Oxy Tackles Azusa in Battle of the Unbeaten

It will be a match-up of two nationally ranked and undefeated teams when Occidental College clashes with host Azusa Pacific University in a non-conference football game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Hillside Stadium.

Both are 2-0. Azusa Pacific is ranked No. 14 in NAIA Division II and Occidental was rated No. 3 in a preseason NCAA Division III poll.

Azusa Pacific has produced a potent attack, outscoring opponents 81-28 behind running back Christian Okoye and quarterback Dave Russell. Okoye, a junior from Enugu, Nigeria, has rushed for 261 yards and 5 touchdowns in 34 carries. Russell, a senior from Van Nuys, has completed 26 of 31 passes for 420 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Russell has outstanding receivers in Jon Milhon, who has 7 receptions for 102 yards, and Ted Campbell, who has 7 catches for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“Azusa is one of the best small colleges in the country and the game will be a real challenge for us,” Occidental Coach Dale Widolff said. “The Cougars’ ability to throw may surprise some people; they have had only five incompletions. Okoye is a fine back and they are not a one-dimensional team.”

Occidental, which has reached the Division III playoffs for three straight years, is not a one-dimensional team either with running back Vance Mueller and quarterback Pat Guthrie. Mueller rushed for 85 yards in 21 carries and had 7 receptions for 52 yards in Occidental’s 31-21 win over Redlands last week.

Occidental defeated Azusa Pacific 21-18 last year, but Azusa Pacific leads the series, 7-4-1, and has yet to lose to the Tigers in Azusa in five tries (4-0-1).