Football 10/12/1985 11:02:00 PM Gary Pine

Lightening-Like Work

APU scores 3 TDs on 4 first-quarter plays to roll by Redlands, 39-7

REDLANDS, Calif. – Azusa Pacific has made name for itself in this 1985 season for its quick-strike offense, but what the Cougars did tonight in Ted Runner Stadium was beyond quick -- it was lightning-like and with similar power.

The Cougars scored 3 touchdowns with just 4 offensive snaps, all in the first quarter, and rolled to its fifth-straight win with a 39-7 blitzing of Redlands, Saturday night.

Coming into tonight, the Cougars had scored on the first or second play from scrimmage in 3 of their first 4 games this season. Make that 4-of-5 now. After senior DT Eric Lemasters recovered a Bulldog fumble on Redlands' opening drive, senior wingback Jon Milhon took a handoff on the Cougars' first snap and weaved his way 42 yards downfield to score his fourth touchdown of the season and put the Cougars up 7-0 just a minute into the game.

Later in the quarter, LB Bruce Stinson recovered a John German fumble at the Bulldog 12-yard, and 2 plays later Milhon bounced into the endzone from 2 yards out, and when back-up QB David Titchenal ran the extra point effort across the goal line, the Cougars were up 15-0.

On the ensuing Redlands' drive, Cougar safety Brad Skousen intercepted Redlands QB Jamie Garton on the first play of the drive, and Skousen returned to ball 19 yards to the Bulldog 3-yard line. Cougar senior QB David Russell took the next snap in for a TD, and the Cougars found themselves up 22-0 with just 57 yards of total offense on 4 plays. And there was still more than 3 minutes left in the first quarter.

The first quarter quick-punch to the gut and the ferocious Cougar ground game were too much for Redlands to try to overcome. For the remainder of the contest, Azusa Pacific relied on its power running game, which in turn kept the ball out of Redlands hands. Behind Milhon, Christian Okoye, and Scott Greene, the Cougars ran the ball on 55 of its 76 plays, amassing 309 yards of rushing offense and accumulating 16 rushing first downs in the process.

Okoye, who did not score in a game for the first time this season, nonetheless rushed for a game-high 168 yards on 22 carries (7.6 avg.) Milhon added 62 yards on just 5 carries and Greene, a senior fullback, chipped in with 37 yards on a mere 5 carries. Combined, the Cougar trio accounted for 267 rushing yards, averaging 8.3 yards a carry.

When Redlands had the ball, Garton was under constant duress. He was sacked 6 times by 6 different Cougars for a loss of 47 yards. He completed just 9-of-25 passes for only 67 yards. The Bulldogs amassed just 194 yards of total offense, and 79 of them came on their final drive against APU's reserves when Redlands became the first team this year to score on APU in the second half. The Cougars have now out-scored their foe 52-7 halftime this year.

Skousen picked off Garton again early in the second half to set up a Mike Guipe 40-yard field. Titchenal relieve Russell and went 3-for-3 for 43 yards and a pair of TDs, first a 26-yarder to junior TE Kimball Chase, followed by an 8-yard fling to junior WR Jim Misiuk to cap APU's scoring.

The 39 points are the most ever scored by Azusa Pacific in 11 meetings with Redlands. Additionally, the Cougars have now scored 30-or-more points in 5 straight games, a first in program history.

With the win Azusa Pacific improves to 5-0 on the season.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#6 Mike Guipe: PK; 6' 0"; Junior

#7 David Russell: QB; 5' 11"; Senior

#14 David Titchenal: QB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#20 Brad Skousen: DB; 5' 9"; Junior

#28 Jon Milhon: RB; 5' 7"; Senior

#30 Scott Greene: RB; 6' 1"; Senior

#35 Christian Okoye: RB; 6' 2"; Senior

#58 Bruce Stinson: LB; 6' 2"; Junior

#80 Kimball Chase: TE; 6' 4"; Junior

#81 Jim Misiuk: WR; 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Mike Guipe
: 6' 0"; Junior
: PK

#7 David Russell
: 5' 11"; Senior
: QB

#14 David Titchenal
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: QB

#20 Brad Skousen
: 5' 9"; Junior
: DB

#28 Jon Milhon
: 5' 7"; Senior
: RB

#30 Scott Greene
: 6' 1"; Senior
: RB

#35 Christian Okoye
: 6' 2"; Senior
: RB

#58 Bruce Stinson
: 6' 2"; Junior
: LB

#80 Kimball Chase
: 6' 4"; Junior
: TE

#81 Jim Misiuk
: 5' 6"; Junior
: WR