Oct. 31, 2005
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University Vikings (4-5, 3-2) vs. Western Oregon University (3-6, 1-4) in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest at Civic Stadium (FieldTurf - 4,400 capacity) in Bellingham, Wash., on Sat., Oct. 29, at 1 p.m., which is a part of the school's Really Big Weekend.
Western could not hold onto a 21-point halftime lead at home and fell 31-28 in the Cascade Cup and GNAC game last week. The previous Saturday, the Vikings rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to win 28-24 at Humboldt State, posting back-to-back victories for the first time this season, after winning 38-16 at Western Oregon on Oct. 1.
Western's only other league loss was 37-17 to Central on Oct. 8 before 11,312 fans at the third annual BIS at Qwest Field.
The Vikings defeated Humboldt State 21-16 in their GNAC opener on Oct. 1. That snapped a three-game losing streak, all to nationally ranked teams. Western fell 47-7 at American Football Coaches Association/NCAA Division II No.4-ranked North Dakota on Sept. 17, 38-20 to No.15 St. Cloud State MN on Sept. 10 in its home opener, and 31-21 at D2Football.com No.25 Washburn KS on Sept. 3.
Western opened its season with a 49-20 victory at Mesa State CO on Aug. 27.
Western Oregon snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday, coming back to defeat Humboldt State, 39-35. Prior to that, the Wolves had lost 48-17 to Central Washington on Oct. 1, 17-9 at Humboldt State on Oct. 8, 38-16 to Western on Oct. 15 and 61-33 at Central Washington on Oct. 22.
Western Oregon split its first four games, winning non-conference contests against NCAA III Willamette, 35-0 on Sept. 3, and NAIA Southern Oregon, 24-10 on Sept. 24. They lost 49-7 to defending NCAA III national champion Linfield on Sept. 10 and fell 48-7 at NCAA I-AA No.15 Eastern Washington on Sept. 17.
The Vikings finished 6-4 overall last year and tied for second place in the GNAC at 3-3. Western has won league titles four of the last six years and six crowns in 10 seasons.
Western Oregon was 1-10 in 2004, the school's worst mark since 1991, and 1-5 in the GNAC.
SERIES HISTORY: 44th meeting. Western leads 26-17-0, winning 38-16 on Oct. 15 at Monmouth, Ore. The Vikings split a pair of meetings last year, winning 49-0 at Bellingham after losing 52-49 in four overtimes, the longest game in Northwest small college history, at Monmouth. The overtime contest at Monmouth was the third straight there for Western, which lost 23-20 in 2003 (1 OT) and won 20-17 (3 OT) in 2002. Prior to this season's win, the Vikings had lost three of their last four games at Monmouth, that stretch starting with a 20-16 setback in 2000. Western has won the last four meetings at Bellingham. The Vikings have a 14-7-0 series advantage at Bellingham and a 12-10-0 edge at Monmouth. Only three of the last 10 meetings have been decided by more than five points. The series began in 1930.
SMITH TO RESIGN: Rob Smith, the most successful coach in the history of Western Washington University football and the longest-tenured gridiron coach in the Northwest, is leaving at the conclusion of the season.
Smith, 48, is in his 17th year as the Vikings' head coach. Entering Saturday's season finale against Western Oregon at Civic Stadium, he has a 109-61-1 record, holding the Western record for victories and winning percentage (.643), and ranks third in victories behind only Frosty Westering and Don James among collegiate coaches in the state of Washington.
Smith informed his assistant coaches of his decision to resign following a 31-28 loss to Central Washington in the Cascade Cup game Saturday, and told the Viking players in a meeting Sunday evening.
"It's something that I've been thinking about for quite some time," said Smith. "I feel like a change is in order both for me and the program. In terms of `Why now?,' I've asked myself that ... I had made my mind up last week as to what my decision would be. I just decided that this would be the time to make the announcement.
"You can't find the adrenalin of game day or the emotions of game day anywhere else. At least, I know that I won't be able to, and I'll miss that. But for whatever reason, I've found myself not enjoying the wins as much as I should, and the losses still hit at the core. That's a signal that tells me it's time."
Smith arrived at Western as an assistant coach in 1987 and immediately helped a program that had suffered through nine consecutive losing seasons post two winning campaigns. He became head coach in 1989, leading the Vikings to a 7-2 record, at the time the best in 38 years.
Over his 17 seasons, Smith earned conference Coach of the Year honors seven times - five in the Columbia Football Association and two in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. He was the American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
"We've been fortunate to have had such an outstanding coach and person as Rob Smith heading our football program for 17 years," said Western director of athletics Lynda Goodrich. "He brought an unprecedented standard of excellence to the program.
"It is really difficult to take a program that is not a winner and transform it into a winner. But he had a vision for what it could be. He should take great pride in the program he developed."
Smith has led Western to five playoff berths, the only ones in school history, and its first playoff victory in 1994. The Vikings reached the NAIA Division II national championship game in 1996, winning a school-record 11 games that year. In 1995, Western was 9-0 in the regular season, its first undefeated regular season since 1938, and was ranked No.1 in the NAIA II National Poll for five weeks, including in the final poll of the season.
In his first 16 seasons, Smith led Western to 12 winning records. For some perspective, prior to his arrival as an assistant, the Vikings had 12 winning seasons in 37 years. Smith directed 12 consecutive non-losing seasons (1991-2002), 10 of them winning campaigns. The previous longest such streak for Western was only seven years, immediately following World War II.
Western won six league titles under Smith, the only seven in nearly 90 years of competition prior to his arrival.
In 2000, Smith was named the co-football Coach of the Century for Western, sharing the honor with NAIA Hall of Famer Charles Lappenbusch, who coached the Vikings for 20 years.
"I'm most proud of the reputation this program now has throughout the Northwest, and to some extent at the national level," Smith said. "It wasn't that way in 1987. But I think I leave the program in very good shape. I think I leave it with a level of respect that I feel good about."
