After going 10-2 last year, the Cougars enter 2014 as the unanimous favorite in the GNAC preseason coaches’ poll while entering the na- tional top 25 for the first time in program history at No. 22. Although the 112-player roster in- cludes just 10 returning starters, the fewest in the GNAC, Azusa Pacific has the most returning letter winners (46) in the conference for the sec- ond consecutive season.
OVERVIEW
The offensive spot-
light shines squarely
on Watson, a 6-foot-2,
240-pound tailback,
who burst into the
Azusa Pacific record
books with an explo-
sive 302-yard, five-TD
effort (both single-
game school records)
that led the Cougars
to a thrilling 44-36
Homecoming victory
over Simon Fraser.
Watson added single-season and career rushing records for both yardage and touchdowns.
Watson runs behind some more familiar faces, as the Cougars return four starters at the offen- sive line, while senior QB Nick Owens is back under center for his final year.
There are officially seven returning starters to the Cougar offense, a total which does not in- clude Owens (2012 starting QB) or junior WR Tanner Henry, who started the first four games last year before injuries limited him to appearances in just four of the final eight games.
Although the defense lists just three returning starters, it is young, energetic, and athletic, and it is anchored by Thornton, a free safety who led the team in tackles, interceptions, and fumbles forced last year. The other two returning starters, senior DT Pasiaka Fahina and junior DE Talaiasi
With wins in 13 of its past 14 conference games, Azusa Pacific had seemingly solved the GNAC’s double round-robin schedule which included home and away games in the same season against every conference opponent. However, the GNAC has expanded to seven schools in 2014, adding associate member South Dakota School of Mines & Technology for the first conference expansion since Azusa Pa- cific joined in 2012. As a result, the 10-game double round-robin has been replaced by a six- game conference schedule along with three additional non-conference matchups between GNAC teams.
For Azusa Pacific, that means its Sept. 20 home game against Simon Fraser and Septem- ber visits to Humboldt State and Dixie State will be counted as non-conference games. The six- game conference schedule kicks off on Satur- day, Oct. 4, when the Cougars visit Central Washington, and continues with home games against Humboldt State (Thursday, Oct. 9), Dixie State (Oct. 18), and Western Oregon (Nov. 1). The other GNAC road games are South Dakota Mines (Oct. 25) and Simon Fraser (Nov. 8).
The season opener with Grand Valley State was moved to Thursday, Sept. 4, to accommo- date the season’s first NCAA Division II Game of the Week national TV broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Grand Valley State handed Azusa Pacific a 38-17 defeat in last year’s season opener, and the Lakers make their first-ever visit to Southern California to take on the Cougars to open the 2014 campaign.
The Cougars filled an open date on the final weekend of the regular season with a non- conference matchup with NAIA Independent program Menlo College, which was 5-5 last year.
TERRELL WATSON
