Great Northwest Athletic Conference Football: Humboldt State Gets Nod in Coaches Pre-Season Poll
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Great Northwest Athletic Conference 6901 SE Lake Rd. Suite 1 Portland, OR 97267-2194 503.305.8756 Contact: Bob Guptill 2012 Football Report No. 1 (Aug. 23, 2012) Football: Humboldt State Gets Nod In Coaches Pre-Season Poll Great Northwest Coaches Poll 2011 Records Pts Central Washington, which had won six of the previous 1. Humboldt State (4) 9-1 (7-1, 1st) 24 eight GNAC titles, will try to rebound from its first losing 2. Central Washington (2) 4-6 (4-4, 3rd) 20 season since 2001. 3. Western Oregon 6-5 (6-2, 2nd) 19 4. Azusa Pacific 9-3 (Independent) 13 5. Simon Fraser 3-7 (2-6, 4th) 7 The Wildcats have 10 returning starters on offense, Dixie State 1-10 (1-7, 5th) 7 including one from the 2009 season. (Note: First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on a 5-4--3-2-1 Coach Blaine Bennett also reloaded with several Division I basis. Each coach ranked other five teams). transfers including running backs Demetrius Sumler from Colorado and Johri Fogerson from the University of PORTLAND, Ore. – Two players that helped Humboldt Washington. State produce nearly 36 points per game in leading the Lumberjacks to a 9-1 record are gone, but the ‘Jacks will Quarterback Ryan Robertson will also have available some remain a potent force this fall and are the favorites to win outstanding receivers including Football Championship their second consecutive GNAC football title. Subdivision (FCS) All-American Tavoy Moore from Idaho State. HSU, which returns 16 starters including nine on offense, earned four first-place votes and outpointed Central Western Oregon also appears to have the guns to challenge Washington 24-20 in the annual GNAC Coaches pre- Humboldt State for the title returning a league-best 10 all- season poll. stars, including three first team defensive selections in lineman Gavin Drake, linebacker Scotland Foss and Humboldt is also ranked among the top teams nationally in defensive back Bryce Peila. NCAA Division II. The ‘Jacks earned a No. 21 ranking in the AFCA Coaches pre-season poll and earned a No. 17 Peila led the GNAC and ranked third nationally in spot in the USA College Football.com poll. interceptions with nine. Quarterback Mike Proulx, who threw for 2,888 yards and The Wolves, who came in third in the coaches’ poll, will 25 touchdowns, and running back Lyndon Rowells, who be going with a new starting quarterback. The candidates rushed for a GNAC record 1,417 yards, both graduated. include Cody VonAppen and Trey Shimabukuro. Alex Rump will likely replace Proulx at quarterback for Azusa Pacific will make its debut in the GNAC this fall and fifth-year head coach Rob Smith. Last year Rump saw brings another solid football program to the conference. It limited duty completing three of seven passes for 32 yards. earned a No. 4 ranking in the pre-season poll. Humboldt is a little more experienced at running back. Victor Santa Cruz’s team posted a 9-3 record last year as a NAIA independent losing to Carroll, Mont., in the playoffs. Among the candidates to replace Rowells is Daniel Wyatt who is back after spending a redshirt year at Tuskegee. While quarterback John van Raadt, who rushed for 1,200 Two years ago Wyatt rushed for 513 yards and five yards and threw for 1,875 doesn’t return, the Cougars do touchdowns for the Lumberjacks. have four first team NAIA independent all-stars. The Lumberjack offense will also feature three returning Simon Fraser and Dixie State tied for fifth in the pre-season all-stars including wide receiver Victor Spencer and poll. offensive linemen Brett Frydendahl and David Kulp. The Clan is coming off a 3-7 season and returns two first Back on defense is a pair of first team all-league picks – team GNAC all-stars in running back Bo Palmer and linebacker Chris Peterson and defensive back Jeremiah offensive lineman Matthias Goossen. Maluia. 1 Palmer is the GNAC’s top returning rusher, gaining 1,219 Basic Offense: Multiple yards last season when he scored eight touchdowns. Basic Defense: 4-3 Stadium (Capacity): Redwood Bowl (6,000) Dixie State has 17 returning starters – one more than Humboldt’s total - led by consensus All-American tight TOP RETURNEES: Rushing – Daniel Wyatt (RB, 5-7, 177, Jr., end Joe Don Duncan who led the nation’s tight ends in 85-513, 5 TDs in 2010). Passing – Alex Rump (QB, 6-1, 205, Jr., catches with 64 for 949 yards. 3-7-1, 32). Receiving – Victor Spencer (WR, 6-0, 202, Sr., 38- 599, 2 TDs); Alex Hiebert (TE, 6-2, 244, Sr., 20-202, 2 TDs). Kick The Red Storm also return first team GNAC defensive back Scoring – Matt Bruder (K, 5-8, 164, So., 44-44 PAT 2-3 FG in and kick returner Cache Morgan. 