No. 1 Sioux Falls Awaits Azusa Pacific

An old-fashioned battle involving a high-powered offense against a stingy defense will be featured today in Azusa Pacific’s quarterfinal-round home game of the NAIA football playoffs against top-ranked Sioux Falls (S.D).

The last home playoff game for Azusa Pacific came five years ago when the Cougars defeated Hastings (Neb.) College, 35-32, to advance to the semifinals. Game time is 4 p.m.

Azusa (10-2), whose only losses have come to Eastern Oregon and two-time defending NAIA champion Carroll College of Helena, Mont., has been led by a defensive unit that gives up only 9.8 points a game and has given up more than 20 points once.

Junior defensive end Chuck Asiodu and senior linebacker Jed Thurner have been key players on defense for the Cougars. Asiodu has a team-high 12 sacks and 26 tackles for loss; Thurner has seven sacks and 45 tackles.

Azusa Pacific is coming off a 16-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State but will be facing one of the more prolific offenses in the nation. Sioux Falls (11-0) has topped 40 or more points seven times and has had games in which it has scored 63, 64 and 72 points.

Sophomore running back Michael Dvoracek has run for 1,465 yards and scored 15 touchdowns and junior quarterback Joe Wright has completed 59.7% of his passes for 2,129 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Both teams also have tremendous kicking games. Sioux Falls’ T.C. Fraser has made 16 of 18 field goals and has missed only one extra-point attempt. Azusa’s Mike Betancourth has made a NAIA-high 17 field goals in 22 tries, including a long of 52 yards.

-- Eric Stephens