Oct. 20, 2003
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
THIS WEEK: Western Washington University Vikings (1-6, 0-0) vs. arch-rival Central Washington University Wildcats (4-2, 1-0) in eighth annual Cascade Cup and school's annual Homecoming/Hall of Fame game at Civic Stadium (FieldTurf - 4,400 capacity) at Bellingham, Wash., on Sat., Oct. 25, at 1 p.m., in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest.
It is the GNAC opener for the Vikings, who are looking to halt a three-game losing streak. Last year, Western placed second to Central in the GNAC standings. That snapped a string of three league titles for the Vikings, who had won five conference championships over a seven-year span.
Having its worst season since 1983, Western is coming off back-to-back lopsided road setbacks to two schoos making the transition from NCAA II to NCAA I-AA, losing 48-19 at UC Davis last week and 48-17 at Northern Colorado on Oct. 11. The loss at UC Davis gave the Vikings no chance to extend its school-record string of 12 unbeaten seasons (previous best was six).
On Oct. 4, Western lost 29-20 to Central in the first "Battle in Seattle" at Seahawks Stadium before a crowd of 16,392, the largest to see a small college football game in the state of Washington.
The Vikings' only win of the season came on Sept. 27, a 42-35 overtime decision at home over NCAA Division I-AA independent Saint Mary's CA after trailing by 21 points in the first half.
That ended a four-game losing streak for Western which began last year and stopped a three-game losing string at Bellingham's Civic Stadium. Both streaks were the longest since the mid-80s.
The Vikings opened the season with three losses, two of them to teams ranked nationally in the American Football Coaches Association/NCAA II Top 25. They fell in their season and home opener on Sept. 4, 44-27 to No.8 St. Cloud State MN. That was followed by two road setbacks, 23-20 in overtime at Western Oregon on Sept. 13 and 52-28 at No.19 Nebraska-Omaha on Sept. 20 (tied 28-all at halftime).
Central, ranked No.8 in the West Region, opened defense of its GNAC title last Saturday with a 21-16 victory over Humboldt State at Ellensburg.
Central was shocked in its season and home opener on Aug. 29, losing 38-28 to defending NAIA national champion Carroll MT. The Wildcats then split a pair of road games, defeating Fort Lewis CO, 24-7, on Sept. 6 and losing at NCAA I-AA Eastern Washington, 48-29, on Sept. 13. Central returned home to crush Western New Mexico, 41-3, on Sept. 20.
The Wildcats were ranked among the top 10 in all six NCAA II preseason polls, being No.1 in the Sports Illustrated Top 10. They were No.2 in Lindy's Football Annuals, No.3 in Dopke.com, No.8 in Don Hansen's Football Gazette, and No.9 in both the AFCA and Street & Smith's.
Western finished 6-4 last year.
Central had an 11-1 record in 2003, going undefeated during the regular season before losing at home to UC Davis, 24-6, in the first round of the NCAA II national playoffs.
SERIES HISTORY: 92nd meeting. Central leads the series, 56-31-4. Western lost 29-20 three weeks ago in the first Battle in Seattle at Seahawks Stadium. Last year, the Vikings' 35-28 loss in overtime at Ellensburg snapped a three-game series winning streak - 36-14 at Bellingham in 2001, 35-22 at Bellingham in 2000 and 27-7 at Ellensburg in 1999 - Western's longest since 1976-78. The win in 1999 was the Vikings' first over Central at Ellensburg since 1977, ending a 10-game losing streak there. Western's longest series winning streak of four was accomplished twice, 1937-40 and 1949-52.
The series began in 1922 and was tied at 18-18-2 after the 1959 season. Central dominated the next 31 years, posting a 31-7-2 record. The Wildcats have a slim 7-6 edge in the last 13 meetings.
RADIO: KBAI (930 AM-Bellingham) is broadcasting all Western football games live this season with sports director Doug Lange handling the play-by-play duties for the eighth consecutive season. Providing the color commentary for the sixth straight year is former Viking quarterback Jason Stiles. The pre-game show, hosted by Mark Scholten, begins at 12:35 p.m. The KBAI broadcast can be picked up via the Internet at wwuvikings.com.
All Central football games are carried live on KXLE (1240 AM), with Rob Lowery (17th year) and Dave Heaverlo (12th year) calling the action. Lowery was inducted into the Central Athletic Hall of Fame last week.
2002 RESULTS: Western finished 6-4 and placed second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings (2-1).
Central Washington was 11-1, being undefeated during the regular season and winning the GNAC championship (3-0). The Wildcats lost to UC Davis, 24-6, in the first round of the NCAA II national playoffs.
WESTERN REPORT: Although injuries, inexperience and one of the toughest schedules in school history have taken a toll on the Vikings, ensuring their first losing season since 1990, they enter the GNAC schedule with a degree of optimism having outgained both Western Oregon and Central in non-conference losses earlier in the year.
