MONMOUTH, Ore. (Oct. 31) – The Western Oregon Wolves scored 17 points in the second quarter, watched Azusa Pacific score 14 unanswered in the third, and then used a collective defensive effort to hold on for a 17-14 league win in front of 2,159 fans at McArthur Field.
 
The victory, WOU's fifth in a row, means the Wolves are now 4-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play and 6-3 overall. The win also ensured a 10^th consecutive winning season for Western Oregon football. The Cougars fell to 2-3 in the GNAC and 5-4 on the season.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the opening quarter. APU had two field goal misses in the opening 15 minutes, one that clanged off the left upright and another that ballooned up in a stiff Willamette Valley wind to fall short of the crossbar.
 
"Azusa Pacific had been scoring over 50 points against good defensive teams," WOU head coach Arne Ferguson said. "The weather really wasn't a factor against the APU's running game and our defensive line held them."
 
Western Oregon raced out to a 17-0 lead thanks to the ground game. A 12-play series ended early in the second quarter with senior kicker Jesse Correa connecting on a field goal from 21 yards out. Just over the nine-minute mark, the Wolves once again took possession. The rushing duo of sophomore quarterback and freshman running back Malik Braxton combined for nine carries on the drive culminating with a Fenumiai one-yard score for a 10-0 lead.
 
Moments later, senior quarterback Trey Shimabukuro captained an 11-play scoring series. From the 16-yard line, Shimabukuro found sophomore Paul Revis in the flat for a score.
 
"Our offense had the ball 20 minutes in the first half compared to 10 for APU," Arne Ferguson said. "We were able to run to negate the effect of the wind. Trey came in and threw some really good balls for us in a huge first half."
 
Azusa Pacific used the halftime break to adjust their offensive game plan after gaining 69 yards in the first half, favoring quarterback Andrew Elffers over starter Chad Jeffries. The Cougars scored their first points on successive drives beginning with good field position. Running back Kurt Scoby punched in a two-yard score and Elffers connected with Ethan Zeidler to pull the Cougars within three, 17-14.

"We made a decision that we would take the wind (at our backs) in the fourth quarter," Ferguson said. "That gave them (APU) great field position for their two scores. We weathered that storm and made adjustments against the comeback."
 
APU tried to swing the momentum in their favor in the fourth quarter, but all three drives stalled. Max Jackson picked off an Elffers pass early in the fourth near midfield. The next APU drive stalled midway in Cougar territory leading to a punt. With 4:26 left in regulation, Azusa Pacific used a balanced attack to push into WOU territory. A holding penalty dragged the Cougars to midfield, but a 15-yard pass and short run set up fourth down with four yards needed. APU called upon Elffers to run for the first down, but his effort fell two yards short on a tackle by Jonathan Breland.
 
"I'm really excited our defense coming up (big) on fourth down plays for the third straight game," Ferguson added. "It's exciting to seal the game that way and it give us a lot of confidence."
 
One kneeldown from Wolves offense closed out the team's 11^th straight win at McArthur. The last loss on the home turf came against the Cougars in 2013 (34-32).
 
"Our unsung heroes were our defensive line and offensive line," Ferguson said. "The O-line was great specifically in the first half controlling the clock."
 
The Wolves rushed for 200 yards with Braxton leading the way with 105 yards on 20 carries. Fenumiai added 65 yards (16 carries) and senior Joe Harris returned to the field with 19 yards on four rushes.
 
Shane Kuenzi led the defense with 10 tackles while Mitch Nelson and Tyler Johnson each had nine. Breeon Moreno had two pass breakups in the secondary. Isaiah Molden and Max Jackson each had quarterback sacks.
 
Western Oregon finished with a slight lead in total yardage (285-227) and in first downs (17-14).
 
The Wolves remain at home for the final GNAC league game of the season against South Dakota Mines next Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for a special time, 3:30 p.m, at McArthur Field.