ELLENSBURG, Wash. --Dan Murphy, who a year ago rushed for 3 third-quarter TDs to lead Central Washington to a 28-7 victory over Azusa Pacific, continued his onslaught against the Cougars this year, rushing for a school-record 269 yards and 3 TDs to carry the NAIA's No. 14-ranked Central Washington to a crushing 51-17 victory over No. 15-ranked Azusa Pacific Saturday afternoon.
Azusa Pacific scored 5 quick points less than 20 seconds into the second quarter to take an 8-7 lead. And it appeared the Cougars would be down only 10-8 heading into the half when they downed a punt at the Wildcat 26-yard line with 32 seconds left in the half. However, that's when Murphy went to work and took over the game. CWU drove 74 yards on 3 plays, the final 38 coming on Murphy's first TD scamper, which pushed the Wildcat lead to 17-8 at halftime.
In the second half, CWU used lightening strikes to blow open the game, needing just 7 plays to score 21 points. Murphy capped a 4-play, 43-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge to push the CWU lead to 24-8. A 25-yard Jim Daichendt field goal momentarily stopped the bleeding and pulled the Cougars to within 15 at 24-11 with 6:09 left in the third quarter. However, within 40 seconds of Daichendt's FG, CWU posted 2 more TDs to take a comfortable 36-11 cushion. Murphy finished a 2-play, 80-yard drive with a 51-yard sprint to pay dirt. Cougar QB Geoff Buffum then fumbled on Azusa Pacific's first play of the ensuing drive, and freshman Jack Essman scooped the loose ball and danced in the final 12 yards for another Wildcat TD.
The Cougars scored their lone TD of the game when Buffum found Scott Thomas for a 24-yard scoring strike with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. For Thomas, the Cougars' starting strong safety, it was his first TD since beginning his double-duty this season, serving also as a wide receiver.
Central Washington added 15 fourth quarter points, including another long TD run of 48 yards. For the day, the Wildcats rushed for 370 yards on just 39 carries (9.5 avg.). The Cougars registered 21 first downs to the Wildcats' 17, and held on to the ball nearly 15 minutes more than CWU (37:21 to 22:39). But they could not overcome Murphy and the Wildcats' big plays.
Daichendt, who has struggled early in the season (1-of-3 on FGs and 4-of-5 on PATs), found his rhythm against CWU, converting all 3 of his field goal attempts of 25, 27 and 38 yards. Jack Williams and Dexter Davis, the Cougars' leading scorers coming into the game with 3 TDs apiece, were kept out of the endzone. Williams rushed for 97 yards on 25 carries (3.9 avg.), while Davis, who entered the game fifth in the nation in receiving, caught 6 passes for 61 yards.
Scoring by Quarters
Azusa Pacific 3 5 9 0 -- 17
Central Washington 7 10 19 15 -- 51
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
SCORING
APU - Jim Daichendt 27 yd FG, 7:36 1st Qtr.
CWU - Leazer 8 yd run, 4:36 1st Qtr.
APU - Jim Daichendt 38 yd FG, 14:55 2nd Qtr.
APU - Safety Jacox grounding, 14:41 2nd Qtr.
CWU - Hickey 27 yd FG, 11:42 2nd Qtr.
CWU - Dan Murphy 38 yd run, 0:11 2nd Qtr.
CWU - Dan Murphy 1 yd run, 10:39 3rd Qtr.
APU - Jim Daichendt 25 yd FG, 6:09 3rd Qtr.
CWU - Dan Murphy 51 yd run, 5:45 3rd Qtr.
CWU - Jack Essman 12 yd fumble ret., 5:29 3rd Qtr.
APU - Scott Thomas 24 yd pass from Buffum, 0:15 3rd Qtr.
CWU - Nunez 7 yd pass from Casey Jacox, 11:51 4th Qtr.
CWU - Fields safety, 10:55 4th Qtr.
CWU - Conley 48 yd run, 4:12 4th Qtr.
PASSING
Geoff Buffum (AP) 21-39, 217 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Houn Hib (AP) 1-3, 4 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
Casey Jacox (CWU) 8-18, 78 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
RUSHING
Dan Murphy (CWU), 24 att., 269 yrds
Jack Williams (APU), 24 att., 97 yrds
TEAM STATISTICS
APU CWU
OFFENSE 292 yds 448 yds
RUSHING 71 yds 370 yds
PASSING 221 yds 78 yds