One bright spot last week was turnovers. UC Davis committed four, matching the number Western opponents had committed in the first six games combined, and the Vikings had just one turnover. That enabled Western to trail by just five points late in the first half.
Western's offense is averaging 24.7 points and 397.9 yards a game (rank 10th nationally in passing offense, 299.0). At quarterback, junior Steve Nichols has started the last two weeks, and five of the seven games overall. Nichols has completed 86-of-164 passes for 1,182 yards, with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior Josh Shimek has completed 61-of-112 attempts for 791 yards, with five touchdowns and six interceptions, but has not had a pass attempt the last two games.
The main weapon in Western's offense is sophomore wide receiver Andy Olson, who has 49 receptions for 929 yards and eight touchdowns (ranks second nationally in receiving yards per game, 132.7). He is 71 yards short of the fifth 1,000-yard receiving season in school history. Senior slotback Nate Kuhns has 19 receptions for 164 yards and one score despite missing nearly half the season because of illness or injuries. Junior James Laurence was the Vikings' top receiver at UC Davis, making six grabs for 67 yards.
Leading the running backs is sophomore Duncan Sherrard, the 2002 GNAC co-Freshman of the Year, who has rushed for 479 yards and two touchdowns on 115 carries, and had a season-best 96 yards last week at UC Davis. Sophomore Jake Carlyle has added 185 yards and three scores on 50 attempts. The offensive line is led by senior guard Jon Pagan and sophomore center Loren Winter, who are both returning starters.
Western had one of its better defensive performances in the first game with Central, holding the Wildcats to 311 yards of offense and having four apparent turnovers overturned by official's calls.
Junior strong safety Rob White, the lone returning starter in the secondary, has a team-best 73 tackles and an interception. He ranks fourth nationally in solo tackles, averaging 7.0 per game. Two true freshmen were also starters in the secondary last week. Bryan Jarrett has started at cornerback for much of the year and has a team-high six passes broken up, but Justin Coronado made his first start last week and had an interception which he returned 35 yards. Redshirt freshman corner Sly Whitfield also had an interception.
Senior linebacker Lann Olson has 62 tackles, including a team-best nine for loss, three of which are sacks. Junior linebacker Jesse Looker has 43 tackles, with 1.5 for loss. Along the line, sophomore end Joey Joshua has 38 stops, including 6.5 for loss, and has batted down four passes.
On special teams, junior Michael Koenen is 7-of-15 on field goals, including 6-of-11 from 40 yards or more, and is 18-of-19 on extra points. Koenen, a consensus first-team NCAA II All-America punter last year when he led the nation in punting, is averaging 43.6 yards a punt (fifth nationally), including a 48.1 average over the last three games, and has sent 15 kickoffs for touchbacks.
OLSON CATCHING ON: Sophomore Andy Olson is putting together an amazing season. Olson leads Western in receiving with 49 receptions for 929 yards (ranks second nationally in yards per game, 132.7 avg.) and eight touchdowns, as well as being the team leader in average yards per catch (19.0). Extended over the full season, all four marks would be just short of school records. Earlier this season, he tied a school record by having touchdown catches in seven consecutive games.
During one three-game stretch, Olson had 27 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns, and posted three of the top 15 receiving yardage performances in school history, having seven catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns at Nebraska-Omaha, making 11 grabs for 199 yards and a score against Saint Mary's, and nabbing nine receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown against Central Washington.
This season, Olson has twice garnered GNAC Offensive Player of the Week and honorable mention D2Football.com Player of the Week accolades.
Olson, whose older brother Lann, is the starting middle linebacker, has also been a threat on punt returns, averaging 13.7 yards on nine attempts.
CENTRAL REPORT: The Wildcats posted three wins and had two Saturdays off over the last five weeks, and thus have not lost since a 48-29 decision to NCAA I-AA Eastern Washington on Sept. 13.
Leading the offense for Central is senior quarterback Zak Hill, who has thrown for 8,058 career yards, second in Central history only to Jon Kitna. Hill threw for 2,694 yards last season to earn first-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors despite missing three games with a shoulder injury. This year he has completed 120-of-206 passes for 1,501 yards, with 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Hill has a talented cast of receivers to throw to, despite the loss of junior Brian Potucek, a pre-season All-American, with a knee injury. Senior wide receiver Jake Roberts is now the main target, having 40 catches for 511 yards and six touchdowns (ranks 17th nationally in receptions per game, 6.7). Junior Moses Lewis has 19 catches for 352 yards and four scores, and senior Josh Lopez has 16 grabs for 154 yards and two touchdowns. All three receivers have more than 100 receptions in their Central careers.
Junior running back Emilio Iniguez leads Central in rushing with 490 yards and three touchdowns on 108 carries. He rushed for 140 yards in the Battle in Seattle. Junior Willie Johnson, who ran for 929 yards in 2002, has 216 yards and two scores on 48 carries. The offensive line features three returning starters led by junior tackle Evan Picton, a first-team all-GNAC selection in 2002.