2010). Tackles – Jeremiah Maluia (DB, 5-11, 202, Jr., 25-39-64, Interc. 4-19); Chris Peterson (OLB, 5-10, 210, Sr., 27-22-49, TFL The GNAC season begins next Thursday (Aug. 30) as 6 ½-33); Sean McDonald (DL, 6-3, 292, Sr., 14-30-44, TFL 9-27); Azusa Pacific debuts against UC Davis, Humboldt State Kevin Cooper (DB, 5-10, 176, Jr., 21-35). All-Stars – Victor hosts Colorado Mesa and Simon Fraser plays at Pacific. Spencer (WR, 1st team GNAC); Brett Frydendahl (OL, 6-5, 264, Sr., 1st team GNAC); Chris Peterson (LB, 1st team GNAC); Central Washington opens its season Saturday (Sept. 1) at Jeremiah Maluia (DB, 1st team GNAC); David Kulp (OL, 6-2, 295, Texas A&M-Kingsville, while Dixie State plays at Adams Jr., 2nd team GNAC); Sean McDonald (DL, 2nd team GNAC); State and Grand Valley visits Western Oregon. Kevin Cooper (DB, 2nd team GNAC). 2012 GNAC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE KEY LOSSES: Mike Proulx (QB, 1st team GNAC, 212-342-8, 2888, 25 TDs); Lyndon Rowells (RB, 1st team GNAC, 273-1417, AUGUST: 30 - Azusa Pacific at UC Davis, 6 p.m.; Colorado Mesa at 14 TDs); Dirk Dallas (WR, 1st team GNAC, 46-805, 7 TDs); Brian Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; Simon Fraser at Pacific, 7 p.m. Blumberg (K, 1st team GNAC, 13-17 FGs, 44-46 PAT); Andrew st SEPTEMBER: 1 – Central Washington at Texas A&M – Kingsville, 7 p.m.; Iupati (DL, 1 team GNAC, 34 tackles, TFL 9-46); Jona Faraimo Dixie State at Adams State, 7 p.m.; Grand Valley at Western Oregon, 1 (LB, 1st team GNAC, 68 tackles, TFL 7 ½ - 34); Kevin Miles (WR p.m. 8 – Azusa Pacific at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; Central Washington at & PR, 2nd team GNAC, 43-424, 5 TDs, 22-225 PR); Chris Bolt Simon Fraser, 2 p.m.; Western Oregon at Dixie State, 6 p.m. 15 – Dixie (TE, 2nd team GNAC, 17-291, 5 TDs); Drew Shaw (OL, 2nd team State at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; Central Washington at Western Oregon, 1 GNAC); Jordan McGowan (DB, 2nd team, 53 tackles); Guy p.m.; Simon Fraser at Humboldt State, 6 p.m. 22 – Azusa Pacific at Ricciardulli (DB, 2nd team GNAC, 45 tackles). Central Washington, 1 p.m.; Humboldt State at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; Simon Fraser at Western Oregon, 1 p.m. 29 – Western Oregon at Azusa Pacific, OUTLOOK 6 p.m.; Humboldt State at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; Dixie State at Simon Fraser, 6 p.m. The Lumberjacks took a hit offensively with the loss of OCTOBER: 6 – Azusa Pacific at Simon Fraser, 2 p.m.; Central Proulx and Rowells, but still return nine offensive starters Washington at Dixie State, 1 p.m.; Western Oregon at Humboldt State, 6 from last year. p.m. 13 – Humboldt State at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; Simon Fraser at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; Dixie State at Western Oregon, 1 p.m. 20 – The likely replacement for Proulx at quarterback is Alex Central Washington at Azusa Pacific, 6:30 p.m.; Dixie State at Humboldt Rump (6-1, 205, Jr., Colfax, CA) who saw limited duty State, 6 p.m.; Western Oregon at Simon Fraser, 2 p.m. 27 – Azusa completing three of seven passes for 32 yards. Pacific at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.; Central Washington at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; Simon Fraser at Dixie State, 1 p.m. His only previous experience was at Sierra JC in 2008. NOVEMBER: 3 – Azusa Pacific at Dixie State, 1 p.m.; Western Oregon at Another quarterback candidate is redshirt freshman Casey Central Washington, 1 p.m.; Humboldt State at Simon Fraser, 2 p.m. 10 – Mintz (6-2, 180) from San Jose’s Prospect High School. Simon Fraser at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; Dixie State at Central Washington, noon; Humboldt State at Western Oregon, 1 p.m. "Alex is a very intelligent quarterback who we're very comfortable with," HSU offensive coordinator Eric Tripp said. "Casey has improved every practice and isn't far TEAM CAPSULES behind." HUMBOLDT STATE Lumberjacks At running back, Daniel Wyatt (5-7, 177, Jr., Vallejo, CA) is back after spending a redshirt year at Tuskegee. Head Coach: Rob Smith, Washington ’81 (24-18, 4 years; Overall, 132-80-1, 21 years) Two years ago he rushed for 513 yards and five Assistants: Eric Tripp, offensive coordinator; Shay McClure, touchdowns for the Lumberjacks. defensive coordinator; James Gravelle, secondary & special teams coordinator; Fred Kelley, offensive line; Duane Other possibilities are Nick Ricciardulli (5-8, 190, Jr., Manyweather, defensive line coach; John Hughes, tight end; Elize Poway, CA), who played for the ‘Jacks three years ago Gatson, cornerbacks; JJ Clark, running backs; Beau Davis, rushing for 109 yards and College of the Sequoias transfer defensive ends; Guy Ricciardulli, defensive assistant.