to Humboldt State 30-19.
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ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Breaking the Top 25
Central Washington cracked the AFCA Top 25 this week, coming in at 25. The Wildcat defense also has top 25 recognition, ranking sixth in rushing defense at 46.5 yards per game. The CWU defense also ranks fifth in third down conversion defense (.179), and ninth in red zone defense at .400.
What the Hillel Will He Do Next?
The position listed as "Athlete" is rarely used, but sophomore JoJo Hillel might fit the description better than anyone. Listed as a quarterback on the roster, Hillel has been featured all over the field. He has been in the backfield -- as both a quarterback and a running back --, he has lined up at receiver, and returned kicks so far this season, totaling 111 all-purpose yards, and we can throw in 38 passing yards as well. Hillel has, thrown, caught, and ran for a touchdown so far this season, joining Jim Dillingham (1987) and Jordan Todd (2014) as the only three players in the history of CWU Football to accomplish the feat in one season.
Todd Earns GNAC POTW
Junior kicker Gavin Todd earned GNAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors last week, by going 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts, connecting from 31, 23, and 20 yards. Todd accounted for 12 of CWU's 30 points against Western Oregon, and tripled the football teams field goals from a year ago, in just one game.
Haynes Chasing Down History
The senior linebacker is 93 total tackles from becoming the school's all-time leader in the category. Haynes now has 292 tackles, with Buddy Wood (2005-09) holding the top spot with 385. Haynes also ranks fourth all-time in unassisted tackles with 182, and needs 26 to break Blake Walker's (2001-04) school record.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Azusa Pacific opened last week as the 9th ranked team in the country after taking down West Texas A&M 24-13 to open the season. Unfortunately, the reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference lost its conference opener last week to Humboldt State by a score of 30-19. The loss snapped a nine game conference winning streak for the Cougars.
After Andrew Elffers guided the offense to touchdowns on Azusa Pacific's first two possessions of the game, but Humboldt State stopped the next five Cougar drives and regained the lead, 20-13, on Gardner's second of three touchdown runs midway through the third quarter. After Elffers found Gaige Allen for an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 20-19, Humboldt State held the Cougars scoreless in the final quarter to put away the victory.
The Cougars gave up 242 yards on the ground to the Lumberjacks, 25 first downs, and allowed HSU to convert on 8 of 14 third down conversions.
The APU offense put up some big numbers, with Andre Elffers, the 2016 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, connecting on 21 of 35 pass attemtps for 311 yards and two scores/ Elffers also ran for 75 yards on 15 rushes and a touchdown. Sophomore wide out Weston Carr was on the receving end of most of the passes, hauling in 13 catches for 190 yards and a score.
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1997, CWU holds a slim 7-6 edge in the all-time series. Azusa Pacific has won the last two games and four of the last five matchups. The Wildcats last win came on the road in 2015, with CWU taking a 24-21 victory, stopping the Cougars at the one yardline on the final play of the game.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Next week, the Wildcats travel to St. George, Utah to play Dixie State in its second of three non-conference games in 2017.
