Clan show fight in battle with APU

Glendora, CA – The Simon Fraser University football team showed great heart in their 32-24 loss to the Azusa Pacific Cougars.

Trailing 23-3 at halftime, the Clan came out strong in all phases of the game to start the third quarter, jumping on the Cougars.

Earl Anderson (Courtice, ON) returned the opening kickoff of the second half 52-yards to the APU 40 yard line, giving the offence great field position.

From there, SFU would use a balance of runs and passes, as they moved the ball 40 yards on eleven plays, highlighted by Cole Tudor (Pickering, ON) taking a pass and breaking free from three would-be-tacklers to get into the end zone for the touchdown, making the score 23-10.

Then on the Cougars first drive, the Clan defence brought down the APU ball carrier for a loss and then forced an incomplete pass forcing a punt.

On the ensuing drive and facing third down, receiver Kyle Kawamoto (North Vancouver, BC) made a diving catch over the middle of the field for 16-yards picking up the first down.

Six plays later on third and goal from the APU seven yard line, quarterback Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ) found tight end Andrew Pauls (Vancouver, BC) in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to just six points.

Heading into the fourth quarter and the ball on their own one yard line, the Clan coaching staff elected to concede a safety for better field position, but the Cougars made them pay as they scored a touchdown on their next possession to take a 32-17 lead.

Down but not out, defensive tackle Kristian Lawrence (Ottawa, ON) forced his way into the backfield getting a tackle-for-a-loss leading to a punt with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Azusa Pacific would have a poor snap resulting in the Clan returning the punt to the APU five yard line, where Stanford would find receiver Jamal Kett (Orangeville, ON) on the scramble to make the score 32-24.

SFU would attempt and recover the onside kick, giving the Clan the ball near midfield with a minute left in the game.

Stanford, who finished with 153 yards passing, three touchdowns and an interception, made a beautiful throw to Bobby Pospischil for 20-yards down to the APU 24.

The comeback would fall just short however, as Stanford’s pass would fall incomplete on fourth down turning the ball over on downs and a chance to force overtime.

Azusa Pacific got off to a strong start to open the game, holding the ball for 13:54 in the opening 16 minutes to lead 10-0.

After a slow start on offence, the Clan picked things up going 51 yards on eleven plays ending with a 39-yard field goal by Tiernan Docherty (Richmond, BC) to make it a seven point game.

Kawamoto and Pospischil led the team in receiving with 36 yards each on four and three receptions respectively, while Tudor finished with 34 yards rushing and another 21 through the air on four receptions including a touchdown.

On defence, linebacker Jordan Herdman had another standout game, finishing with a game high 20 tackles, eleven more than anyone else, including 1.5 for a loss.

Punter Nikolai Karpun (Delta, BC) again had a nice showing punting the ball, averaging 44 yards on five kicks, including a long of 53, while Docherty had three touchbacks on five kickoff attempts.

With the loss, the Clan’s record falls to 0-3 on the season.

SFU will be back on the road next week as they face the Central Washington Wildcats in Bothell, WA in the first annual Border Battle.

The game will kick off at 6:00pm on September 27. For tickets and traveling information, please email [email protected] for more information.