Sept. 13, 2007
TACOMA, Wash. -
Wendy Carpenter, Tacoma News Tribune sports staff
At least the Western Washington University football team had a week to enjoy its big victory.
The Vikings, after at stunning 28-21 victory over UC Davis on Sept. 1 on the campus of the California school, dive into their North Central Conference schedule Saturday with a game at Nebraska-Omaha.
The Mavericks, who shared the NCC title last season, are the preseason pick by a poll of media and coaches to win the title again.
Western, coming off a 5-6 season but on a four-game winning streak, was picked to finish last.
"Preseason polls don't win or lose games," second-year Western coach Robin Ross said Tuesday. "So we don't really pay attention to them. Beating (UC Davis) gave us a lot of confidence. But the reality is we won one game. Now we have new challenges in front of us."
Nebraska-Omaha (2-0), ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, comes into the game after an upset of its own, a 25-21 victory last weekend over No. 2 Northwest Missouri State.
"Knowing the conference this season helps," Ross said. "We have experience playing these teams now and know more of what to expect."
Further evidence that Western's win was solid came last week, when UC Davis - which plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly I-AA - defeated Portland State, ranked 18th in FCS, 26-17.
The Aggies have an active streak of 37 winning seasons - thought to be the longest of any non-Division III school.
For the Division II Vikings, it was their first victory over an NCAA Division I opponent since 2003, and it snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Aggies.
The challenges keep coming for Western, in its second season in the NCC. After the trip to Nebraska-Omaha, the Vikings play host to the other conference co-champ, North Dakota, the following week in Bellingham.
"I have a lot of people asking me, `Who made up your schedule?' " Ross said. "But we - the coaches and the players - love a challenge."
Week in review
Pacific Lutheran University: Two NCAA Division I transfers who will be sophomores have made commitments to play softball for the Lutes. Amanda Pulley, a first team all-state selection at Wilson High School, will transfer from New Mexico State and Rachel Wheeler, who played at Rogers High School, will transfer from Texas Tech.
Western Washington University: Junior QB Adam Perry was College Sports Report Division II national performer of the week for completing 31-of-46 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings beat UC Davis, 28-21. ... Senior punter Corbin Anderson was NCC special teams player of the week after averaging 44.6 yards on five punts - including a school-record 79-yard kick.
Central Washington University: Guard Jordan Williams out of Cascade Christian High has signed an athletic financial aid agreement to play basketball this season.
Eastern Washington University: Two-time junior college All-America defensive back Terry Mixon has joined the football team and is expected to be able to play for the Eagles this week against UC Davis. Mixon left Washington State University last week after he had joined the Cougars from Grossmont (Calif.) Community College.
NORTHWEST FOCUS
Players of the week
A year after starting 0-3, the Pacific Lutheran University football team opened with a 48-17 win at California Lutheran. And the Northwest Conference noticed, naming senior quarterback Brett Gordon its offensive player of the week and senior defensive end Robert Thomsen, out of Timberline High School, its defensive player of the week. Gordon was 22-of-36 for 249 yards with one interception and two touchdowns. He also ran for 28 yards, including a 21-yard score. Thomsen had nine tackles, including 31/2 for losses totaling 12 yards, and recovered two fumbles.
Event of the week
The University of Washington volleyball team, ranked No. 8, takes its 8-0 record to Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend for three matches in the Northern Florida/Jacksonville Classic. The Huskies - one of four unbeaten Pacific-10 Conference teams along with Oregon, Stanford and Southern California - open Pac-10 play next week.
