MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Glendora) – Azusa Pacific led 14-3 at halftime, increased the lead in the third quarter and went on to beat Whittier 35-17 Saturday night at Citrus College. For the Cougars the victory was not only their first of the season but also marked the first since the football program returned.

Quarterback Laki Wallwork had a big game for the Cougars as he ran for three touchdowns.

Azusa Pacific forced a Whittier punt on the first possession. The Cougars then drove down to the Whittier 14 -yard line but fumbled and the Poets took over.

Whittier turned it back over when Ashton Thomas picked off Poet quarterback James Mertz in the end zone late in the first quarter to halt a scoring threat.

Early in the second quarter Preston Yado kicked a 44-yard field goal to put Whittier up 3-0.

The Cougars responded with a drive on the next series to take the lead. Wallwork pulled it down and scooted in for a four-yard touchdown run to give Azusa Pacific a 7-3 lead with six minutes left in the second quarter.

After another Whittier punt the Cougars marched down the field into the red zone. With just 48 seconds left in the second quarter Wallwork used his legs again – this time on an eight-yard jaunt to increase the APU advantage to 14-3.

As the second half clock ran out the Cougars blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by Yado. Azusa Pacific took a 14-3 lead into the half.

Aldo Olweny stepped in front of an errant Mertz pass in the third quarter for an interception to set up APU at the Whittier 39. Three plays later Sean O’Rourke took an end round and raced 26 yards for a touchdown. The Cougars were up 21-3 with 8:15 left in the third quarter.

The Poets answered on the next series. Alex Cobbs hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from James Mertz to cut the Cougars lead to 21-10 with 6;06 left in the third quarter.

Wallwork struck again on the next possession. He weaved his way through the Whittier secondary for an 18-yard touchdown run as Azusa Pacific increased its lead to 28-10 with 2:43 left.

Brandon Solaita caught a 13-yard touchdown strike from Mertz early in the fourth quarter and the Poets were back within 11 at 28-17.

The Cougars added a little sugar late in the contest when Damarion Wright scored on a 23-yard touchdown jaunt with 2:07 left to make it 35-17.

Tommy Tucay secured an interception for APU with 1:44 left to out the icing on the cake. The Cougars were able to run out the clock from there to celebrate the victory.

“Our guys did a great job and were really being great about playing for each other. I was just really proud of our guys. It was an awesome night,” said Azusa Pacific head coach A.J. Parnell.

Parnell was also happy about Wallwork’s night. “He’s a tremendous person and our guys really responded to him. We loved what he does passing the ball but tonight he was scooting all over the place,” Parnell added.

Wallwork ran for 81 yards on the night for Azusa Pacific and O’Rourke rushed for 54. For Whittier Mertz threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

With the win APU improved to 1-1 while Whittier fell to 1-2. The Cougars are expected to play in their newly remodeled on campus stadium soon. Their next game is October 3 against Redlands.

W 0 3 7 7 17

A 0 14 14 7 35