Smith attended Hoquiam High School, where he is a member of the Grizzlies Roll of Honor. He led the state in touchdowns with 20 as a senior, and also had 11 pass interceptions. He was a three-year letter winner at the University of Washington, seeing action in the 1978 Rose Bowl and graduating in 1981. When he became Western's coach in 1989, he was the first Don James-coached Husky to become a collegiate head coach.
"It's been a good ride, it really has," said Smith. "I've enjoyed it. It's been a great thing for not just me, but my family. But as a coach, you tend to spend more time with other people's kids, than you do your own, and I think it's time that I spent more time with mine.
"At this point I don't see myself coaching next year. I'm obviously going to take some time to reflect on what's next. I've talked to some people and have some possibilities, but we'll wait and see."
Goodrich said a search for a new head coach would begin immediately.
SENIOR SALUTE: Seventeen Western seniors are competing in their final game Saturday. They are outside linebacker Ekene Agwuenu, strong safety Jason Barton, running back Jake Carlyle, defensive end Aaron Dahl, offensive tackle Will Freitag, cornerback Brett Hall, defensive end Geoff Hise, inside linebacker Craig Keenan, inside linebacker Adam Klingenberg, wide receiver Andy Olson, wide receiver Zach Russell, defensive end Chase Schmidtz, offensive guard Tyler Sleeman, running back Duncan Sherrard, defensive end Noel Tafoya, offensive center Loren Winter and tight end Nick Yoney. Eight of the seniors are four-year letter winners - Barton, Carlyle, Hall, Hise, Klingenberg, Olson, Sherrard and Winter.
LAST GAME FOR LONG-TIME VIKING ASSISTANT: Saturday's contest will be the last for assistant coach Terry Todd, who is retiring after a 20-year career. During his tenure, the 70-year-old Todd has been a part of six conference championship teams, five national playoff squads, and has coached six All-Americans - three running backs and three specialists. "The thing that sticks out is the number of players who have stayed in touch with him - players that he's coached directly and players that he hasn't coached directly," said Western head coach Rob Smith. "They stay in touch with Coach Todd. And that says everything you want to know about the relationship he has built with the players in this program." Todd, who works with the running backs, kickers and punters at Western, also was an assistant at Bellingham High School for 13 seasons. He is a local businessman and has volunteered his time throughout his coaching career. The six All-Americans coached by Todd are running backs Jon Brunaugh, Scott Lohr and Ryan Wiggins and kicking specialists Peter LaBarge, Wade Gebers and Michael Koenen. Brunaugh is the school's career rushing leader with 4,073 yards, and Koenen is currently the punter for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.
WESTERN REPORT: It isn't just the last game of the 2005 season, it is also the final game of the Rob Smith era. A triumph on Saturday would give the Vikings 15 non-losing seasons in Smith's 17 years as head coach, 12 of which were winning seasons. It is also the final game for 16 seniors, eight of whom will leave as four-year letter winners, and assistant coach Terry Todd, who has been with the program 20 years.
Western will probably have to do that without junior quarterback James Monrean, who is among the top 20 in NCAA II in total offense, as he suffered a high ankle sprain late in the Cascade Cup. Monrean has completed 185-of-294 passes for 2,194 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. The yardage total is the 10th best single-season mark in school history, and the completion percentage of 62.9 is the second-best. Sophomore A.J. Porter played the final drive against Central Washington, going 3-of-5, and figures to make his first career start Saturday.
Overall, the offense has had success this season, averaging 406.3 yards and 25.4 points a game. Although slowed by a variety of injuries, senior wide receiver Andy Olson, a preseason All-American, has remained a focal point of the unit. He has 31 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns, the latter two numbers being team-highs. Sophomore slotback Brett Upchurch is the team leader in catches with 40 for 489 yards and three scores. Sophomore wide receiver Matt Wilson has 24 grabs for 306 yards and three touchdowns, and senior tight end Nick Yoney has 22 for 272 yards and three touchdowns.
Two seniors have shared time at running back. Jake Carlyle has made the bulk of the starts this season, rushing for 619 yards and six touchdowns on 137 carries and adding 23 receptions for 182 yards. Duncan Sherrard, the leading rusher each of the last three seasons, has missed three games because of injury, but still has 487 yards and three scores on 88 carries (5.5 apc), and has exceeded 100 yards in two of the last three contests.
The offensive line has started the same group of five in all but one game this season. They are anchored by senior center Loren Winter, a first-team all-GNAC pick last year. The other senior starter is tackle Will Freitag.
On defense, a midseason switch to a 3-4 look has proved effective, with the Vikings improving in nearly every defensive category. The formation features two NCAA Division I-A transfers at outside linebacker. Sophomore Shane Simmons, from Idaho, has 59 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, and either leads or shares the team lead in sacks (4), fumbles forced (4) and fumbles recovered (3). Senior Ekene Agwuenu, from Nevada, who had made three starts at cornerback, has 31 stops, and also has an interception, a sack, and four passes broken up this season. Another newcomer, redshirt freshman strong safety Steve Davis, leads Western in tackles with 68, and also has an interception; and still another, junior cornerback Kevin Jones, has a team-high seven passes broken up.
There's experience in the center of the defense in senior inside linebackers Craig Keenan and Adam Klingenberg. Keenan has 49 tackles, with 2.5 for loss, and three pass breakups; Klingenberg has 33 stops, 3.5 of them for loss, and one pass defensed. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Elliott has come on strong in recent weeks and has 25 stops, an interception and a fumble recovery. Junior free safety Todd McClellan has 53 tackles, including three for loss; and senior cornerback Brett Hall has a team-high two interceptions.