Anchoring the defense, which ranks 14th nationally against the run (88.3), is junior nose tackle Dustin Hawkins, a two-time all-GNAC pick who has 3.5 sacks among his seven tackles for loss. Behind him is a linebacking corps that returns all of its starters. Junior Blake Walker leads the Wildcats in tackles with 43, including two sacks, and is joined by seniors Levi Teasley and Mitch Richards. Richards has 4.5 sacks among nine tackles for loss, and Teasley has two interceptions.
In the secondary, senior Nick Omatsu, an all-league pick last year, has two interceptions and five passes broken up. Another returning starter is senior cornerback Rocky Martinez, who has six career interceptions.
Senior punter Joe Smith leads NCAA II at 47.0 yards a punt. Freshman placekicker Cody Sadler is 3-of-8 on field goals and has made 19-of-21 extra points.
NOTES: Going back to last season, the Vikings have won just twice in their last 10 games, both victories coming in overtime ... Cornerback Bryan Jarrett and free safety Justin Coronado are the first true freshmen to see action for Western since Nate Kuhns did so in 2000. Jarrett, who is starting, has 11 tackles and two pass breakups, and blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the dying seconds of regulation at Western Oregon ... Western had six turnovers against Western Oregon. The last time the Vikings did that was Nov. 8, 1997 in a 36-22 loss at Central ... Western has had eight overtime games in its history, including two each in 1997, 2002 and this season.
TURNOVER/TAKEAWAY: Western, which was a plus 107 in turnover/takeaway ratio (207 to 314) over the previous12 seasons, is minus-14 this year (22 to 8). The last time the Vikings finished with a negative total was in 1991.
INJURY REPORT: Wide receiver Kevin Cooley suffered a shoulder injury in the UC Davis game and is out indefinitely as is wide receiver Nate Kuhns, who has missed the last two games with a virus.
WESTERN NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS: Western wide receiver Andy Olson is ranked nationally in four categories, including No.2 in receiving yards, and the Vikings are 10th in team passing offense in this week's NCAA Division II football statistical report. Olson is averaging 132.7 receiving yards per game. He is 11th in receptions (7.0), 17th in all-purpose yards (150.3), and 20th in punt returns (13.7). Western is averaging 299.0 yards through the air. Strong safety Rob White is fourth in solo tackles (7.0) and 21st in tackles (10.4), and Michael Koenen is fifth in punting (43.6) and 27th in field goals per game (1.0).
TOUGH SCHEDULE: Smith calls Western's 2003 schedule "the most challenging" in school history. The Vikings play three NCAA I-AA schools, two of which, UC Davis and Northern Colorado, are beginning their first year of provisional status after being longtime NCAA II powers. There are two games against teams from the rugged North Central Conference, St. Cloud State and Nebraska-Omaha. As well, the Vikings have two regular-season matchups with archrival Central Washington, which was 11-1 last year.
KOENEN NAMED TO FOUR PRESEASON A-A TEAMS: Junior Michael Koenen was named to four preseason All-America teams as a punter, being honored by Street & Smith, Don Hansen's Football Gazette, Lindy's Football Annuals and D2Football.com. He was a first-team Daktronics, D2Football.com and Football Gazette All-American last fall, and second-team Associated Press Little All-America. Koenen led DII in punting with school-record 44.9 average. He also holds school marks for longest punt (73 yards), longest field goal (54 yards), consecutive field goals (8), and consecutive PAT conversions (40). Koenen ranks No.8 among school's career scoring leaders with 182 points (four shy of No.7 and six short of No.6) points, converting 95-of-100 PATs and 29-of-52 field goals.
MILESTONES: Rob Smith needs four wins to become the first coach in Western history to reach 100. Only two four-year collegiate coaches have reached that figure while coaching in the state of Washington, those being Frosty Westering at Pacific Lutheran (252) and Don James at Washington (153). Smith currently ranks fourth, with Washington's Jim Owens third with 99.
COACHES: Rob Smith (Washington, 1981) is in his 15th year as head coach and his victory total (96-52-1) and winning percentage of 64.8 are the best in Western history. Smith has directed the Vikings to their only five national playoff berths in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999, and guided them to their best regular-season (No.1, 1995) and final (No.1, 1995) national rankings. He was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2001, Columbia Football Association Coach of the Year in 1989, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000, and American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
John Zamberlin (Pacific Lutheran/1979) is in his seventh year (40-28) as head coach at Central. He earned GNAC Coach of the Year honors last season, directing the Wildcats to an 11-1 record, the GNAC championship and the first round of the NCAA II national playoffs.
Prior to his arrival at Central, Zamberlin spent nine seasons as an assistant at Massachusetts (1987-90), Eastern Washington (1992-94) and Richmond (1995-96). He played seven seasons in the NFL with New England (1979-82) and Kansas City (1983-85). Zamberlin earned NAIA All-America honors as a linebacker at Pacific Lutheran, intercepting three passes in a 48-28 win over Western in the 1977 NAIA District 1 Championship Game played at Seattle's Kingdome.
