AZUSA, Calif. -- For years, La Verne was the most dominant team in Southern California small college football. But on Saturday night, the Cougars continued their recent domination of the Leopards with a 42-22 victory in Azusa Saturday night, the Cougars 3rd in a row over La Verne and 10th in the last 14 games. The Cougars broke 3 school records and tied another.
"Although we didn't beat Hardin-Simmons (Tex.), we felt we were beginning to find a groove offensively," said Cougar head coach Vic Shealy, whose Cougars improve to 4-2 in 1998. "We built on that against Chapman and then during the week off, we got better timing, and it showed tonight. We executed real well."
"The Cougars shattered the former school record of total offense with 634 yards (209 rushing, 425 passing). The old mark was 565 set against the Leopards in 1985. Senior QB Geoff Buffum had the best passing night in Cougar history, finishing 19-for-23 for 416 yards and 5 TD passes. Buffum broke Brian Hunt's record of 406 yards in 1990 against UC Santa Barbara. Senior All-American WR Dexter Davis finished with 8 receptions for 238 yards and 4 TD's. His 238 yards broke Steve Preston's old record of 220 yards against George Fox in 1965, and his 4 TD catches tied Preston's record set in that same game.
"I'll take that individual record and chuck it out the window for a (NAIA) playoff berth," said Buffum.
Less than 3 minutes into the game, the Cougars got on the board, using a 71-yard TD run from junior RB Jack Williams, giving them an early 7-0 lead. After forcing a Leopard punt, the Cougars again got on the board, with Buffum hitting Davis on a 4-yard TD pass with 5:25 remaining in the first quarter. The Leopards got their first points when Dan Blahy kicked a 33-yard FG with 2:43 remaining in the half.
Buffum started the 2nd quarter with a 37-yard TD bomb to SS/WR Scott Thomas that gave the Cougars a 21-3 lead. Still not done, Buffum hit Davis on a 91-yard TD pass with 9:47 left in the second quarter for a 28-3 lead. The TD was 1 yard shy of the Cougar record for longest pass play in history. Less than 4 minutes later, Buffum hit Davis for a third time, this one an 88-yard hookup that gave the Cougars a 35-3 lead, which they carried into the half.
"I got some good blocks out there," said Davis. "The record is nice, but I want to make the playoffs and that's a bigger goal."
In the second half, Buffum found Davis for the 4th and final time, this one a 26-yard TD pass that gave Azusa Pacific a 42-3 lead.
"All I had to do was sit back, give Dexter the ball and see what happens," said Buffum. "I credit the offensive line for their play tonight.
Leopard QB Kyle Spielbuhler scored on a 2-yard TD run with 9:39 left in the 4th quarter, cutting the lead to 42-10. After recovering an onside kick, the Leopards needed only 20 seconds to score, when Spielbuhler his Andrew Woolsey on a 29-yard TD pass. The 2-pt conversion failed, and the Cougar lead was 42-16. The Leopards scored again when Spielbuhler and Woolsey hooked up again, this time for 11 yards, but the Leopards couldn't convert the 2-point conversion, for a 42-22 deficit.
"Buffum played a wonderful game, a game he needed to have," said Shealy. "For Dexter, all we do is draw it up, show him what to do, and hope to call the play enough during the game. When we get the ball to him, things will happen.
Junior LB Gabe Giordano finished with 10 tackles and a sack, senior DT Joel McGivney had 9 tackles and Thomas had 8 tackles.
The Cougars return to action next Saturday when they host Humboldt State at 6 p.m.
Scoring by Quarters
La Verne 3 0 0 19 -- 22
Azusa Pacific 14 21 7 0 -- 42
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
SCORING
Jack Williams (APU) 72 run, 12:43 1st quarter,(Daichendt kick)
Dexter Davis (APU) 3 pass, 5:25 1st quarter,(Daichendt kick)
Blahy (LV) 33 FG, 2:43 1st quarter
Scott Thomas (APU) 37 pass, 13:36 2nd quarter, (Daichendt kick)
Dexter Davis (APU) 92 pass, 9:47 2nd quarter, (Daichendt kick)
Dexter Davis (APU) 88 pass, 6:12 2nd quarter, (Daichendt kick)
Dexter Davis (APU) 26 pass, 9:56 3rd quarter, (Daichendt kick)
Kyle Spielbuhler (LV) 3 run, 9:39 4th quarter, (Blahy kick)
Andrew Woolsey (LV) 29 pass, 9:19 4th quarter, (pass failed)
Andrew Woolsey (LV) 11 pass, 1:34 4th quarter, (run failed)
PASSING
Geoff Buffum (APU) 19-23, 416 yds, 5 TD, 0 INT
Houn Hib (APU) 1-3, 9 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
Dan Blahy (LV) 5-14, 55 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
Kyle Spielbuhler (LV) 3-6, 53 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
RUSHING
Jack Williams (APU), 15 att., 160 yds, 1 TD
William Kwan (LV), 8 att., 77 yds, 0 TD
TEAM STATISTICS
APU CU
OFFENSE 634 yds 272 yds
RUSHING 209 yds 164 yds
PASSING 425 yds 108 yds