Leading the defensive line is senior end Geoff Hise, who spent the past three years on the offensive line. He has 19 stops, sharing the team lead in sacks with four. Another senior end, Chase Schmitz, also has four sacks. Freshman tackle Junior Aumavae has 21 tackles.
On special teams, sophomore Corbin Anderson is averaging 34.3 yards a punt, and has placed 15 kicks inside the 20. Freshman Ace Younggren has connected on 28-of-32 extra-point attempts and 1-of-4 field goals.
WOU REPORT: The Wolves snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday, scoring twice in the final six minutes to defeat Humboldt State, 39-35. Sophomore quarterback Mark Thorson threw touchdown passes to junior tight end Kevin Boss and senior wide receiver Tyler Smith as Western Oregon posted its first conference victory of the season.
Thorson starts at quarterback ahead of his brother, Ryan, who threw for 1,560 yards as a freshman in 2003. In nine starts this season, Mark has completed 53.8 percent of his passes (149-of-277) for 1,435 yards and 13 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.
One of Thorson's key targets is Boss, a 6-foot-7, 255-pounder who has 43 receptions for 472 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Last season, Boss caught 39 passes for 506 yards and five touchdowns on his way to first-team all-GNAC honors. After a relatively slow start this year, he has made 16 receptions for 183 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games against Humboldt State and Central Washington.
Boss, who also plays basketball for the Wolves, caught a touchdown in Western Oregon's first meeting with the Vikings this year and had a monster day in the Wolves' victory over the Western last season, with 11 receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Tyler Knudsen leads the Wolves with 52 receptions for 504 yards and three touchdowns. He was a second-team all-GNAC pick as a return specialist last year.
Senior wide receiver Luke Carter was a second-team GNAC all-star last season, making 44 catches for 608 yards and two touchdowns. This year, he has 32 grabs for 384 yards and four touchdowns.
In the backfield, Eliot Vinzant, a junior transfer from Portland State, leads the GNAC with 788 rushing yards on 149 carries. He has six rushing touchdowns and has run for over 100 yards in his last five games (missed Central Washington contest two weeks ago with a shoulder injury). Vinzant, who also returns kicks, leads the conference with 1,173 all-purpose yards.
Western Oregon's experienced offensive line is anchored by junior guard Ryan Belcher, a first-team all-GNAC pick.
Western Oregon's defensive unit features the GNAC's top tackler, senior middle linebacker Jon Apgar who has 98 stops and 5.5 sacks. Apgar had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery last week against Humboldt State.
In the secondary, junior defensive back Jamil Wynn is No.10 in the nation in passes defended (15, 1.67 average).
Senior safety Bret Hughes is second on the team with 62 tackles to go along with two interceptions. Hughes had three interceptions in the Wolves' 2004 victory over the Vikings, and finished the season with 60 tackles and four pass thefts.
Senior end Dane Wagner, a returning all-conference performer, leads the GNAC in sacks (6.0) and tackles for a loss (12.0). He had 39 tackles, seven for a loss, in 2004.
On special teams, sophomore Bruce Voges handles the kicking duties and is 20-of-23 on PAT opportunities, while sophomore punter Cory Dickson is averaging 35.7 yards per punt.
WESTERN INJURY REPORT: Junior quarterback James Monrean suffered a high ankle sprain and knee injury late in last week's game with Central Washington and is listed as doubtful for Saturday against Western Oregon.
WESTERN NOTES: The defensive two-pointer allowed by the Vikings against Western Oregon on Oct. 15 was the first since Portland State scored one in the 2000 season opener ... Western did not commit a turnover in its first meeting with Western Oregon, the first time the Vikings had done that since the opening game of the 2003 season ... Monrean has thrown 24 touchdown passes in 10 career starts. He was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Mesa State ... Sherrard is fourth among school career leaders in rushing yards with 2,745 yards, running for 148 against Humboldt State on Oct. 1 and 158 versus Western Oregon on Oct. 15. His 61-yard touchdown scamper against Mesa State was the Vikings' longest run from scrimmage since 1999 ... Carlyle's career rushing total is 1,533 yards. His career-best 175-yard effort against Humboldt State on Oct. 1 was the most for a GNAC running back since Central Washington's Emilio Iniguez ran for 177 versus Western Oregon on Oct. 16, 2004. Carlyle was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week for that performance ... Western's 49 points against the Mavericks were the most scored by the Vikings in an opener since 1929 ... Western logged more than 9,000 miles and 231 hours of travel time on its first three road trips of the season ... The Vikings are 63-21 at Bellingham's Civic Stadium during Smith's tenure as head coach ... Carlyle's 31 running attempts against Humboldt State on Oct. 1 was just the second 30-carry game by a Viking back since 1996 ... Sherrard and linebacker Brandon Elliott were named GNAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for their efforts in Western's win at Western Oregon on Oct. 15. Strong safety Steve Davis received the defensive honor for his performance against Humboldt State on Oct. 22.
GNAC PRESEASON POLL: For the first time in nine years, Western is neither the favorite nor co-favorite to win a league title in football. The Vikings were voted second behind arch-rival Central Washington in the GNAC Coaches Preseason Poll. The only other time during the past decade that they were not favored was in 1996.
The Vikings placed second in the GNAC in 2004 with a 3-3 record. They have won four league championships over the past six years, and six crowns in the last 10 campaigns. Western's lowest finish during that stretch was second in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2004.
Western got one first-place vote in this year's poll, with Central receiving the other three. The Wildcats finished with 15 points on the 4-3-2-1 system, with Western getting 12, Humboldt State nine and Western Oregon four.
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 10th consecutive season. Providing the color commentary for the eighth straight year is former Viking quarterback Jason Stiles. The pre-game show with host Mark Scholten begins at 12:35 p.m. The KBAI broadcast can also be heard on the Internet at wwuvikings.com.