NEXT WEEK: Western travels to Arcata, Calif., for a GNAC contest against Humboldt State University on Sat., Nov. 1 (1 p.m.) at Redwood Bowl. The Vikings have won the last six meetings with the Lumberjacks.
WEBSITE: For the latest results, statistics and updates, including reports on all Western athletic events, visit the Vikings website at wwuvikings.com.
LAST WEEK AGAINST UC DAVIS: UC Davis scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the first half and added two touchdowns in a 1:09 span of the third quarter to break the game open as the Aggies defeated Western, 48-19, before a Homecoming crowd of 7,628 at Toomey Field.
The Aggies, in the first of a four-year transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA I-AA, improved to 4-2 with their third consecutive victory.
Western trailed just 17-12 after a 14-yard pass from quarterback Steve Nichols to wide receiver Matt Wilson. But UC Davis quarterback Jon Barragan, who also threw for three touchdowns, ran for a 4-yard score with 1:50 left in the first half, and Dusty Apocotos added a 32-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the period to give the Aggies a 27-12 edge at halftime.
UC Davis then put the game away midway through the third period. Barragan threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nolan deGraaff, and on Western's next series, Nichols was intercepted by Jashaun McCowan, who returned the pick 24 yards, making the score 41-12.
The Aggies had a 578-362 edge in total offense. Barragan completed 19-of-28 passes for 325 yards and also ran for 41 yards. Running back Antar Mahasin added 91 yards on 17 rushing attempts and 64 more on four receptions.
Western's defense forced four turnovers, with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, matching their totals of the first six games, but was unable to take advantage of the UC miscues, getting just three points off them, and only one first down on the four subsequent possessions.
Running back Duncan Sherrard rushed for a game-high 96 yards on 17 carries for the Vikings. Nichols was 11-of-23 for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception. James Monrean replaced Nichols midway through the third period and was 9-of-18 for 120 yards with one touchdown, a 17-yard connection with Brett Upchurch on the final play of the game. The Vikings were 1-of-14 on third down.
Western scored on the opening series of the game, going 52 yards in nine plays to set up a 32-yard field goal by Michael Koenen.
The Aggies came right back, moving 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Barragan to Billy Zeier, then extended the margin to 10-7 on the following series, as Barragan completed passes of 34 yards to Daniel Fells and 33 yards to Kevin Freeman to set up a 32-yard field goal by Dusty Apocotos.
Two Aggie turnovers gave the Vikings opportunities in the second quarter. Free safety Justin Coronado, who was making his first start, intercepted Barragan and returned it 35 yards to the Aggie 25, but Western failed to move the ball and Koenen's field-goal attempt was blocked. On the following series, defensive tackle Nick Ball recovered a Barragan fumble, leading to a 51-yard field goal by Koenen. That made the score 10-6 early in the second quarter, but Western got no closer.
LAST MEETING WITH CENTRAL: A third-quarter safety put Central in front to stay and the Wildcats went on to defeat Western, 29-20, in the Battle in Seattle played before a crowd of 16,392 at Seahawks Stadium on Oct. 4, 2003.
The attendance figure is a record for a non-NCAA Division I game in the state of Washington.
After a high punt snap through the end zone gave the Wildcats a 16-14 lead, they took the ensuing free kick and moved 57 yards in four plays, capped by a 4-yard run by Emilio Iniguez, who rushed for a game-high 140 yards on 32 carries. The extra point was blocked, leaving Central a 22-14 lead with 5:48 left in the third quarter.
The Vikings closed to 22-20 later in the period on a 21-yard pass from Steve Nichols to tight end Rick Carte, who had two touchdown catches, but Nichols was sacked trying to tie the game on a two-point conversion.
Central defensive back Nick Omatsu then provided the final margin, returning an interception 40 yards for a touchdown three minutes into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats, who entered the game with just one interception this season, had four in the game.
The four turnovers and bad snap by Western helped Central overcome the Vikings' 366-311 edge in total offense.
Western wide receiver Andy Olson had nine receptions for 160 yards, his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season and his third consecutive 100-yard receiving performance. He has 27 catches for 546 yards and four touchdowns in the last three games.
The Wildcats scored on the opening possession of the game, with Zak Hill throwing 4 yards to Nate Brookreson to cap a 10-play, 62-yard drive.
Western countered later in the period with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Josh Shimek to Carte, and took a 14-7 lead with just under six minutes left in the half with a 13-yard scoring toss from Nichols to Olson.
The Wildcats tied the score at 14-14 just 27 seconds before halftime, with Hill connecting on a 33-yard scoring pass to Moses Lewis.
Hill completed 13-of-27 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. For Western, Nichols was 11-of-22 for 154 yards and two scores, and Shimek was 12-of-25 for 129 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted four times.
