Kurt Scoby had 161 yards and three scores Saturday night. (Photo by Duane Barker)
By Joe Torosian
(Glendora)–Western Oregon jumped to an early lead and fought back to a 17-17 tie before APU went on a 31-0 run to take a 48-17 victory over the Wolves at Citrus Stadium on Saturday night.
The key difference in the Cougars losses this season has been the absence of a running game. Going into Week Three against Simon Fraser APU’s leading rusher was quarterback Andrew Elffers, but that contest marked the return of Kurt Scoby. The team’s leading rusher from a year ago, who sat out the first three games of this current season, was back on the field rushing 11 times for 173 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win north of the border.
Against Western Oregon, Scoby broke off scoring runs 59 and 47-yards. He also added a 1-yard run to give him three on the evening and six touchdowns in two games. His presence opened opportunities for wide receiver Weston Carr and Elffers and put offensive coordinator, Rudy Carlton’s plans into high-gear.
Trailing 17-10 in the first half the Wolves rallied to tie the game with 7:31 to play in the third quarter on backup quarterback, Phillip Fenumiai’s 7-yard run.
The Cougars then ran off the next 31-points.
Weston Carr’s 174 yards and two touchdowns helped lead the Cougars to a victory. (Photo by Duane Barker)
APU regained the lead on Scoby’s 1-yard crash into the end zone with 2:21 to play in the third. The drive looked to be halted at the Western Oregon 43 but a hands-to-the-face penalty on linebacker Jake Blackburn put the ball on the 28. Elffers then went 18-yards to Carr to set up first and goal at the ten. Scoby scored three plays later.
The lead went to 31-17 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Elffers went 35-yards to Carr.
The rout was on a few minutes later after Scoby broke several tackles and went 47-yards carrying defenders to paydirt. APU led, 38-17.
Later the Cougars’ Jacob Hall connected on a 37-yard field goal to make it 41-17. Then in the waning moments, backup quarterback, Tyrone Williams went 10-yards to Darrell Adams Jr. to finish the scoring.
Elffers finished 18 of 32 for 262 and two touchdowns. Both of those scoring tosses went to Carr, who finished with 11 grabs and 174 receiving yards. Scoby finished with 161 yards on 14 carries and now has 334 yards on the season.
Western Oregon took a 7-0 lead on fullback Caleb Tingstad’s 5-yard run up the middle with 10:20 to play in the first quarter. APU answered with a Hall field goal from 38-yards.
The better diversified Cougar offense began to take control. Monrovia alum, Scoby blasted 59-yards up the middle to paydirt to give APU, 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.
At the 8:11 mark, Elffers went 10-yards to Carr in the corner of the end zone. APU 17, Western Oregon 7.
The Wolves were able to close the gap before the end of the first half when Western kicker, Adrian Saldana booted a 49-yard field goal to make it 17-10 APU at halftime.
Note: Bishop Amat alum, Torrehano Sweet–Western Oregon’s leading rusher on the season with 224 yards and four touchdowns–did not play.
@ Oso Viejo, That would be an interesting read, just shows everyone the yeoman’s work the coaches @ APU have put in helping this kid.
Someday, I’d like to see some serious internet historian lay down a Kurt Scoby historical timeline.
I mean, somebody who had a lot of time on their hands.
Bandwidth, too/