Box Score Azusa, CA - The Simon Fraser University Clan lost a heartbreaker, 44-36 to the Azusa Pacific Cougars Saturday night in Azusa, CA in a game where they led 23-3 at halftime.

"We made some adjustments and called some different things in the second half," explained Head Coach Dave Johnson. "As coaches and personally, I did not handle playing with the lead very well. I felt the effort and execution our players gave was outstanding and we (coaches) did not do a good job playing with the lead.

"We let them back in and the next thing you know the wheels are turning and we couldn't get them stopped in terms of [Azusa Pacific] running the ball."

After seeing their lead slip away in the fourth quarter, the Clan battled back as running back Chris Tolbert (34-173-yards 4 TD 4 rec. 28 yards – Silver Springs, MD) scored his fourth touchdown of the night to give SFU the 30-27 lead midway through the fourth.

Azusa Pacific would then drive down field after starting at their 27-yard line and kicker Jamie Cacciatore would make a 45-yard field goal to tie the game up at 30. However, just three plays later, wide receiver Bobby Borcky (7 rec. 113 yards 1 TD – Orlando, FL) would get behind coverage and quarterback Ryan Stanford (22/44 250 yards 1 TD 1 INT – Phoenix, AZ) would hit him in stride for the 51-yard touchdown. SFU couldn't convert the extra point, but they still held a 36-30 lead with 5:24 remaining in the game.

SFU's hopes were dashed though as on the Cougars first play following Borcky's touchdown, running back Terrell Watson went 68-yards for the touchdown giving APU the lead back, 37-36.

With three minutes left in the game, Stanford had the offence driving down field, but a pass on fourth down was ruled incomplete as tight end Jamal Kett (5 rec. 57 yards – Orangeville, ON) could not retain possession as he went out-of-bounds, which would have resulted in a first down.

Two rushes and 69-yards later, Watson scored his fifth touchdown of the night to help push the score to 44-36 for the home team.

Down eight with just over two minutes remaining, the Clan started with good field position following a personal foul penalty against the Cougars placing the ball at the SFU 38-yard line. Stanford would throw for two straight first downs which took the ball down to the APU 38-yard line.

On third-and-three Stanford connected with wide receiver Tore Corrado (Vancouver, BC) for 26-yards down to the APU 5-yard line, but a holding penalty negated the play, instead taking the ball back to APU 41. Stanford's final pass on fourth-and-thirteen was deflected and fell incomplete ending the game.

With the loss, the Clan have now dropped three straight games as their record moves to 2-3 on the season.

The Clan got off to a nice start as the defence forced a quick three-and-out which then saw the offence move the ball for a field goal thanks to Stanford spreading the ball around in his first game back from an injury he suffered two weeks ago.

"I felt Stanford's velocity was outstanding coming off an injury and it was nice to see Robert Borcky step up and have a big game. A lot of guys did a lot of good things," continued Johnson.

Azusa Pacific would tie the game at three, but Tolbert would score three straight touchdowns giving SFU a 23-3 lead at the half.

The Cougars would come out strong in the second half though as they chipped away at the Clan's lead until they finally led 27-23 early in the fourth quarter before the Clan re-gained the lead, only to give it back to the home side.

SFU returns home for just the second time this season as they host the Central Washington Wildcats October 19 at 2:00 p.m. on Terry Fox Field.

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