All Western Oregon football games are carried live on KCCS (1220 AM) with Russ Blunck (9th year) and "The Coach" Bear Blunck calling the action. They can also be heard via the internet at www.wouwolves.com.
2004 RESULTS: Western finished 6-4 and tied for second in the GNAC at 3-3. Western Oregon posted a 1-10 record and was last in the GNAC at 1-5.
COACHES: Rob Smith (Washington, 1981) is in his 17th and final year as head coach and his victory total (109-61-1) and winning percentage (.640) are the best in Western history. He ranks third in victories among collegiate coaches in the state of Washington. 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 and 2003, 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. Smith is 8-11 vs. Central Washington.
Arne Ferguson (Western Oregon, 1991) is in his first year (3-6) as head coach at Western Oregon after spending nearly 20 years with the Wolves as a player and a coach. Ferguson had been Western Oregon's defensive coordinator since 1997. He previously coached defensive backs and linebackers. Ferguson played for the Wolves from 1985 to 1988 and was a three-time all-Columbia Football Association all-star as a safety. He has been a coach with the Wolves since 1989, except for a one- year stint as a high school coach in 1992.
TURNOVER/TAKEAWAY RATIO: In nine games this season, Western has had 20 takeaways and 23 turnovers. This is the third straight year that the Vikings have had a minus turnover/takeaway ratio after being on the positive side in that category for 12 consecutive campaigns.
VIKINGS JOIN NCC IN FOOTBALL BEGINNING IN 2006: Western has been admitted as a football-only member of the North Central Conference, one of the nation's most prestigious NCAA II alignments. The Vikings, along with arch-rival Central Washington, will begin playing a full slate of eight NCC games in 2006. The two schools had been competing as part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The NCC, founded in 1921, currently has seven members - Augustana SD, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State Mankato, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State MN, and South Dakota. Over the past three years, the NCC has had three of its member institutions leave to move up to NCAA Division I. North Dakota State and South Dakota State left after the 2003-04 academic year, and Northern Colorado left after 2002-03. In 2004, NCC member North Dakota finished 11-3 and reached the semifinals of the NCAA II national playoffs. St. Cloud State, which reached the first round of the playoffs, and NCC champion Nebraska-Omaha each had 8-3 records. North Dakota played in the NCAA II national championship game in 2003 and won a national title in 2001. The Vikings have played eight games (2-6) with NCC foes over the last four seasons, splitting with Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State, losing three times to St. Cloud State and once to North Dakota.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA PICKS: Western senior wide receiver Andy Olson was named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette preseason All-America Team for the second straight year. He also was a second-team preseason All-American on www.CollegeSportsReport.com and d2football.com. Senior offensive center Loren Winter was a third-team www.CollegeSportsReport.com pick.
HALL OF FAME: A distance runner who earned All-America honors in two sports, a women's soccer player who performed during the best stretch in school history and a former football player who went on to become one of the finest high school gridiron coaches in the state of Washington are the newest members of the Western Washington University Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2005 inductees are Robert "Bob" Ames, who is the head football coach at Meridian High School; midfielder Paula French, who was a pioneer in women's soccer; and Jeff Van Kleeck, who competed in both cross country and track for the Vikings. The trio, which brings the hall's membership to 106, will be formally inducted on Saturday (9:30 a.m.) in a ceremony at the Viking Union on the Western campus as a part of The Really Big Weekend. They also will be honored at halftime of Western's football game with Western Oregon.
Ames, who lettered as an offensive center in football at Western in 1964-67, has compiled a record of 214-109 in 31 years as head football coach at Meridian High School. He has directed the Trojans to four state championship games, winning in 1999 and 2003, and being runner-up in 1984 and 2000; and three other teams reach the state semifinals in 1992, 1995 and 1996. The 60-year-old Ames ranks No.3 in victories among the state's active high school football coaches in all classifications. His teams have won 11 league titles and he has been named league Coach of the Year four times. An assistant at Mount Si High School (North Bend) for seven years, Ames received his bachelor's degree in education from Western in 1967. In addition to football, he also earned two letters in rugby and one in track. He is a graduate of Castle High School in Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he competed in track and football. Ames and wife, Pam, also a Western graduate, have three sons and two daughters, three of whom are WWU graduates. All three sons played football at the collegiate level.
French was a three-time first-team Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference all-star, earning second-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America West Region all-star honors in 1982 and NAIA District 1 all-star recognition in 1984. The 42-year-old French, who scored 19 career goals, helped Western to a 49-5-5 record during her four-year career, the Vikings posting a 38-game winning streak and having a perfect 14-0-0 record in 1983 over the final three seasons. During that stretch, Western outscored its opponents, 212 to 26. The Vikings, who were the NCSC champions in 1982, captured District 1 titles in 1983 and 1984, and reached the NAIA Region I playoffs in 1984, losing 3-2 in the title game to St. Mary's CA. A four-year letter winner, French obtained a bachelor's degree in sociology from Western in 1985. She is a graduate of Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, being a first-team Narrows League all-star as a senior, the first year girls soccer was offered, after playing on the boys team as a junior. While at Western, French played on the Cozars club team, coached by former Washington State governor Booth Gardner. That squad toured Europe and placed second at the U.S. National Tournament in 1983, then the highest level for a woman in this country. She also played on club squads that won two West Regional titles and seven state championships, placing second at the U-19 girls national tournament in 1981. Last June, French competed on a women's over-40 team that won the National Veteran's Cup Tournament held in Wilmington, N.C. French, who is working on her national coaching license series, coached the Bellingham High girls soccer team for four years (1987-90), and has coached Whatcom Development League and Ranger girls squads. She is currently the purchasing agent for Aluminum Chambered Boats in Bellingham.
