The Simon Fraser University Clan football team honoured its senior class with a pre-game ceremony highlighting their careers over the past two-to-six years with the program before losing 40-27 to Central Washington University in a non-conference game Saturday at Swangard Stadium.

Simon Fraser scored 21 fourth quarter points but it turned out to be too little, too late. An HD version of the game and Senior Day ceremony is available on Clan TV On Demand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_u3V1x0_hk

Some seniors players honoured Saturday came while the program was still part of the CIS, some were a part of the inaugural NCAA recruiting class, while others came by the way of transfer to help guide the program through its transition period.

"These are building blocks," head coach Jacques Chapdelaine said reflecting on his first season following the loss. "It's a little bit about those shows on renovating your homes. You can make it look good right away with just a coat of paint, change the curtains and maybe some shrubs on the front lawn. But at the end of the day most of these major renovations need the interior work. We kind of have to rewire this thing and it's going to take a little bit of time.

"Long term we're in good shape and I'm optimistic."

SFU finished the season with a 2-9 record and 2-6 record in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Central Washington quarterback Jake Nelson connected on 24 of 36 passes for 410 yards, while wide receivers Greg Logan and Jesse Zalk combined to haul in 14 of Nelson's passes for 276 yards and two scores in the victory.

CWU finished with 530-yards of total offence compared to 404 for the Clan.

The Wildcats led 30-6 at the half. There was no scoring in the third quarter.

The game started well for the Clan, taking an early 6-0 lead, as the offence marched 65 yards on six plays, highlighted by a 40-yard Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC) reception to the CWU six-yard line. Three plays later senior running back Stephen Spagnuolo (Vancouver, BC) came out of the backfield to catch a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Central Washington blocked the extra point and returned it to the end zone, resulting in a safety making the score 6-2 SFU.

Late in the first quarter, Central Washington scored a touchdown to go up 9-6, and then early in the second quarter extended its lead to 16-6.

SFU was not able to get the offence going outside of their opening drive in the first half, as Central Washington held a 30-6 lead at the break. As well, quarterback Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ) was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.

Down 37-6 in the fourth quarter, the Clan offence came alive under quarterback Tyler Nickel (Calgary, AB), as he orchestrated a five play, 51 yard drive, highlighted by a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior Bobby Pospischil (Coquitlam, BC) to make the score 37-13.

Trailing 40-13, the offence scored again, covering 65 yards on nine plays, capped off by Nickel 20-yard TD run.

Getting the ball one last time, Nickel again moved the chains, completing passes to three different receivers on six attempts. The drive ended when Nickel spotted Spagnuolo in the back corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 40-27.

Spagnuolo finished with his fifth straight game of over 100 all-purpose yards, as he rushed for 90 and added another 46 on eight receptions, with two touchdowns.
Durant hauled in four receptions for 74 yards, while Nickel was 13-for-37 for 143 yards and two touchdowns in relief duty.

On defence, Jordan Herdman (Winnipeg, MB) had 10 tackles, 2.5 for a loss as he cemented himself as the GNAC leader in tackles in a season. His brother Justin Herdman (Winnipeg, MB) finished second on the team with 7.5 tackles and a forced fumble, with recovery.

Though the Clan have nineteen seniors leaving, Chapdelaine sees brighter days ahead.

"You never replace exactly person-for-person, but I do think we have some great young people here," he said.

Next up for the Clan will be signing day on February 4 and then Spring Camp in March.