A 49-27 loss on Saturday night continues the Cougars losing streak to three games
On Saturday, Azusa Pacific faced Colorado School of Mines in their homecoming game. In front of more than 3,000 home fans, the Cougars looked to respond against the undefeated Mines. Unfortunately for APU, it led to their sixth loss of the season.
Mines, who is currently ranked ninth in the NCAA Division II football standings, used their rushing attack to torch the Cougars’ defense all night. However, it was freshman quarterback John Matocha who led the Orediggers to their first touchdown score.
The Cougars responded with a Ramzee Jaridly 35-yard field goal, making the score 7-3. However, the Orediggers scored another touchdown before the first quarter came to an end. Matocha beat APU’s defense again. However, this time, he did it with his arm after connecting with receiver Sean O’Dell for the 12-yard touchdown.
The Cougars responded in the second quarter with another field goal, making it 14-6. Yet, Mines’ offense continued to move the ball efficiently, responding with a 16-play drive of their own, which led to another touchdown, their third of the contest.
APU was down 21-6 at halftime, with little hope in sight. However, the Cougars put together a strong second-half start after receiving the kickoff and scoring their first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Tyrone Williams Jr. led the way on the drive going 5/8 and throwing for 58 yards along with a passing touchdown to Jasiah Richard-Lewis.
APU scored another touchdown, this time a deep 77-yard touchdown pass from Williams to running back Gil’Scott Jackson on a screen route. APU scored 21 points in the third quarter, the most they have scored all season in a single quarter. However, they remained down by eight points heading into the fourth quarter, and the biggest reason for that was turnovers.
In the third quarter, a fumble from the Cougars allowed the Orediggers to capitalize with another touchdown. But it was the fourth quarter where turnovers became such a drastic issue for APU. Although the Cougars’ defense grabbed an interception to start the fourth, it was interceptions of their own that left them scoreless in the final quarter. APU’s three final drives of the game all ended in interceptions.
Running back Michael Zeman was absolutely phenomenal for the Orediggers, rushing for 298 yards on 23 carries, including three second-half touchdown runs. Zeman, who before this game hadn’t run for over 80 yards all season, did a fantastic job at reading blocks and breaking tackles in the open field, which allowed for the redshirt sophomore to have the second-best running performance in program history.
As for the Cougars, their record now falls to 1-6 after their third straight loss. APU will play their final home game of the season against Central Washington on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.