AZUSA, CALIF. – The Cardiac Cougars are at it again.

Seemingly dead in the water, Azusa Pacific scored 3 fourth-quarter TDs in less than 4 minutes to rally from 16 down to a 27-23 victory over the University of La Verne Saturday night.
Sophomore QB Luke Winslow completed 25-of-36 passes for 340 yards, including 247 in the second half, to lead the Cougars to another close victory. Since 1998, Azusa Pacific is 16-1 in games decided by a TD or less. Winslow's 45-yard TD bomb to Kevin Carlsen with 8:10 left in the game completed the comeback and added to the Cougar lore. A year ago, Azusa Pacific knocked off La Verne, 47-45, on a 19-yard FG as time expired to highlight a 15-point comeback in La Verne.

"I told (assistant Geoff) Buffum I was hoping we would score another touchdown so we would be up by 11," said Shinnick. "But I'll take it, however we can get it. Our guys have no quit in them"
Down 23-7 to start the fourth quarter, Azusa Pacific began its comeback when Winslow connected with Caleb Willis for a 61-yard catch-and-run to cap a 3-play, 78-yard drive that pulled the Cougars to within 23-14 with 12:06 left in the game.

Azusa Pacific's defense, which was outstanding by limiting La Verne to just 71 second-half yards, held the Leos to a 3-and-out situation in the next drive. And after a botched Leos punt snap sailed high, the Cougars found themselves with the ball again at the La Verne 27-yard line. Winslow hit Kevin Carlson on the first play for a 23-yard pass play that included a roughing the QB penalty that pushed the ball to the 2-yard line. On the next play, sophomore TB Jesse Aust bowled over from 2 yards out to pull the Cougars to within 3 at 23-20 with 11:30 left to play.

The Cougar defense did its job again, stopping La Verne in 3 plays on the ensuing drive, and forcing the Leopards into their ninth punt of the evening after Sammy Purcell's third-down sack. With the ball at their own 42-yard line, the Cougars went to work on their game-winning drive that was capped by Carlson's TD catch that included 2 broken tackles.

"In the second half, we settled down and started hitting the big ones," said Winslow. "A couple of catch-and-runs and getting the yards after the catch was big for us. We got into our rhythm in the second half."

Led by Saa Foster's 6 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 key fumble recovery (with 1:19 left to seal the victory), the Cougar defense allowed the offense the opportunity for the comeback. La Verne managed 0 net yards rushing for the game and sacked Leo QB Aaron Becker 4 times.

"That's the way to end the game – with defense doing it," said Foster.

La Verne, which scored all 23 of its points in the second quarter including 7 that came on a Scott Traver 52-yard interception return, crossed the midfield stripe just once in the second half and got no closer than the Cougar 47-yard line over the final 2 quarters.

"The turning point in the second half is that our defense did not give up anything," said Shinnick. "We gave up 23 points in the second quarter and it was still 23 every time our offense took the field in the second half."

With the win, the Cougars improve to 2-1 on the season and have now won 14 straight over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference members. Azusa Pacific has not fallen to a SCIAC member since La Verne pounded the Cougars, 51-17, in 1995.

La Verne opens its season at 0-1.