AZUSA, Calif. – In a move that added to an already celebratory mood for an outstanding season, Azusa Pacific had 7 players receive NAIA Coaches All-American recognition for their effort during the 2004 gridiron campaign as announced by the NAIA national office.
Junior LB Steve Holte and senior NG Peder Moore, who spearheaded what many believed to be the best defense in the NAIA this year, received the highest accolades. Holte, who for the third straight year led the team in tackling, was accorded first-team recognition after tallying 99 tackles (40 solo), including 16 for loss and 5 quarterback sacks. His best outing came in the season-opener when he had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in the Cougars’ come-from-behind 24-17 victory over NCAA Division I-AA San Diego. Two weeks later he tallied 10 tackles and had a hand in 3 sacks in a 17-10 win over NCAA Division II Humboldt State.
Moore, who was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Year by naiafootball.net, enjoyed a marvelous season in which he registered 89 tackles (31 solo) to go along with 25 for loss and 7.5 sacks while oftentimes being double-teamed. He was named the “Defensive Player of the Game” in both of Azusa Pacific’s NAIA playoff victories, recording 7 tackles, including 2 for loss, to go along with a sack and fumble recovery which he returned for the game’s only touchdown in the Cougars’ 16-0 first-round victory over No. 4-ranked Northwestern Oklahoma State. The following week, he had 10 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 2 sacks, while limiting the NAIA’s top-rated offense to just 3 points in Azusa Pacific’s 24-3 quarterfinal victory over top-ranked and previously undefeated University of Sioux Falls.
For both Holte and Moore, this is their first-ever NAIA All-American honor.
Meanwhile, seniors Ben Buys (running back), Jed Thurner (defensive end), Jon Miller (punt return) and juniors Chuck Asiodu (defensive end) and Mike Betancourth (place kicker) all received honorable mention.
The 7 honorees are the most in a single season since 1983 when 8 Cougars were recognized for All-American performances by the NAIA coaches.
In an impressive accomplishment, Buys, Thurner and Holte not only excelled on the field but also in the classroom where all 3 players, along with junior TE Ricky Burgan was named NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete for their cumulative academic success during their careers at Azusa Pacific.
In addition, senior DE David Leary was named Azusa Pacific's "Champion of Character" player, the student-athlete who best exemplified the NAIA's standard of respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.
Along with Moore (first team), Holte (second team), Buys (third team) and Betancourth (fourth team), were also named to the naiafootball.net All-American teams which were announced in late December.
In other individual awards, Moore was named team and defensive MVP during the team’s season-ending banquet held Dec. 9. Miller, who topped the team with 49 receptions and 1,335 all-purpose yards, was selected team offensive MVP. Moore, Buys, Thurner and Miller was voted captains by their teammates while Nathaniel Nasca and Brian Davis were named offensive and defensive scout team MVPs, respectively.
Azusa Pacific went 11-3 during the 2004 season, advancing to the NAIA playoffs for the fifth time in the past 7 years. Two of the Cougars’ 3 losses were to eventual national champion Carroll College, which rallied to beat Azusa Pacific, 14-10, in the closing the minute of their semifinal match-up in Helena, Mont., Dec. 4.
Defensively, Azusa Pacific may have had no peer during the 2004 season. The Cougars led the nation in rushing defense (66.5 avg./game) and finished second in scoring defense (9.6 avg.), second in quarterback sacks (55) and third in total defense (212.1 avg./game). In 3 NAIA playoff games, they surrendered just 2 touchdowns.
Click here to view the entire 2004 NAIA Coaches All-America teams and here to look at the 2004 NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes.
