Football returns to GNAC play this Saturday at Simon Fraser

BURNABY, BC – The annual trip across the Canadian border arrives this week for the Western Oregon University football team when they will play at Simon Fraser this Saturday with kickoff set for 1 p.m. as they return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

WOU (5-3, 3-1 GNAC) quickly erased a tough loss to Central Washington on Oct. 19 when they put together a convincing performance in a 37-22 win last week over the Lone Star Conference's Midwestern State.

Ty Currie continued his great senior season passing for 301 yardsand three touchdowns without an interception. Omari Land rushed for 114 yards and Nico Jackson added 98 yards on the ground with a pair of scores. Four receivers had over 45 yards in receiving with Thomas Wright leading the way with three catches for 66 yards and a score. Evander Willingham had one catch for a 58-yard touchdown, Land had two catches for 56 yards and a TD and Jarren Ford added one catch for 45 yards.

The defense was balanced with Nate Proctor, Jr., and Tyler Wharf leading the way with five tackles. Proctor, Jr., also had a 15-yard sack. Jaylin Parnell added a five-yard sack.

The Wolves return back to conference action entering the week tied with Central Washington for the GNAC lead as both teams are 3-1. WOU is in pursuit of their first-ever conference title as both the Wolves and Wildcats have two conference games remaining on the schedule. Azusa Pacific and Simon Fraser are both 1-3 after the teams split their season series.

WOU has been strong on the road this year after falling in the opener at Angelo State, the Wolves have won three straight away from Monmouth including wins against Azusa Pacific, Central Washington and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The five wins this year already equals last year's win total (5-6) and with another win, the Wolves would have the most in a season since the 2015 season (7-4). If WOU was to win their final three games of the season and finish with eight wins, it would be the most since the 2010 campaign when WOU went 8-3 and 6-2 in the GNAC.

Entering this week WOU is averaging 35 points, 170 first downs, 3,673 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns. The Wolves have rushed for 1,949 yards and 23 touchdowns while passing for 1,724 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Opponents are averaging 29.13 points, 161 first downs, 2,883 yards of total offense and 32 touchdowns. WOU has converted 42-106 on third downs and 15-25 on fourth downs, while opponents have gone 40-112 on third down and 6-14 on fourth downs.

On the season, Currie has completed 100-189 for 1,669 yards and 16 touchdowns with a 148.68 passer rating. On the ground, Land continues to lead the way rushing for 754 yards on 126 carries and seven touchdowns. Jackson adds 561 yards on 108 attempts and five touchdowns, while Currie now leads the team in rushing touchdowns with eight to go along with 541 yards on 96 carries. Wright leads the receivers with 17 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Reid has 14 catches for 273 yards and a score, Ford has 14 catches as well for 254 yards and two scores and Justice Murphy gives the Wolves four with over 200 yards receiving checking in with 207 yards on 14 catches and a touchdown. Marquis Sampson and Willingham are tied for the team lead with Wright as the trio all have three receiving scores.

Proctor, Jr., leads the team in tackles with 52, as 31 have come solo. He also has 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, a pass breakup, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Jaylin Parnell and Wharf are second on the team with 48 tackles. Jaylin Parnell has 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Wharf has three tackles for loss. Curtis Anderson leads the way with four interceptions and Joey Sinclair adds three interceptions.

In special teams, Andrew Gross has punted 29 times for an average of 38.41 yards with six landing inside the 20 and four traveling over 50 yards. He has gone 2-4 on field goals and has averaged 59.2 yards on 48 kickoffs with five resulting in touchbacks. In returns Reid leads the team in punt returns taking nine back for 92 yards with a long of 26. Derek Parnell and Braelen Evans have also received punts this year. Anderson leads the way in kickoff returns taking 22 back for 459 yards and a long of 63 yards. Sampson adds six returns for 142 yards and a long of 67 yards. Sinclair also has a few returns taking back four for 109 yards with a long of 44 yards.

In terms of GNAC and NCAA rankings, WOU leads the GNAC and ranks in the top-50 nationally in several categories including first in the GNAC in third down conversion percentage (.396), first in the GNAC and 38^th nationally in fourth down conversion percentage (.600), first in the GNAC in completion percentage (.526), first in the GNAC in first downs allowed on defense (161), 41^st nationally in first downs picked up on offense (170), first in the GNAC and 46^th nationally in passes that have been intercepted (6), first in the GNAC and 34^th nationally in passes intercepted (10), first in the GNAC in passing yards allowed (233.4), first in the GNAC and 11^th nationally in passing yards per completion (16.74), first in the GNAC and third nationally in punt return yards allowed per game (1.00), first in the GNAC and 50^th nationally in rushing defense (127), first in the GNAC and 15^th nationally in rushing offense (243.6), first in the GNAC in scoring defense (29.1), 34^th nationally in scoring offense (35), first in the GNAC in tackles for loss allowed (5.63), first in the GNAC and 29^th nationally in team passing efficiency (148.94), first in the GNAC and 49^th nationally in team passing efficiency on defense (114.62), first in the GNAC and 24^th nationally in time of possession (32:24), first in the GNAC in total defense (360.4), 18^th nationally in total offense (459.1) and first in the GNAC and 49^th nationally in winning percentage (.625).

