MONMOUTH, Ore. – There is good news and bad news for the NAIA's No. 6-ranked Azusa Pacific (2-2) after a 44-14 loss to Western Oregon (2-2) in Monmouth, Oregon.

The good news is that the Cougars are not scheduled to play another game outside of California this season, where they are 2-4 over the past three years, including three losses by at least 30 points.
The bad news is that the Cougars only have one week to figure out how to take care of the football, after turning the ball over 8 times this afternoon, 4 by interception and 4 by fumble. Six of the turnovers occurred in Western Oregon territory, including a fumble on the goal line and an end-zone interception.

Western Oregon jumped out to a 30-0 lead on Adam Bledsoe's third touchdown pass of the game, an 85-yarder to Mike Hinshaw with 4:53 to play in the third quarter. However, the Cougars, who did not score in a 31-0 defeat at Southern Oregon 2 weeks ago, would not be shut out in the Beaver State again, as Kevin Carlsen caught his first pass of the game for a 25-yard TD to bring the Cougars to within 23 points at 30-7 with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougars, who last week overcame a 16-point deficit with 20 straight points in the fourth quarter to beat La Verne, brought the offense back onto the field after the Wolves were forced to punt after 3 plays. Quarterback Luke Winslow guided the Cougars 59 yards in just 1:50, scoring the Cougars' second straight touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, a 1-yard QB sneak that brought the Cougars to within 16 points at 30-14.

Although the margin was the same as last week when the Cougars started their fourth quarter comeback, the magic was missing, as Azusa Pacific turned it over on its final 4 possessions while the Wolves added a pair of touchdowns for the final 44-14 margin.

Two of the Cougars' 6 turnovers in Western Oregon territory came in the fourth quarter with the score still 30-14. Jesse Aust fumbled at the goal line with 12:58 to play, and Albert Meza returned the fumble 54 yards. After Western Oregon's offense stalled at the Cougar 31-yard line, Jimmy Travis took a lateral from Winslow, then connected with Carlsen on a 77-yard pass play to the Western Oregon 3-yard line with over 7 minutes left in the contest. However, Winslow was intercepted in the end zone 2 plays later by Elton Seals, who had 2 interceptions for the Wolves.

Despite the 4 interceptions, Winslow completed 20-of-37 passes for 206 yards. The Cougars managed just 29 yards rushing on 30 carries, and Carlsen, who entered the game leading the NAIA in receiving, finished with just 3 catches on the day for 134 yards, all in the second half.

Western Oregon accumulated 19 penalties for 227 yards to partially offset their 573 yards in total offense, but the Azusa Pacific turnovers proved too costly to overcome. Bledsoe, who picked apart the Cougar defense in the first half for 183 yards on 13-of-16 passing, finished 19-for-34 for 326 yards and 3 TDs.

Azusa Pacific returns home next Saturday, where the Cougars are 14-2 over the past 3 seasons. The Cougars will face Redlands, with kickoff slated at 6 p.m.