Van Kleeck was named Western Male Athlete of the Year for 1991-92, earning NAIA All-America honors in both cross country and track as a junior and senior. He placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at track nationals in 1993 and sixth in 1992, and finished 23rd at cross country nationals as a senior and 25th as a junior. The 35-year-old Van Kleeck set school track records which still stand in the 3,000 and 5,000, and ranks among the top six Western times in the 1,500 and 10,000. He was the NAIA District 1 cross country champion in 1991, being a two-time district all-star. A three-time national participant in cross country, Van Kleeck helped the Vikings place 17th as a team in 1989. He earned four letters in both cross country and track. A 1988 graduate of Lynden High School, Van Kleeck placed third at Class A-B state cross country meet as a senior and 11th as junior. He was third at state in the 1,600 meters and fourth in the 800 as a senior, and finished seventh in the 1,600 as a junior. Van Kleeck missed the 1991 track season because of a foot injury sustained in the steeplechase. That spring he concentrated on snowboarding and was the national amateur champion. Van Kleeck graduated from Western in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in visual communication. He received a master's degree in fine arts at Central Washington University in 1998 while pursuing a career in photography. Van Kleeck taught one year of photography at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently is completing his second year as a visiting professor at University of Redlands (Calif.). He and wife Charmaine have one son, Iain, born in April.
OLSON STREAKS AND MILESTONES: Senior wide receiver Andy Olson is the Western career leader in touchdown catches (31). He is tied for the lead in receptions (181) and is second in receiving yards (2,977, 291 short of record). Olson had a school and GNAC record string of touchdown catches in 11 games end in the third game of the season.
Last year, Olson set school and league records by making 15 touchdown catches. He had 68 receptions overall for 1,075 yards. Olson ranked No.9 nationally in receiving yards per game (107.5 avg.) and broke his own GNAC record. He also finished No.12 nationally in receptions per game (6.8).
In seven games this season, Olson has 31 catches for 497 yards and four touchdowns.
OLSON AMONG WESTERN CAREER LEADERS:
Touchdown Catches1. Andy Olson (2002-05) 312. Chris Nicholl (1993-96) 302. Greg Dykstra (1999-2002) 304. Ben Clampitt (1998-99) 24
Pass Receptions1. Greg Dykstra (1999-2002) 1811. Andy Olson (2002-05) 1813. Chris Nicholl (1993-96) 1704. Hoyt Gier (1975-78) 1485. Ben Clampitt (1998-99) 138
Receiving Yardage1. Chris Nicholl (1993-96) 32682. Andy Olson (2002-05) 29773. Greg Dykstra (1999-2002) 27204. Ben Clampitt (1998-99) 24815. Hoyt Gier (1975-78) 2321
LAST WEEK'S GAME: Quarterback Mike Reilly connected with wide receiver Nate Brookreson for an 11-yard touchdown with 3:15 to play as Central Washington rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit and defeated Western, 31-28, in the 10th annual Cascade Cup in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at Civic Stadium.
The Vikings had a 28-7 lead at halftime, but had no first downs in the third quarter and just one in the first 12 minutes of the fourth period.
Central improved to 7-2 overall with its fifth consecutive victory, and clinched outright its third consecutive GNAC championship with a 5-0 conference record. The Wildcats hold a 6-4 lead in the Cascade Cup.
Trailing, 28-23, the Wildcats started the game-winning drive on their own six following an interception by Brandon Kennedy, and moved 94 yards in just five plays. The key play was a 74-yard reception by wide receiver Brian Potucek, who took a short pass from Reilly, slipped two tackles and ran down the right sideline for a 76-yard gain.
Two plays after that, Reilly found Brookreson in the end zone for the go-ahead score. Reilly then hit Potucek with a two-point conversion pass for the final margin.
Reilly finished 20-of-34 for 251 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, finding Potucek eight times for 152 yards and a score.
Western was stopped on downs its following series, but got the ball back with 1:58 to play as Central running back Landon Hall fumbled, and Viking cornerback Kevin Jones returned the ball to the Western 45. Backup quarterback A.J. Porter, in for starter James Monrean, who was injured on the previous possession, completed three passes to move to the Central 27 with 1:15 left, but was then intercepted by Josiah Wilfong, effectively ending the game.
Central had opened the scoring just 4:30 into the game, with Potucek grabbing a 21-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone on a third-and-19 play.
But Western responded with 28 consecutive points, with all four touchdowns coming directly after Wildcat turnovers. Monrean threw touchdown passes of 24 yards to Andy Olson and 18 yards to Brett Upchurch, and also ran the ball in himself from 16 yards out. Running back Jake Carlyle had the other touchdown in the charge on a 1-yard run.
Monrean was 9-of-13 in the opening half for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and finished 15-of-25 for 139 yards.
Central closed to 28-17 in the third quarter with a 16-yard run by Reilly and a 23-yard field goal by Coby Sadler, then pulled to with five with 9:59 left on a 4-yard run by Hall, who rushed for 133 yards on 26 carries, having 103 of those yards on 19 second-half attempts.
Central had a 441-308 edge in total offense.
Olson's first quarter touchdown on a fourth-and-four play was the 31st scoring reception of his career, giving him sole possession of Western's career record. He had three receptions for 50 yards, giving him 181 catches for his career, tying the school mark held by Greg Dykstra (1999-2002).
Western linebacker Shane Simmons was credited with nine tackles, including a quarterback sack, and had a hat trick of takeaways with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. He received GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.