Olson was named GNAC co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
WESTERN 2003 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: A rowing coach who took the program to a new standard of excellence, a basketball standout who fashioned the most successful career in school history, and a volleyball player who had a key role in helping the Vikings to their greatest season are the newest members of the Western Athletic Hall of Fame.
The inductees are men's rowing coach Bob Diehl, women's volleyball setter Kim Kolody-Bjorklund, and men's basketball guard Manny Kimmie.
In his six years as crew mentor, Diehl had varsity eight shells win Northwest small college titles four times, a varsity four place fourth at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship, and two rowers compete in the Olympic Games.
Kimmie finished his career as the school's all-time leader in points (1,624), assists (430) and steals (282), being the only Western men's basketball player to be a part of 100 victories (101-37) and four teams that reached the NAIA District 1 finals.
Kolody-Bjorklund helped the Vikings place third at the 1990 NAIA National Tournament, setting a school single-season record with 1,500 assists.
The trio, which brings the hall's total membership to 100, will be formally inducted Saturday (10 a.m.) in a ceremony at the Viking Union on the Western campus as part of Homecoming week. They also will be honored at halftime of Western's Cascade Cup football game with Central.
The 64-year-old Diehl coached men's crew at Western from 1970 to 1976. In 1972, he introduced the Viking Invitational Regatta, which included virtually every Northwest rowing program and continued for 13 years.
Diehl was the coach when Western made its first appearance at the prestigious Opening Day Regatta.
He directed varsity eights which won LaFromboise Cup (northwest small college) titles in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975. Also, in 1973, Diehl's varsity four placed fourth at the IRA national championships.
Two of his rowers, Chuck Rutherford and Darrell Vruegdenhil, went on to compete in the Olympic Games.
Diehl, who earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1961 at the University of Washington, rowed for the Huskies from 1958 to 1960 under coach Fil Leanderson.
Diehl began rowing competitively again in 1992, winning several medals in masters singles, doubles and quads competition. Highlighting those accomplishments were gold medals at the 1993, 1995 and 1997 U.S. National and Canadian National championships. He won a gold and two bronze medals at the 1994 World Master Games in Australia, and took silver and bronze medals at the 1998 World Master Games held in Portland, Ore.
Diehl is the third-generation president of the Diehl Ford Company in Bellingham, which recently celebrated its 95th anniversary and is the third-oldest Ford dealership in the world among 20,000 dealerships in 59 countries.
Currently, he is a member of the Viking Athletic Advisory Board and participates in Western's Coaches Car program.
Kimmie, 35, was a third-team NAIA All-American, first-team Little All-Northwest, and District 1 Player of the Year as a senior in 1989-90. He completed his eligibility with nine school career records and two game marks. As a sophomore, Kimmie helped the Vikings finish 28-8, the victory total still being a school record, win the district title and reach the second round at the NAIA national tournament.
Kimmie went on to play for an Ipswich Eagles club team in Brisbane, Australia, as well as the Yakima Sun Kings in the Continental Basketball League (1992-93) and the Calgary 88s in the World Basketball League (1993-94), each for one season. He also competed at the 1991 U.S. Olympic Trials in team handball.
Kimmie, who earned a bachelor's degree in communications and youth work at Western, is in his sixth year as an employee at ARCO/BP in Ferndale. He also worked in the youth department at the Lummi Indian Business Council for three years (1995-97), serving as head basketball coach.
Kimmie is a graduate of Timberline High School in Olympia where he was a three-sport letter winner.
Kolody-Bjorklund, 35, earned NAIA All-America honorable mention and second-team NAIA national all-tournament recognition in 1990, helping Western to a 34-10 record, district and region titles, and the school's first national tournament appearance. There the Vikings won five of seven matches, coming within two points of playing in the championship match. Their third-place finish was the best at nationals by any Western team up to that time.
A first-team District 1 all-star and district all-tournament pick, her school-record assist total ranked second nationally. She also led the team in service aces with 79, which ranked No.17 nationally, and was second in digs with 298.
Despite playing just two seasons at Western, Kolody-Bjorklund still ranks third among the school's career assist leaders with 2,240. She earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Western in 1990.
Kolody-Bjorklund transferred to Western from Warner Pacific University (Portland, Ore.) where she started two years. She was a two-time, first-team all-league pick at Sehome High School, helping the Mariners to Class AA state tournament appearances in 1985 and 1986. As a junior in high school, she toured the British Isles with a Northwest Volleyball Camp all-star team.
Beginning her third season as head girls volleyball coach at Bellingham High School, Kolody-Bjorklund was previously a Raider assistant coach for one season and an assistant at Sehome High School for six years.
HEAD COACH Rob Smith ON ...:
... SECOND SEASON "No matter how disappointing the season has been to this point, everyone starts with a clean slate when conference play begins ... The conference championship has always been our number one goal because it's something that you can control."
