By: Mackenzie Dalgleish
Box Score
Burnaby, BC - It was a tough finish to the season for the Simon Fraser University Clan who were not able to come away with the victory against the Azusa Pacific Cougars falling 28-19, as the program also sent off ten graduating seniors with a pre-game ceremony on Senior's Day.
The Clan could not have gotten off to a better start as linebacker Mitchell Barnett (North Vancouver, BC – 2 TKL 1 INT) intercepted Cougars quarterback Dasmen Stewart on APU's first play on offence. However, SFU could not convert the turnover into points.
Late in the first quarter the Clan would strike first as quarterback Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ – 25/42 324-yards 1 TD 2 INT – 1 rush TD) found widereciver Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC - 7 rec. 70-yards 1 TD) for 14-yards on a second-and-six down to the APU 22 yard line. After a six yard loss on first down, runningback Chris Tolbert (Silver Spring, MD – 32-148-yards 1 TD) burst free for a 26-yard gain all the way down to the APU 2 yard line. On the next play Tolbert would punch it in for the touchdown giving the Clan a 6-0 lead. With his strong performance, Tolbert went over the 1,000 yard mark in his first season with the Clan after coming off off an ACL injury last season.
"The work I put in the offseason, it means a lot to me," said Tolbert. "It means my hard work did not go unnoticed, but I would rather have rushed for 500-yards and been 9-1."
Azusa Pacific would score with just under a minute left in the quarter, giving the away team a one point lead, 7-6. Then Stanford would be intercepted in the APU end zone denying the Clan a chance at retaking the lead.
However, senior defensive end Dylan Roper (North Vancouver, BC – 1 sack 1 FF) would sack Stewart two plays later causing a fumble, which would be recovered by senior linebacker Casey Chin (9 TKL 1 TFL 1 FR). The defence again came through on the next possession, as it stuffed the Cougars on fourth down turning the ball back over to the offence.
"They were the catalysts for everything we did," Tolbert said on the senior class. "If somebody was slacking they were there to be on them and were well respected."
The fourth down stop woke the Clan up as Tolbert took over, rushing for 35-yards on five carries taking the ball down to the APU 1 yard line. Then on first and goal from the one, Stanford kept the ball and ran in for the score making the game 13-7 SFU.
SFU again had a chance to extend their lead, but Stanford was intercepted a second time in the end zone which saw the Cougars turn around and drive 80-yards for the touchdown and 14-13 lead.
Trailing 21-13 in the fourth quarter, SFU clawed back as Stanford and Durant went to work. The two hooked up five times for 43-yards and the touchdown, closing the score to 21-19 as the Clan were not able to convert on the two-point conversion.
It was not meant to be though as SFU would surrender another score and the offence could not get back in it which resulted in the final score of 28-19. The Clan outgained the Cougars 501-to-420 in total yards, but three turnovers and 100-yards worth of penalties proved to be too much.
"I love these guys," Tolbert said on the team battling each and every week, not giving up. "Every game we played we came in feeling like we were undefeated. Sometimes things do not go your way, but that is life. I would not trade this group of guys for anybody."
The Clan finished their season with a 3-7 record and will begin preparing for next season with signing day and Spring Camp to begin in 2014.
