Glendale, AZ. - Another tough loss, with more injuries to the Firestorm team. Starting QB Johnny Herrera and Senior Linebacker Travis Combs had an injury to their ankle and another running back Jonah Leon had to leave the game as well. The Firestorm had another rough first half, giving up 24 points and the secondary didn't help, by giving up 295 yards passing with 1 touchdown. Arizona Christian's offense moved the ball well all game, but it didn't result in points. 

Qb Johnny Herrera was injured in the first quarter, so Junior QB Corbyn Vasily and Freshman Qb Beau Devens had to carry the offense. Freshman Qb Beau Devens was the leading rusher with 26 yards, he also had 84 yards in the passing game. ACU's run game tried to keep them in the fight but it wasn't enough.

ACU's physical middle linebacker Ryan Odom recorded 6 tackles, Sophomore linebacker Ryan Bell had 5 tackles, and the newcomer to the secondary Trey Stott also had 5 tackles. The secondary couldn't get the defense off the field on third downs and one drive on fourth down. Nothing was going in the favor of the Firestorm.

The turning point of the game was right before giving up two scores that allowed Southern Oregon to stretch the lead to 24 to zero, rather than 14 to zero. Also,  the turnovers that the Raiders caused and the Firestorm's defense didn't have an answer to Southern Oregon's offense's run game. The injuries for the firestorm forced a lot of true Freshman in the game. 

Offensive Stars

• Devens - 8-16, 84 passing yards, 6-26 rushing yards
• Kale Konen - 2-20 rushing yards
• Herrera - 1-2, 32 passing yards
• Jantzen Ginger - 3-14 rushing yards, 1 TD

Defensive Stars

• Odom - 2 solo tackles, 4 assist tackles
• Bell - 1 solo tackles, 4 assist tackles
• Stott - 2 solo tackles, 3 assist tackles, 1 FF
• Jordan Francis - 3 solo tackles, 1 assist tackle, 1 PBU
• Tavon Archibald - 3 solo tackles, 1 assist 
• Ngianni Cerisier - 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 PBU

Inside The Numbers

• Beginning of the first quarter - Gunner Yates runs in for 38 yards (Brian Batres kick), 7 SOU ACU 0
• Minutes Later, Brandon Barthel  catches a 66 yard pass from Blake Asciutto (Brian Batres kick) it only took 2 plays and 78 yards. SOU 14 ACU 0
• 4:26 in the second quarter, Gunner Yates runs a 6 yard touchdown (Brian Batres kick), A 7 play drive, 56 yards, SOU leads 21 ACU 0
• Seconds left in the second quarter, Brian Batres kicks a 22 yard field goal in a 7 play, 37 yard drive to extend the lead 24 SOU ACU 0
• Early in the third quarter, Gunner Yates runs in for a 2 yard touchdown (Brian Batres  kick), the drive was 6 plays for 76 yards, 31 SOU ACU 0
• Late in the third quarter, Glen Leith-Ross ran in a 1 yard touchdown on a 5 play drive for 53 yards (Brian Batres kick) SOU 38 ACU 0
• Seconds left in the third quarter, Freshman running back Jantzen Ginger runs in a 2 yard touchdown to get ACU on the board (Nestor Higuera kick) SOU 38 ACU 7 
• In the fourth quarter, Brian Batres kicks a 42 yard field goal in a  12 play drive that took 46 yards to extend the lead SOU 41 to ACU 7
• Late in the 4 fourth quarter with minutes left in the game, Glen Leith-Ross had a 9 yard run for a touchdown (Brian Batres kick), to make the final score 48 SOU ACU 7

Thoughts From Coach Bowen
"We played hard, but turnovers and injuries became tough to overcome. We'll be back to work next week to get ready for Western."

Up Next
Arizona Christian University will be at #7 Montana Western University (5-1) next week in Dillon, MT. Game starts at 12:00pm Arizona Time.


Roll Storm!