SCORING SUMMARYCentral Washington 7 0 10 14 --- 31Western Washington 14 14 0 0 --- 28
CWU - Potucek 21 pass from Reilly (Sadler kick)WWU - Olson 24 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)WWU - Carlyle 1 run (Younggren kick)WWU - Monrean 16 run (Younggren kick)WWU - Upchurch 18 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)CWU - Reilly 16 run (Sadler kick)CWU - FG Sadler 23CWU - Hall 4 run (run failed)CWU - Brookreson 11 pass from Reilly (Potucek pass from Reilly)Attendance: 2,877
CWU WWUFirst downs 23 15Rushes-yards 41-190 42-141Passing yards 251 167Sacks by-yards lost 4-14 3-14Total Offense 441 308Return yards 14-143 11-139Passes 34-20-2 30-18-2Punts 4-28.8 9-30.4Fumbles-lost 4-4 1-1Penalties-yards 5-40 6-50Time of possession 30:08 29:52
Rushing: CWU-Hall 26-133-1, Reilly 7-40-1, Bennett 4-21-0; WWU-Carlyle17-84-1, Sherrard 10-37-0, Monrean 15-30-1.
Passing: CWU-Reilly 34-20-2-251; WWU-Monrean 25-15-2-139, Porter-5-3-0-28.
Receiving: CWU-Potucek 8-152, Brookreson 5-63, Boonstra 3-14, Robertson 3-11, Hall 1-11; WWU-Upchurch 7-60, Olson 3-50, Dell 3-24, Sherrard 2-13,Wilson 2-9, Yoney 1-11.
LAST MEETING WITH WESTERN OREGON: Running back Duncan Sherrard rushed for 158 yards on 25 carries and wide receiver Matt Wilson caught a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes as Western defeated Western Oregon, 38-16, in a GNAC game at McArthur Field.
It was just the Vikings second triumph at Monmouth, Ore., in their last five contests there.
Western Oregon fell to 2-5 and 0-3 in conference play despite the efforts of the GNAC's leading rusher, Eliot Vinzant, who had his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game with 144 yards on 21 carries, including a 43-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.
Western jumped to a 12-0 lead on its first two possessions. The Vikings took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in six plays, capped by a 19-yard pass from quarterback James Monrean to Wilson on a fourth-and-six play.
The following series, the Vikings went 99 yards in five plays, starting with a 39-yard pass to Andy Olson, and capped by Wilson, who had two touchdowns in his entire career before Saturday, getting a key block from Brandon Torrey and going 45 yards for a score on a screen pass one play after the drive had been kept alive by a Western Oregon personal foul.
After Vinzant's touchdown run, Western scored again, with Jake Carlyle scoring from a yard out on a fourth-and-goal play. The Vikings, who missed extra points on their first two touchdowns, went for two, but Monrean's pass was intercepted by Jamil Wynn, who took it 100 yards for a defensive 2-point conversion, making the score 18-9. It was the first defensive two-pointer allowed by the Vikings since Portland State scored one in the 2000 season opener.
The Vikings put the game away with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Carlyle scored on a 3-yard run, then wide receiver Casey Dell reached the end zone on a 15-yard pass from Monrean.
Monrean completed 17-of-27 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, passing for more than 250 yards for the sixth time in seven games as Western, which did not commit a turnover for the first time since the opening game of the 2003 season, had a 467-405 edge in total offense.
Western Oregon scored midway through the fourth quarter, as backup quarterback Ryan Thorson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss, capping an 11-play, 92-yard drive; but Western scored the final points of the game, Monrean connecting with tight end Nick Yoney for a 14-yard score with just 1:25 to play.
Sherrard, who has led the Vikings in rushing each of the last three years but had not seen extensive action since suffering a knee injury in the opening week of this season, ran for 101 yards on 15 carries in the first half alone, helping Western have a 287-156 edge in total offense at halftime.
Linebacker Brandon Elliott, who came in for injured Adam Klingenberg, had a team-high 11 tackles for the Vikings, including one of the team's three quarterback sacks.
For there performances, Sherrard and Elliott were named GNAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively.
SCORING SUMMARYWestern Washington 12 6 13 7 --- 38Western Oregon 7 2 0 7 --- 16
WWU - Wilson 19 pass from Monrean (kick failed)WWU - Wilson 45 pass from Monrean (kick blocked)WOU - Vanzant 43 run (Voges kick)WWU - Carlyle 1 runWOU - 2pt. PAT return - Wynn 100 interception returnWWU - Carlyle 3 run (kick blocked)WWU - Dell 15 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)WOU - Boss 16 pass from R. Thorson (Voges kick)WWU - Yoney 14 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)Attendance: 2,300
WWU WOUFirst downs 25 26Rushes-yards 46-196 31-145Passing yards 271 260Sacks by-yards lost 3-20 3-9Total Offense 467 405Return yards 2-20 7-92Passes 27-17-0 41-24-0Punts 5-39.6 5-30.0Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0Penalties-yards 10-100 11-95Time of possession 31:25 28:35
Rushing: WWU-Sherrard 25-158, Carlyle 14-46-2, Monrean 7--8; WOU-Vinzant21-144-1, Ramirez 6-18, Thorson, M. 4--17.
Passing: WWU-Monrean 27-17-0-271; WOU-Thorson, M. 21-11-0-113, Thorson,R. 14-8-0-87, Hubrich 6-5-0-60.
Receiving: WWU-Yoney 4-60-1, Upchurch 4-33, Carlyle 3-44, Wilson 2-64-2,Sherrard 2-16, Olson 1-39, Dell 1-15-1; WOU-Smith 5-66, Knudsen 4-39,Smith 4-37, Carter 3-26, Vinzant 3-18, Boss 2-28-1, Schmadeka 1-17, Ching1-15, Dickson 1-14.
NEXT GAME: Season completed.
WEBSITE: For the latest results, statistics and updates, including reports on all Western athletic events, visit the Vikings website at wwuvikings.com.