... CENTRAL WASHINGTON "All three receivers are capable and have shown that they can make big plays. We all know about Zak Hill. They ran the ball right at us in Seattle and we have to do a better job of defending the run because they were able to control things that way."
... GNAC RACE "I think there's a great deal of parity in the conference. Obviously, Humboldt State has improved. Western Oregon and Central were able to get us earlier in the year, and although our record may not show it, we'll be competitive with the three conference teams. I think it's a wide open race."
... SECOND MEETING "Central has had just one game between our two games, we've had two. Obviously, we've spent a long time dissecting that tape and seeing how they fit their game plan, and they've done the same ... What we saw in Seattle was that both teams are close. The nine points they beat us by were kind of gift-wrapped in that we had a snap over the punter's head into the end zone for two and a poor throw resulting in an interception that was returned for a touchdown."
PROBABLE TWO DEEPS
WESTERN WASHINGTON
OFFENSE
TE 82 Rick Carte (6-4, 240, **Jr., Juneau, AK/Juneau-Douglas) 13 Nick Yoney (6-4, 225, So., Arlington, WA/Arlington)ST 70 Brandon Torrey (6-3, 270, R-Fr., Graham, WA/Bethel) 79 Justin Simpson (6-5, 310, So., Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin)SG 62 Jon Pagan (6-5, 260, *Sr., Los Angeles, CA/El Segundo) 56 Jeff DeBuigne (6-5, 300, *So., Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin)C 53 Loren Winter (6-2, 250, *So., Bothell, WA/Juanita) 57 Lincoln Stalnaker (6-2, 225, *Sr., Flagstaff, AZ/Coconino)QG 67 Peter Van Datta (6-2, 265, R-Fr., Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap) 73 Todd Gowing (6-3, 265, **Jr., Kirkland, WA/Inglemoor)QT 72 Geoff Hise (6-2, 255, *Jr., Snoqualmie, WA (Mount Si) 65 Jason Day (6-5, 250, **Jr., Tonasket, WA)SB 2 Jason Barton (5-9, 175, *So., Gig Harbor, WA/Gig Harbor) 8 Nate Kuhns (5-11, 190, ***Sr., Yakima, WA/Eisenhower)WR 5 James Laurence (6-4, 225, T-Jr., Kent, WA/Kent-Meridian) 9 Matt Wilson (5-11, 180, R-Fr., Auburn, WA/Auburn)WR 1 Andy Olson (6-3, 210, *So., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West) 83 Brett Upchurch (6-1, 170, R-Fr., Sammamish, WA/Eastlake)RB 29 Duncan Sherrard (6-0, 195, *So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt) 27 Jake Carlyle (5-7, 190, So., Olympia, WA/Capital)FB 26 Nyle Chambers (6-1, 220, ***Sr., Sumner, WA/Sumner) 98 Joe Casillas (6-3, 220, So., Phoenix, AZ/Arcadia)QB 14 Steve Nichols (6-1, 205, **Jr., Stevenson, WA/Stevenson) 11 Josh Shimek (6-4, 205, **Sr., Pasco, WA/Pasco) 17 James Monrean (6-1, 225, R-Fr., Bellingham, WA/Sehome)
DEFENSE
E 85 Joey Joshua (6-4, 220, *So., Ferndale, WA/Ferndale) 54 Aaron Dahl (6-1, 235, *So., Gig Harbor, WA/Gig Harbor)N 99 Brad Mann (6-3, 285, **Sr., Redmond, WA/Lake Washington) 71 Andy Thompson (6-4, 300, T-Jr., Milan, IN/Milan)T 93 Nick Ball (6-1, 270, **Sr., Olympia, WA/Olympia) 97 Nicholas Buck (6-3, 245, R-Fr., Kent, WA/Seattle Christian/Kentridge)E 95 JeVarian Gamble (6-2, 270, ***Sr., Lynnwood, WA/Lynnwood) 36 Derek Noble (6-1, 215, **Sr., Bellevue, WA/Newport)ROV 28 Jesse Looker (5-10, 210, **Sr., Puyallup, WA/Puyallup) 38 Taylor Hutton (5-11, 205, ***Sr., Salado, TX (Salado)MLB 33 Lann Olson (6-0, 215, ***Sr., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West) 46 Adam Klingenberg (5-11, 