Individually, Currie is second in the GNAC and 28^th nationally in passing efficiency (148.7), second in the GNAC and 32^nd nationally in passing touchdowns (16), first in the GNAC and 38^th nationally in passing yards (1,669), 46^th nationally in passing yards per game (208.6), first in the GNAC and 14^th nationally in passing yards per completion (16.69), first in the GNAC and 15^th nationally in points responsible for (148), second in the GNAC and 18^th nationally in points responsible for per game (18.5), second in the GNAC and 31^st nationally in rushing touchdowns (8), first in the GNAC and 17^th nationally in total offense (276.3) and first in the GNAC and 16^th nationally in yards per pass attempt (8.83). Land is second in the GNAC and 30^th nationally in rushing yards per carry (5.98), second in the GNAC and 22^nd nationally in rushing yards (754), second in the GNAC and 27^th nationally in rushing yards per game (94.3) and second in the GNAC and 40^th nationally in total touchdowns (9). Anderson is first in the GNAC and 36^th nationally in combined kick return yards (459), second in the GNAC and 19^th nationally in interceptions per game (0.5). Derek Parnell is first in the GNAC and eighth nationally in passes defended (1.9).

It's been almost a month since WOU saw Simon Fraser in Monmouth in which the Wolves claimed the 51-14 victory back on Oct. 5. In that game Currie tossed for a trio of touchdowns, Andrew Valladares rushed for 105 yards and a score, Jackson added a pair of scores and Land, Shaw Jerome, Reid and Ford all caught touchdown passes. Jaylin Parnell led the defense with seven tackles and an interception. Proctor, Jr., added six tackles and Isaiah Abraham and Wharf each had five tackles. Last year in Burnaby, WOU rolled to the 39-0 victory. The Wolves have won the last nine meetings in Canada as Simon Fraser's only win in the series came in the first meeting back in 2000 when the Clan took the 21-17 win at home.

Following their first win over a Division II opponent since 2014 when Simon Fraser claimed the 24-17 win on the road at Azusa Pacific just a few weeks ago, they had a tough time getting things going this past week at Central Washington as the Wildcats picked up the 62-10 victory.

Overall on the season Simon Fraser is 1-7 and are 0-2 at home. The Clan average 12.8 points and allow 48.4, picking up 123 first down to allowing 186. Total offense Simon Fraser has 2,359 yards and 14 touchdowns, passing for 1,974 yards. Opponents have piled up 3,941 yards and 45 touchdowns, throwing for 1,957 and rushing for 1,984.

Brandon Niksich has thrown for 1,637 yards completing 128-237 and nine touchdowns to eight interceptions. Rysen John has hauled in 39 passes for 651 yards and eight touchdowns. Solomon Hines has rushed for 295 yards and two scores. On defense, Griffin Barrett leads the way with 87 tackles, while Brendan Lowry is second with 48 tackles. Anthony Crescenzo has four sacks.

WOU and Simon Fraser will kickoff at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Burnaby. Live video and stats will be available and can be found here.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Isaiah Abraham: DB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#3 Curtis Anderson: DB; 6' 2"; Junior; 1V

#14 Ty Currie: QB; 6' 2"; Senior; 2V

#81 Jarren Ford: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore; RS

#96 Andrew Gross: K/P; 6' 1"; Junior

#7 Nico Jackson: RB; 6' 2"; Senior; TR

#83 Shaw Jerome: WR; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#23 Omari Dixon-Land: RB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore; RS

#88 Justice Murphy: WR; 6' 1"; Junior

#25 Derek Parnell: DB; 5' 11"; Senior; 2V

Players Mentioned

#22 Isaiah Abraham
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DB

#3 Curtis Anderson
: 6' 2"; Junior; 1V
: DB

#14 Ty Currie
: 6' 2"; Senior; 2V
: QB

#81 Jarren Ford
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore; RS
: WR

#96 Andrew Gross
: 6' 1"; Junior
: K/P

#7 Nico Jackson
: 6' 2"; Senior; TR
: RB

#83 Shaw Jerome
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: WR

#23 Omari Dixon-Land
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore; RS
: RB

#88 Justice Murphy
: 6' 1"; Junior
: WR

#25 Derek Parnell
: 5' 11"; Senior; 2V
: DB