PROBABLE TWO DEEPS
WESTERN WASHINGTON
OFFENSETE 13 Nick Yoney (6-3, 240, Sr.-2V, Arlington, WA) 86 Logan Cullen (6-2, 235, Fr.-RS, Anacortes, WA)LT 70 Brandon Torrey (6-3, 290, Jr.-2V, Graham, WA/Bethel) 59 Dale Moore (6-2, 270, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Evergreen)LG 67 Peter Van Datta (6-2, 270, Jr.-2V, Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap) 57 Zach Myers (6-2, 295, So.-TR, Sammamish, WA/Skyline/CWU)C 53 Loren Winter (6-1, 270, Sr.-3V, Bothell, WA/Juanita) 66 Dan Trask (6-2, 275, Fr.-RS, Aberdeen, WA)RG 64 Tyler Sleeman (6-1, 305, Jr.-2V., Black Diamond, WA/Tahoma/EWU) 78 Phil Hayes (6-4, 335, Fr.-RS, Renton, WA/O'Dea)RT 56 Will Freitag (6-3, 265,Sr.-1V,Maple Valley,WA/East.Cath./Minn.-Crookston) 59 Dale Moore (6-2, 270, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Evergreen)SB 19 Brett Upchurch (6-1, 175, So.-1V, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake) 81 Casey Dell (5-11, 185, So.-1V, Moxee, WA/East Valley)WR 1 Andy Olson (6-2, 210, Sr.-3V, Chehalis, WA/W.F. West) 87 Zach Russell (6-2, 180, Sr.-1V, Bothell, WA/Lake Washington)WR 9 Matt Wilson (5-10, 185, So.-1V, Auburn, WA) 82 Travis McKee (6-5, 215, Fr.-RS, Bothell, WA)RB 27 Jake Carlyle (5-7, 195, Sr.-3V, Olympia, WA/Capital) 29 Duncan Sherrard (5-9, 200, Sr.-3V, Seattle, WA/Roosevelt) 5 Jordyn Jackson (5-9, 175, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)QB 14 James Monrean (6-1, 230, Jr.-1V., Bellingham, WA/Sehome) 15 A.J. Porter (6-1, 215, So.-1V, SeaTac, WA/Kennedy)
DEFENSEE 93 Matt Overton (5-11, 245, Jr.-TR, Tracy, CA/Diablo Valley JC) 72 Geoff Hise (6-2, 260, Sr.-3V, Snoqualmie, WA/Mount Si)N 71 Junior Aumavae (6-1, 280, Fr.-RS, Palmer, AK) 75 Kyle Winkley (6-3, 280, Fr., Tumwater, WA/Black Hills)E 30 Chase Schmidtz (6-1,210,Sr.-TR,Bellingham,WA(Meridian/EWU/Moorpark JC) 54 Aaron Dahl (6-1, 230, Jr.**, Gig Harbor, WA/Gig Harbor)OLB 39 Shane Simmons (6-1, 215, So.-TR, Kent, WA/Kentlake/Idaho) 47 Tieba Bropleh (5-10, 215, So.-1V, Bremerton, WA/Bremerton)ILB 32 Craig Keenan (6-0, 225, Sr.-1V, Salem, MA/Hamilton-Wenham/Palomar JC) 48 Joe Pennell (6-0, 255, Fr.-RS, Everett, WA/Cascade)ILB 49 Brandon Elliott (6-2, 235, So.-1V, Auburn, WA/Fife) 46 Adam Klingenberg (5-11, 215, Sr.-3V, Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla)OLB 18 Ekene Agwuenu (6-1, 205, Sr.-TR, Chino Hills, CA/Ayala/Nevada) 34 James Day (5-10, 195, So.-1V, Vancouver, WA/Mountain View)LC 42 Brett Hall (5-7, 175, Sr.-3V, Kennewick, WA/Columbia Basin CC) 36 Maurice Jones (5-8, 175, Fr.-RS, Tacoma, WA/Spanaway Lake)RC 7 Kevin Jones (5-10, 180, Jr.-TR, Seattle, WA/Kentwood/C.of Siskiyous) 28 Anthony Rosso (5-10, 185, Fr.-RS, Walla Walla, WA (Walla Walla)SS 33 Steve Davis (5-9, 190, Fr.-RS, Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin) 25 Mike Schmit (5-10, 180, So.-SQ, Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)FS 22 Todd McClellan (5-10, 200, Jr.-2V, Lacey, WA/Timberline) 2 Jason Barton (5-9, 185, Sr.-3V, Gig Harbor, WA)
SPECIALK 83 Ace Younggren (6-0, 175, Fr., Snohomish, WA) 31 Bobby Peck (6-0, 180, Fr.-TR, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale/Edmonds CC)P 45 Corbin Anderson (6-0, 190, So.-TR, Veradale, WA/University/EWU) 88 Josh Lider (6-2, 190, Fr., Bellevue, WA/Sammamish)H 15 A.J. Porter (6-1, 215, So.-1V, SeaTac, WA/Kennedy) 19 Brett Upchurch (6-1, 175, So.-1V, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake)LS 93 Matt Overton (5-11, 245, Jr.-TR, Tracy, CA/Diablo Valley JC) 15 A.J. Porter (6-1, 215, So.-1V, SeaTac, WA/Kennedy)SS 93 Matt Overton (5-11, 245, Jr.-TR, Tracy, CA/Diablo Valley JC) 99 Ryan Conwell (6-5, 215, So.-1V, Kent, WA/Kentwood)PR 22 Todd McClellan (5-10, 200, Jr.-2V, Lacey, WA/Timberline) 25 Mike Schmit (5-10, 165, R-Fr., Vancouver, WA/Columbia River)KR 87 Zach Russell (6-2, 180, Jr.-1V, Bothell, WA/Lake Washington) 9 Matt Wilson (5-10, 185, So.-1V, Auburn, WA) 5 Jordyn Jackson (5-9, 175, Fr.-RS, Vancouver, WA/Columbia River) 7 Kevin Jones (5-10, 180, Jr.-TR, Seattle, WA/Kentwood/Utah State)