215, *So., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla)OLB 51 Brett Thompson (6-0, 230, ***Sr., Auburn, WA/Auburn-Riverside) 43 Jeff Parks (6-3, 205, T-Fr., Graham, WA/Bethel)LCB 87 Bryan Jarrett (6-0, 180, Fr., Puyallup, WA/Puyallup) 15 John Shields (5-11, 190, T-Jr., Spanaway, WA/Bethel)RCB 4 Sly Whitfield Jr. (5-8, 160, R-Fr., Seattle, WA/Garfield) 42 Brett Hall (5-8, 175, *So., Kennewick, WA/Kennewick)SS 40 Rob White (6-1, 215, **Jr., Woodinville, WA/Inglemoor) 10 Darrius Tuggle (5-10, 185, R-Fr., Spanaway, WA/Spanaway Lake)FS 98 Justin Coronado (5-10, 180, Fr., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla) 34 Shane Keck (5-9, 190, Sr., Everett, WA/Mariner)
SPECIAL
K 19 Michael Koenen (5-11, 185, **Jr., Ferndale, WA/Ferndale) 37 Pat Mutzel (6-1, 205, R-Fr., Bellevue, WA/Bellevue)P 19 Michael Koenen (5-11, 185, **Jr., Ferndale, WA/Ferndale) 37 Pat Mutzel (6-1, 205, R-Fr., Bellevue, WA/Bellevue)H 14 Steve Nichols (6-1, 205, **Jr., Stevenson, WA/Stevenson) 11 Josh Shimek (6-4, 205, **Sr., Pasco, WA/Pasco)LS 56 Jeff DeBuigne (6-5, 300, *So., Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin) 13 Nick Yoney (6-4, 225, So., Arlington, WA/Arlington)PR 1 Andy Olson (6-3, 210, *So., Chehalis, WA/W.F.West) 2 Jason Barton (5-9, 175, *So., Gig Harbor, WA/Gig Harbor)KO 27 Jake Carlyle (5-7, 190, So., Olympia, WA/Capital) 9 Matt Wilson (5-11, 180, R-Fr., Auburn, WA/Auburn)*denotes letters won
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
OFFENSEQB 10 Zak Hill (6-0, 190, Sr., Battle Ground, WA/Prairie) 16 Dale Chase (6-5, 222, Sr., Olympia, WA/River Ridge)RB 35 Emilio Iniguez, 5-9, 188, Jr., Puyallup, WA/Bethel) 34 Willie Johnson (5-11, 235, Jr., Sarasota, FL/Booker)WR 1 Moses Lewis (6-3, 196, Sr., Yakima, WA/Davis) 88 Nate Brookreson (6-2, 192, So., Lacey, WA/North Thurston)WR 89 Jake Roberts (6-3, 195, Sr., Spokane, WA/University) 80 Josh Lopez (6-0, 193, Sr., Wapato, WA/Wapatp)SB 80 Josh Lopez (6-0, 193, Sr., Wapato, WA/Wapato) 7 Nolan Teasley (6-0, 210, R-Fr., Ellensburg, WA/Ellensburg)TE 82 Keith Grennan (6-6, 270, R-Fr., Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway) 37 Curtis Johnson (6-2, 218, R-Fr., Waitsburg, WA/Waitsburg)WT 65 John Lindsey (6-4, 278, Sr., Puyallup, WA/Rogers) 72 Matt Tracy (6-1, 261, R-Fr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes)WG 51 Zach Fife (6-4, 325, Sr., Yakima, WA/West Valley) 61 Anthony Williams (6-2, 325, Sr., Portland, OR/Jefferson)C 54 Michael Don (6-1, 285, So., Prosser, WA/Prosser) 51 Zach Fife (6-4, 325, Sr., Yakima, WA/West Valley)SG 74 Rhett Carpenter (6-3, 285, Sr., Kelso, WA/Kelso) 58 Zach Hubbell (6-1, 280, Jr., Mukilteo, WA/Woodinville)ST 77 Evan Picton (6-3, 299, Jr., Manson, WA/Manson) 73 Aaron Gilbert (6-3, 335, Fr., Auburn, WA/Jefferson)FB 47 Aaron Hineline (6-0, 250, Jr., Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) 41 Landon Hall (5-11, 225, So., Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway)TE 37 Curtis Johnson (6-2, 218, R-Fr., Waitsburg, WA/Waitsburg) 82 Keith Grennan (6-6, 270, R-Fr., Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway)
DEFENSE
