Cougars Fall a Yard Short

The Cougar defense held Central Washington to 10 second half points but got no help from the offense in the third and fourth frames. (Photo by Duane Barker)

The Cougar defense held Central Washington to 10 second half points but got no help from the offense in the third and fourth frames. (Photo by Duane Barker)

By Tim Peterson

(Glendora) – Kurt Scoby caught a short pass from Chad Jeffries, who was being tackled at his own 20, and took off down the field. He broke several tackles and  weaved his way in and out of defenders, before finally being brought down at the one-yard line as the clock hit zeroes. It was a last gasp but the air ran out on Azusa Pacific in a 24-21 loss to Central Washington Saturday night at Citrus College.

The Cougars got the ball back with 22 seconds left after they forced Central Washington to punt. On the last play, Jeffries found Scoby in desperation. Despite a heroic effort by Scoby, the Cougar fell a yard short. Instead of a storybook it was a heartbreaking defeat that will leave a bitter taste.

Chad Jeffries scores twice on the ground for APU. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Chad Jeffries scores twice on the ground for APU. (Photo by Duane Barker)

APU had its opportunities. Late in the fourth quarter down 24-21, the Cougars went for it on fourth down at the Wildcat three but Scoby was hit and fumbled and Central Washington recovered at the two.

With 2:31 left in the fourth, Azusa Pacific was stopped on fourth down at its own 44 when Jeffries was chased out of the pocket and his pass fell incomplete.

The Cougars also had a field goal attempt blocked in the first half.

Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter and still led 21-14 at the half.

APU scored first when Jason Schwartz recovered a fumble on a sack and the Cougars cashed in when Jeffries scored on a 22-yard run for an early 6-0 lead.

The Wildcats responded when a bad snap led to a short punt for APU setting up Central Washington at the Cougar seven. Arthur Burns scored on a seven-yard jaunt to put Central Washington up 7-6 with 3:02 left in the first.

Jeffries got his second of the night on a 16-yard run later in the first. The Cougars kept the drive alive when Jeffries hit Tarik Myles on a big third and 16 pass play.

Scoby scored on a 30-yard run right through the heart of the Central Washington defense and Jeffries went in on a two-point conversion to give APU a 21-7 lead with 8:20 left in the half.

The Wildcats then got one back that came back to haunt the Cougs. They pulled within a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the half on a two-yard run by Burns to make it 21-14 at half.

Jeffries ran for 62 yards and the two scores in the first half while Scoby has 56 yards rushing. Jeffries was 7-12 for 168 yards through the air.

The Cougars missed another chance in the third quarter when they went for it on fourth down in Central Washington territory but was thwarted when a Jeffries pass was tipped and fell incomplete. Central Washington took over and marched down the field. Burns capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown run. His third score of the night tied it at 21 late in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession Jeffries was picked off by Myles Carelock who returned it to the Cougar 13. Sean McDonald booted a 35-yard field goal to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 24-21 with 21 seconds left in the third.

The Cougars appeared to be on the verge of taking the lead with just under two minutes left but that’s when Scoby was hit and the ball popped loose at the two.

“We had opportunities but we didn’t take advantage of them. We have to score down the red zone,” said APU HC Victor Santa Cruz. “It’s the same whether you win or lose. You go to back to work to try to get better.”

Scoby finished with 161 yards on 18 carries. Jeffries had 107 yards rushing and 319 passing completing 12 of 27. Burns was the majority of offense for Central Washington rushing for 155 yards on 26 carries.

Azusa Pacific is now 0-2 at home and falls to 3-2 overall. For Central Washington it’s the Wildcats third straight victory as they improve to 3-2.

And for now the Cougars are left thinking about the longest yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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