PROBABLE TWO-DEEPS
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
OFFENSETE 11 Kevin Boss (6-7, 255, Jr.-2L, Philomath, OR/Philomath) 47 Brian Alves (6-2, 220, Fr.-RS, Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass)LT 73 Mario Martinez (6-3, 275, Sr.-1L, Hermiston, OR/College of the Siskiyous) 75 Clint Steen (6-6, 310, Jr.-2L, Enterprise, OR/Joseph)LG 60 Ryan Belcher (6-4, 320, Jr.-2L, Keizer, OR/McNary) 70 Steve Norton (6-1, 315, Sr.-1L, Watsonville, CA/Cabrillo CC)C 54 Brett Rhodes (6-2, 255, So.-1L, Canby, OR/Canby) 52 Cory Perkins (6-0, 280, Fr.-RS, Salem, OR/McKay)RG 63 Brandon O'Neil (6-3, 300, So. North Bend, OR/North Bend) 74 Allan Mikolas (6-4, 310, So.-1L, Salem, OR/McKay)RT 78 Paul Wright (6-4, 280, So.-1L, Portland, OR/Franklin) 79 Kyle Van Ness (6-6, 260, Fr.-RS, Albany, OR/West Albany)HB 10 Tyler Knudsen (5-9, 175, Jr.-1L, Portland, OR/Chabot JC) 18 Kyle Beck (5-10, 175, Fr.-RS, Kapolei, HI/Nanakuli)SE 9 Luke Carter (6-3, 205, Sr.-2L, Hermiston, OR/Snow JC) 22 Brad Ching (6-2, 190, So.-1L, Kailua, HI/Oregon State)FL 4 Tyler Smith (5-10, 180, Sr.-3L, Albany, OR/University of Idaho) 83 Isaiah Smith (6-4, 200, Fr.-HS, Roseburg, OR/Roseburg)QB 16 Mark Thorson (6-5, 215, So.-1L, Sandy, OR/Sandy) 15 Ryan Thorson (6-6, 240, Jr.-2L, Sandy, OR/Sandy)TB 5 Eliot Vinzant (6-0, 215, Jr.-TR, Scapposse, OR/Portland State) 33 Michael Ramirez (5-7, 210, Sr.-2L, Hermiston, OR/College of the Redwoods)
DEFENSELE 27 Dane Wagner (6-4, 250, Sr.-3L, Salem, OR/Sprague) 48 Tyler Mack (6-2, 220, So.-1L, Baker City, OR/Baker)LT 92 Anthony Marin (6-0, 260, Fr.-RS, Salem, OR/McKay) 66 Justin Cameron (6-2, 260, Jr., Eugene, OR/Pleasant Hill)RT 53 Matt Cox (6-0, 235, Fr.-HS, Salem, OR/North Salem) 45 Robert Werder (6-3, 245, So.-1L, Toledo, OR/Toledo)RE 13 Matt Jirges (6-4, 240, Jr.-2L, Gervais, OR/Gervais) 81 Casey O'Donnell (6-5, 230, So.-1L, Troutdale, OR/Reynolds)OLB 35 Matt Buche (6-2, 225, So.-1L, Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point) 7 Tyler White (6-2, 205, So.-1L, Beaverton, OR/Sunset)MLB 51 John Apgar (6-3, 250, Sr.-3L, Toledo, OR/Toledo) 46 Chaz Barit (5-10, 225, Fr.-HS, Waialua, HI/Kamehameha)OLB 50 Jeff Cloud (6-0, 220, Jr.-2L, Culver, OR/Culver) 42 Tyler York (6-2, 235, So.-1L, Redmond, OR/Redmond)CB 6 Jamil Wynn (6-3, 190, Jr.-2L, Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point) 18 Kyle Beck (5-10, 175, RS-Fr., Kapolei, HI/Nanakuli)CB 31 Nick Smith (6-0, 175, So.-1L, Warrenton, OR/Warrenton) 4 Tyler Smith (5-10, 180, Sr.-3L, Albany, OR/University of Idaho)FS 8 Jason Buckmier (6-3, 215, So.-1L, Beaverton, OR/Westview) 3 Zach Christopherson (6-2, 210, So.-1L, Portland, OR/Wilson)SS 1 Bret Hughes (6-1, 225, Sr.-3L, Salem, OR/University of Idaho) 21 Kyle Blank (6-0, 205, So., Klamath Falls, OR/Mazama)
SPECIALK 14 Bruce Voges (6-2, 210, So.-1L, Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass) 8 Jason Buckmier (6-3, 215, So.-1L, Beaverton, OR/Westview)P 87 Cory Dickson (6-5, 240, So.-1L, Corvallis, OR/Corvallis) 14 Bruce Voges (6-2, 210, So.-1L, Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass)LS 9 Luke Carter (6-3, 205, Sr.-1L, Hermiston, OR/Snow JC) 46 Chaz Barit (5-10, 225, Fr.-HS, Waialua, HI/Kamehameha)SS 65 Brandon Jasmin (6-7, 335, Jr.-2L, Prineville, OR/Crook County) 9 Luke Carter (6-3, 205, Sr.-1L, Hermiston, OR/Snow JC)H 16 Mark Thorson (6-5, 215, So.-1L, Sandy, OR/Sandy) 17 Garrett Hubrich (6-2, 200, Fr.-RS, Hillsboro, OR/Hillsboro)KR-1 6 Jamil Wynn (6-3, 190, Jr.-2L, Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point) 18 Kyle Beck (5-10, 175, Fr.-RS, Kapolei, HI/Nanakuli)KR-2 5 Eliot Vinzant (6-0, 215, Jr.-TR, Scappoose, OR/Portland State) 10 Tyler Knudsen (5-9, 175, Jr.-1L, Portland, OR/Chabot JC)PR 10 Tyler Knudsen (5-9, 175, Jr.-1L, Portland, OR/Chabot JC) 6 Jamil Wynn (6-3, 190, Jr.-2L, Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point)