LE 95 Mike Romero (6-4, 260, Jr., Spokane, WA/Lewis & Clark) 99 John Sehmel (6-1, 235, So., Port Orchard, WA/South Kitsap)N 56 Dustin Hawkins (6-2, 285, Jr., Spanaway, WA/Bethel) 93 Kellen Becker (6-3, 275, Fr., Corpus Christi, TX/Calallen)T 93 Kellen Becker (6-3, 275, Fr., Corpus Christi, TX/Calallen) 56 Dustin Hawkins (6-2, 285, Jr., Spanaway, WA/Bethel)RE 91 Jacob Galloway (6-5, 235, Jr., Shelton, WA/Shelton) 79 Luke Himmelman (6-1, 226, So., Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak)SLB 36 Mitch Richards (5-9, 230, Sr., Stanwood, WA/Lakewood) 43 J.R. Ross (6-3, 223, Jr., Bremerton, WA/Bremerton)MLB 62 Blake Walker (6-0, 225, Jr., Everett, WA/Cascade) 55 Simon Iniguez (5-9, 220, So., Puyallup, WA/Spanaway Lake)WLB 2 Levi Teasley (5-9, 210, Sr., Ellensburg, WA/Ellensburg) 45 Eric Foss (6-2, 200, Jr., Bonney Lake, WA/Sumner)LCB 6 Nick Omatsu (5-6, 150, Sr., Redmond, WA/Eastlake) 26 Drey Willis (5-9, 185, Jr., Tacoma, WA/Spanaway Lake)RCB 17 Rocky Martinez (5-8, 170, Sr., Lynnwood, WA/Mountlake Terrace) 19 Adam Jackson (5-11, 176, R-Fr., Spanaway, WA/Spanaway Lake)FS 12 Ryan Andrews (6-0, 190, R-Fr., Marysville, WA/Lake Stevens) 27 Derrick Morris (5-9, 185, Jr., Spanaway, WA/Bethel)SS 28 Franco Santiago (5-10, 178, Sr., Auburn, WA/Auburn-Riverside) 33 Josh Jessup (5-11, 190, R-Fr.,
SPECIAL
H 89 Jake Roberts (6-3, 195, Sr., Spokane, WA/University) 38 Joe Smith (6-2, 183, Sr., Enumclaw, WA/Enumclaw)LS 62 Blake Walker (6-0, 225, Jr., Everett, WA/Cascade) 82 Keith Grennan (6-6, 270, R-Fr., Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway)P 38 Joe Smith (6-2, 183, Sr., Enumclaw, WA/Enumclaw) 18 Coby Sadler (5-10, 164, R-Fr., Ellensburg, WA/Ellensburg)K 18 Coby Sadler (5-10, 164, R-Fr., Ellensburg, WA/Ellensburg) 38 Joe Smith (6-2, 183, Sr., Enumclaw, WA/Enumclaw)KO 38 Joe Smith (6-2, 183, Sr., Enumclaw, WA/Enumclaw) 18 Coby Sadler (5-10, 164, R-Fr., Ellensburg, WA/Ellensburg)PR 6 Nick Omatsu (5-6, 150, Sr., Redmond, WA/Eastlake) 17 Rocky Martinez (5-8, 170, Sr., Lynnwood, WA/Mountlake Terrace)KR 17 Rocky Martinez (5-8, 170, Sr., Lynnwood, WA/Mountlake Terrace) 80 Josh Lopez (6-0, 193, Sr., Wapato, WA/Wapato) 88 Nate Brookreson (6-2, 192, So., Lacey, WA/North Thurston) 23 Kamarr Evans (5-10, 170, R-Fr., Tacoma, WA/Jefferson)
LAST WEEK'S STATS:Western Washington vs. UC DavisOct. 18, 2003 - 1 p.m. - Davis, Calif.
SCORING SUMMARYWestern Washington 3 9 0 7 --- 19UC Davis 10 17 14 7 --- 48
WWU - FG Koenen 32UCD - Zeier 8 pass from Barragan (Apocotos kick)UCD - FG Apocotos 35WWU - FG Koenen 51UCD - Barragan 4 run (Apocotos kick)WWU - Wilson 14 pass from Nichols (pass failed)UCD - deGraaff 19 pass from Barragan (Apocotos kick)UCD - FG Apocotos 24UCD - Doris 26 pass from Barragan (Apocotos kick)UCD - McCowan 24 interception return (Apocotos kick)UCD - Smith 30 pass from Grant (Apocotos kick)WWU - Upchurch 17 pass from Monrean (Koenen kick)Attendance - 7,628
WWU UCDFirst downs 18 31Rushes-yards 32-111 46-204Passing yards 251 374Sacks by-yards lost 4-27 0-0Total offense 73-362 80-578Return yards 181 99Passes 41-20-1 34-22-2Punts-average 7-46.4 3-50.7Fumbles-lost 3-0 3-2Penalties-yards 9-63 4-30Time of possession 29:26 30:34
Rushing: WWU-Sherrard 17-96, Monrean 7-24, Carlyle 3-7, Chambers 1--1, Nichols 4--15.UCD-Mahasin 17-91, Doris 6-46, Barragan 9-41, Harrison 9-27, Kays 1-9, Zeier 1-9,Freeman 1--1; Grant 2--18.
Passing: WWU-Nichols 23-11-1-131, Monrean 18-9-0-120. UCD-Barragan 28-19-2-325,Grant 3-3-0-49, Zelinski 2-0-0-0, Team 1-0-0-0.
Receiving: WWU-Laurence 6-67, Olson 5-64, Wilson 3-26, Upchurch 3-26-1, Cooley 2-58,Sherrard 1-10. UCD-Mahasin4-64, Fells 3-73, Zeier 3-30, Kays 2-42, Freeman 2-40,deGraaff 2-27, Smith 1-30, Doris 1-26, Yaklich 1-14, Ramey 1-12, Oliva 1-9, Mortazavi 1-7.
