ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 4) – The No. 25 Central Washington University football team heads to Glendora, Calif. for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game against No. 24 Azusa Pacific University.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
at Azusa Pacific University
Citrus Stadium
Glendora, Calif.
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"We are excited to play on ESPN3 for the DII Showcase. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase the two teams vying for the top spot in the GNAC. I know our guys are excited to play under that type of spotlight. Azusa is coming off of a good week against Humboldt and any time you have to travel down to the LA area you know it is going to be tough. They are a good team and we expect them to come out strong against us. We need to focus on playing our game well, move the ball on offense and make stops on defense. In a battle for GNAC supremacy, one drive or stop can make the difference."
SCOUTING AZUSA PACIFIC
The Cougars enter the week at 4-1 with a 3-0 record in GNAC play. Last week, the Cougars defeated Humboldt State University 37-21.
Tyrone Williams Jr. led the aerial assault for the Cougars, tallying 273 yards. He was also the leading rusher for APU, picking up 71 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. The signal caller found Brandon Jackson 13 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
It was an inauspicious start for the Cougars, as Williams threw consecutive picks on the first two drives for Azusa Pacific. Humboldt State then recovered a pair of fumbles on special teams, keeping the Cougar offense on the sideline.
Ju'wan Murphy, who recorded two interceptions in the game, returned the second-half opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 21-14 until Williams engineered a 12-play, 88-yard scoring drive which finished with a three-yard keeper for touchdown to extend the lead to 28-21 early in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Cougars limited Humboldt State's offense to 189 yards.
Until their last two games, the APU defense has held opponents to under 20 points per game. The Cougars engaged in a shootout with North Alabama and fell 37-35. Williams threw for 401 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Zikel Reddick escaped the backfield for 66 yards on the evening.
The Cougar offense put up big numbers in four consecutive weeks, score 25 or more points in every game. Their highest offensive output came against Simon Fraser in a 58-14 win.
Williams completed 21 passes against the Clan, tallying 301 yards and one touchdown. Jesse Hanckel came on in relief and completed three passes for 28 yards. Ray Riles picked up just three carries, but he rumbled for 63 yards. Williams led all other rushers with 72 yards and a pair of scores.
SERIES HISTORY
Central Washington leads the series history 9-6. The Wildcats swept the season series 2-0 last year. On September 16 of last year, the Wildcats won 17-16 on a field goal as time expired. Prior to last September's game, the Wildcats lost 44-7 in Glendora on Oct. 29, 2016.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats fell in a tight 28-26 game, bringing the game within a field goal on their final offensive drive. The Buffaloes recovered the onside kick, however, ending the hope for a comeback.
After a Buffs touchdown, the point after attempt from Shipley was blocked, allowing
Tyler Hasty to scoop it up and run 98 yards for the return and two points.
Seizing the momentum from the PAT return, the Wildcats marched down the field and found the end zone with 8:30 to play in the third. Hennessey found Archie on an 11-yard touchdown pass, cutting the score to 22-16.
After forcing the Buffs to punt on the ensuing drive, the Wildcats set Manners up for a 22-yard field to draw closer at 22-19.
The Wildcat defense held and forced a punt on the next Buffs' drive, giving the Wildcats a chance to take the lead. The Buffaloes' defense responded in kind, halting the Wildcat offense and forcing a punt. Manners lined up to punt the ball deep, but the Buffs' special teams unit had other plans. Donevin Manuel blocked Manners' punt, allowing Aytron Payne to recover the loose ball and take it 15 yards for the score.
Central Washington marched back down the field on their next drive, setting up shop on the four. Hennessey dropped back on second and four, before rolling to his right. He fired a pass into the end zone, but it was intercepted by Tobias Harris.
The Wildcats got just one more chance to score, trailing 28-19. A fourth-down pass to
Robert Mason III gave the Wildcats new life as they marched towards the end zone. Hennessey finished 5-for-6 on the drive. He completed passes to Mason III, Archie, Cooper
Ryan Ramones, and
Christian Stafford on the drive before finding Lewis. On the final offensive play of the game for the Wildcats, Hennessey found Lewis wide open in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Manners added the PAT, but the ensuing Wildcat onside kick was recovered by the Buffs to seal the 28-26 victory.
CWU News and notes
Left Side, Strong Side
The Wildcats might in fact have the nation's best Division II offensive line, and much of the credit goes to the bodies on the left. All-American left tackle
James Moore, and first-team all-region left guard
Nicholas Streubel helped the Wildcats to the 11th best rushing attack in the nation and gave up less than 5 sacks as a duo.
BG 44
Defensive lineman
Billy Greer was anointed as the Wildcats next bearer of the #44 jersey. The number 44 jersey is awarded annually to "a defensive player that most exemplifies the standards of a Wildcat defender: dedication, toughness, discipline, and tenacity." Former All-American linebacker
Kevin Haynes wore the jersey for the past two seasons and has now passed on the honor to Greer.
Fear the Greer
Billy Greer is a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line. The junior ranked in the Top 10 with 1.17 sacks per game a season ago, on his way to all-region recognition. Of the 15 games he has played in over two years, he has recorded at least half-a-sack in 11 of those contests including 8 of 10 last season.
Hasty Hands
Defensive back
Tyler Hasty has a knack for getting his hands on the ball, rankning in the top-five nationally for passes defended a year ago with 20. The first-team all-American totaled 8 interceptions and 12 breakups in 2017.
OFFENSIVE PROWESS
The Wildcats' offense has been stellar in 2018. They rank as the 16th best offense in NCAA DII football. They are fifth in 4th down conversion percentage (.857), tied for fifth in first downs (124), 17th in 3rd down conversion percentage (.462), 21st in Red Zone Offense percentage (.885), and 21st in rushing offense (220.8).
Reilly Hennessey, who threw for 436 yards against West Texas A&M, ranks 35th (150 ranked) in passing efficiency (148.1), 23rd in passing yards (1,250), and 26st in points responsible for per game (15.6).
Cedric Cooper sits 21st in DII in rushing yards per carry (6.80), while
Michael Roots comes in at 22nd (6.36). Cooper is also in the top 100 players (200 ranked) in all-purpose yards at 112.6 per game.
DEMOOR THE MERRIER
Chase DeMoor leads all NCAA DII players with four blocked kicks. He is tied for the NCAA lead (all divisions) with Corey Coppola of Davidson (DI FCS). The Wildcats are second in DII as a unit, blocking six kicks. They are behind only Virginia Union who have blocked nine kicks.
