Cougars Hold off Colorado Mines

Andrew Ellfers eluded the Colorado Mines rush and threw for 3 td’s (Photo by Duane Barker)

By Tim Peterson

(Glendora) – Kurt Scoby rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns to lead Azusa Pacific to a 35-21 win over Colorado School of Mines Saturday night at Citrus College.Andrew Elffers threw for three scores himself accumulating 280 yards in the process. Scoby scored on runs of five and 11 yards in the first and third quarters respectively and seemingly always had an answer when Colorado Mines tried to rally.

Elffers threw two touchdown passes of 21 and 26 yards to Weston Carr and Scoby’s five-yard touchdown run gave Azusa Pacific a 21-14 lead over Colorado Mines in the second quarter.

Elffers however did throw a interception which led to a Colorado touchdown. Dean Wenger picked him off and returned it to the Cougar one-yard line. From there Cameron Mayberry pounded it in to cut the APU to seven late in the second quarter.

The Cougar defense came up with key stops when they needed to. (Photo by Duane Barker)

For Mayberry it was his second of the night. He also scored on a three-yard run to cap a drive early in the second quarter for the Orediggers first touchdown.

The Cougars led 14-0 after one before Colorado Mines got back into it in the second quarter.

Grayson Harris missed a 38-yard field goal attempt for Colorado Mines late in the second as the Cougars took the touchdown lead into the break.

In the second half Azusa Pacific drove 60 yards with Elffers capping it with a 13-yard touchdown strike to Jordan Bogardus for a 28-14 lead.

Colorado Mines responded with a 14-play, 81-yard drive. Mayberry picked up his third touchdown of the night on a three-yard run to again cut the margin to seven.

With 19 seconds left in the third quarter Scoby found the endzone again on an 11-yard dance to the corner to make it 35-21.

Scoby had rushed for 148 yards and two scores through the first three quarters.

Taliuaki Suliafu intercepted Colorado quarterback Ben Bottinger at the Cougar 19-yard line with 4:57 left to seal the deal.

Bottinger was picked off again two minutes later by Lavell Thomas.

Weston Carr had a big night for APU as Elffers’ favorite target. He finished with ten catches for 149 yards and the two scores.

For Colorado Mines Mayberry had 16 carries for 63 yards and a pair of scores. Colorado had just 87 yards passing.

“Colorado is a four quarter team, they never go away. They’re consistently getting back and winning games in the very last second,” said Azusa Pacific Coach Victor Santa Cruz. “There’s no quit in those guys and so we knew that this was going to be something that we’re going to have to keep playing the whole time. They (Colorado Mines) are an amazing football program. So it’s a good win.”

Azusa Pacific improved to 4-2 with its third straight victory while Colorado Mines fell to 3-3.

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