MidValleySports.Com

Jamie Cacciatore boots home the game winner for the Cougars.

(Glendora) – Azusa Pacific’s Jamie Cacciatore booted a 25 yard field goal as the clock hit zeroes to beat Dixie State 23-20 Saturday night at Citrus College. The Cougars scored ten points in the last two and half minutes to hold off Dixie and improve to 8-1 in the GNAC, 8-2 overall.

The Cougars took their first lead of the game with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter on a three yard run by Ronald Douglas to make it 20-13, only to see Dixie State respond with a 44 yard pass from Griff Robles to Joel Davis to tie it at 20.

***Dixie State called three consecutive timeouts in an attempt to freeze Cacciatore before the game winning kick.

***Terrell Watson, who came into the game with 1,459 yards and 17 touchdowns finished with 129 yards and a score for APU. His longest run was 19 yards

***Dasmen Stewart threw for 271 yards completing 23 of 34 including some big ones down the stretch.

***Dixie State led 6-3 at the half and 13-3 early in the third quarter when Mitch Frei hauled in a ten-yard pass from Robles at the 10:01 mark.

***Robles completed 19 of 32 for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He was also hurt by three picks.

Dasmen Stewart was solid at the helm for APU

***Sean Barber returned from injury and had an interception. Tyler Thornton had two picks for the Cougs.

***Cacciatore also kicked field goals of 19 and 34 yards. “In knew they were going to do that. I say bring it on!” Cacciatore said of the Dixie State freeze.

***Watson scored on a five-yard run early in the fourth to tie the game at 13.

***The total yard count was nearly identical. The Cougars had 414 while the Red Storm compiled 399.

*** “I feel blessed to do something great. I couldn’t be more happy. This is a proud school and I’m proud to be a part of it.” said APU Coach Victor Santa Cruz of the Cougars season.

***The game winning Azusa drive started at the APU 41 with 1:46 left in the clock. Stewart completed three straight passes and then four consecutive Watson runs moved the ball down to the Dixie State seven-yard line. An APU time out followed by three Dixie State timeouts set the stage for Cacciatore.