Azusa Pacific picked to win third straight GNAC title

After winning two straight championships in their first three years in the conference, Azusa Pacific is picked to win their third straight crown in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s 2015 preseason coaches poll.

The Cougars received five of seven first place votes in the poll, leading the table with a total of 34 points.  Azusa Pacific went undefeated in their third conferernce campaign to win the 2014 championships and has not lost a conference game since a 7-3 defeat at Central Washington on Sept. 28, 2013.

Azusa Pacific also enters the season ranked No. 19 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II preseason poll, which was released on Monday.  The Cougars ended the 2014 season ranked 23rd after spending much of the season ranked in the lower half of the top-25. 

The Cougars thrived as a running team, leading the Great Northwest and placing 10th in Div. II with 269.3 rushing yards per game.  All-American running back Tyrell Watson led the charge as he led Div. II in rushing touchdowns (29), rushing yards (2,253), rushing yards per game (195.7) and scoring (15.8 points per game). The Cougars finished in top-50 in 23 different Div. II statistical categories, including second in turnovers lost (10), third in sacks (3.91 per game), sixth in turnover margin (1.36) and seventh in passes had intercepted (5).

The Cougars return 38 letterwinners, but will be looking to replace a number of key role players including Watson, first team all-conference offensive lineman Cody Clay and first team defensive standouts Steven Fanua and Tyler Thornton. The team returns a pair of first team all-conference selections in tight end Grant Widmer and defensive lineman David Kofovalu and a trio of second teamers in offensive linemen Jaylen Crutchfield and Ahmad Sunda and defensive back CJ Broussard.

While not picking up a single first place vote, Humboldt State received all six possible second-place votes to be picked second with 30 points, while receiving two votes in the preseason poll. One of the most balanced teams in all Div. II football in 2014, the Lumberjacks were ranked in the Div. II top-100 in all but six team statistical categories.  Defensively, they led Div. II in fourth down conversion defense (.133) and sacks (4.5 per game), ranked fourth in first downs allowed (155) and third down conversion percentage (.248), eight in total defense (285.7 yards allowed per game) and 17th in scoring defense (18.1 points allowed per game).  Offensively, Humboldt State led the league and 20th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 38.8 points per game.

Like Azusa Pacific, Humboldt State will be looking to replace a lot of starting experience, but return solid players in the specialty positions.  Quarterback Robert Webber was named the co-freshman of the year after leading the conference and placed 28th in Div. II in pass efficiency (145.8), averaging 220.8 yards per game. Sophomore offensive lineman Alex Cappa is the lone returner of seven first team all-conference selections, earning offensive lineman of the year honors as a freshman. The Lumberjacks return six second team all-conference selections, led on the offensive side of the ball by wide receiver Ja’Quan Gardner and wide receiver Chase Krivashei, who also received honors as a punt retutner. Defensive second teamers returning include defensive lineman Codey Heidebrecht and linebacker Cameron Buell.

Central Washington was picked a close third with 27 points, including one first-place vote. They joined Humboldt State among teams receiving votes in the AFCA poll, picking up 11 points.  Tying for second last year with Humboldt State and Western Oregon, the Wildcats are arguably the conference’s most experienced squad, returning nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters. Second team all-conference running back Jordan Todd leads a Wildcats’ program that finished the 2014 season ranked second in the league in scoring average at 35.5 points per game.

The Wildcats’ experience includes five returning first team all-conference selections, led by double selection Isaiah Davis (first team as both a defensive back and punt returner). Central also returns first teamers in offensive lineman Calvin Hoohuli and kick returner Jesse Zalk, who finished ranked 11th in Div. II with an average of 29.1 yards per kick return. Zalk led a Central Washington return game that led Div. II (25.73 yards per return).

Western Oregon, the third team in the 2014 second-place logjam, is picked fourth with a total of 23 points. The Wolves finished 2014 as the second-best passing team in the conference, averaging 309.5 yards per game (15th in Div. II) behind second team all-conference quarterback Ryan Bergman. WOU will be replacing Bergman and three-time first team all-conference receiver Tyrell Williams, but do return co-freshman of the year receiver Paul Revis, who ranked seventh in Div. II in all-purpose yards as a freshman at 184.45 yards per game.

The Wolves also return a pair of talented second team all-conference performers in defensive lineman George Swartzlender and defensive back Roger Garrett.

Dixie State and South Dakota Mines are picked fifth and sixth, respectively, in their final year of Great Northwest conference play. Both programs will become members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference for the 2016 season.

Dixie State is aiming to move out of the conference cellar in their final season after going 0-6 in last year. Their one win came late in the season, a 28-6 victory on Oct. 25 over NAIA member Menlo.  The Red Storm shined brightest on defense last season, ranking third in the conference with 233.7 passing yards allowed per game. Dixie State was among the least penalized teams in Div. II, ranking 22nd nationally with just 536 penalty yards. 

The Red Storm will be led offensively by senior wide receiver Nate Stephens, who earned Second Team All-GNAC honors after finishing second in the league in both reciving yards (89.5 per game) and third in all-purpose yards (120.6 per game). The Red Storm also returns second team all-conference offensive lineman Lucas Beddow. On defense, Dixie State returns honorable mention all-conference linebacker Robert Metz, who led the team with 91 tackles.

Despite their 2-9 record and sixth-place finish, South Dakota Mines had one of the most potent passing offenses in Div. II. Returning first team all-conference quarterback Trent McKinney, the league’s newcomer of the year, finished seventh in Div. II in total offense at 333.3 yards per game. He led a Hardrockers’ offense that led the Great Northwest and finished 12th in Div. II in passing offense, averaging 321.8 yards per game. The Hardrockers also ranked 11th In Div. II in red-zone offense, converting 77.3 percent of the time inside the 20-yard line (51-66).

Supplementing McKinney on the offense will be senior second team all-conference tight end Elijah Balavitch and honorable mention all-conference running back Kevin Thompson.

Simon Fraser is picked seventh in the Great Northwest as they welcome their third head coach in as many years.  Kelly Bates, a longtime Canadian Football League player and assistant coach, inherits a team that finished fifth in the conference while ranking seventh in the league in scoring offense (21 points per game). The Clan was strongest on the offensive line, ranking 54th in Div. II with 5.91 tackles for loss allowed per game. The Clan’s 259.5 passing yards per game ranked 51st nationally and their 13.47 yards per punt return ranked 26th.

Simon Fraser’s leading returner is linebacker Jordan Herdman. The Great Northwest defensive player of the year led the league with 165 tackles and finished second in Div. II with 15 tackles per game. The Clan also return first team all-conference offensive lineman Michael Couture along with second team all-conference selections in defensive lineman Quinn Horton and Jamie Puffer.  The Clan also return wide receiver Earl Anderson, who has over 2,000 career yards to his credit.

Defending champion Azusa Pacific will open the 2015 season on Thurs., Sept. 3, against West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. Five of the remaining six Great Northwest squads will open on Sat., Sept. 5, including a conference matchup between Western Oregon and Humboldt State in Arcata, Calif. Simon Fraser will kickoff their season on Sat., Sept. 12, traveling to Western Oregon for a non-conference contest.