Azusa Pacific Harbors Hopes for Playoff Berth

The fun is back for the Azusa Pacific football program.

With a second-year coach and the maturation of some of his prized recruits, there was optimism at the start of the season.

A second-game victory over NCAA Division III power La Verne really got the school’s hopes up. Then, by beating Chico State two weeks ago, the Cougars assured themselves of their first winning season since 1990.

Azusa Pacific (7-1) has a six-game winning streak, including a comeback victory over Menlo College last weekend, and is contemplating a shot at the NAIA playoffs.

Making the playoffs is no small task for Azusa Pacific, the only NAIA football team in Southern California. Only the top 16-ranked teams qualify. Azusa Pacific, which has not been to the playoffs in the 32 years of its program, is ranked 13th with two games remaining.

The Cougars’ success can largely be attributed to a rushing attack averaging more than 200 yards a game.

Elijah Raphael, who gained more than 2,000 yards at Granada Hills Kennedy High in 1992, transferred to Azusa Pacific this season after playing one year each at Washington State and Valley College. Raphael had only nine carries for 56 yards as a redshirt freshman at Washington State and decided to leave for Valley, where he gained 900 yards in one season.

This season, Raphael is averaging 116 yards a game and 5.6 yards a carry. He should become the fifth player at Azusa Pacific to gain more than 1,000 yards. He has 928 with two games left.

His backup, Marcus Slaten, started for two years before Raphael arrived. Slaten averaged 7.4 yards a carry in rushing for 475 yards.

“Sometimes things in life don’t work out the way you wanted them to,” said Slaten about losing his starting job. “The character it’s building is bigger than football.”

Last week, Slaten came off the bench to gain 114 yards in nine carries and score a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

If Azusa Pacific can defeat San Diego this week and Chapman the following week, chances are good the Cougars will make the playoffs.

When asked about his team’s success, Coach Vic Shealy, pointed to strong fourth-quarter performances, conditioning and confidence.

“Our guys believe they are going to win--they truly believe this is their season of destiny,” Shealy said.

College Division Notes

UC San Diego, defending national champion in NCAA Division III women’s soccer, is ranked No. 1 and will open the playoffs by playing Cal Lutheran at home Wednesday. San Diego won the earlier meeting this year, 5-0. San Diego (16-1) is coached by Brian McManus, who has been named Division III coach of the year twice. Cal Lutheran, coached by Dan Kuntz, is ranked No. 12. . . . In NAIA men’s soccer, Azusa Pacific is top-seeded for the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament, which starts today. . . . In NAIA women’s soccer, top-ranked Westmont will play host to Cal Baptist, and U.S. International will play host to Azusa Pacific in the first round of the Far West Regional playoffs. . . . In the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference cross-country meet, Louise Tench set a course record (18 minutes 38 seconds) to lead Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to a narrow victory. Dan Kleiman of Caltech won the men’s race and Claremont-Mudd won the men’s team title. . . . The U.S. Olympic Committee named Occidental water polo Coach Dennis Fosdick developmental coach of the year.