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The old clich? says offensive linemen don't
get enough credit. Well, that saying is correct, so it's time to give credit
where it's due. Here's a look at the top veteran offensive linemen in the GNAC.
Central Washington
Tony Quirk, 6-6, 300-pound senior: The Wildcats
didn't have to look far to land this standout lineman. He prepped at Ellensburg
high school. He's been a four-year starter at right tackle and has started an
impressive all 46 games in which he's played, (one start shy of the unofficial
school record of 47 by former teammate Aaron Gilbert from 2004-08) Quirk was
selected as a team co-captain in 2009. He spent first two prep seasons in
Mankato, Minn., before playing final two seasons and graduating from Ellensburg
High School in 2005. Central's SID Jonathan Gordon found a good way to measure
O-line success by charting CWU's offensive stats when the O-linemen was
starting. CWU statistical averages in Quirk's 46 career games: 122.0 rush yards
per game, 3.4 rush yards per carry, 62.7% comp, 262.0 pass yards per game, 31.4
total points per game.
RYAN STOKES, 6-2, 300-pound senior: A two-year
starter at right guard from Kentridge High School in Renton, Washington. Stokes
has made 17 starts in his three-year career, including nine this season. He
started and played in every game in 2009 except the Homecoming/Senior Day game
against Humboldt State (missed the game due to injury). He played in 12 of 13
games in 2007. CWU Statistical Averages in Stokes' 30 career games: 132.1 rush
ypg, 3.5 rush ypc, 62.1% comp, 271.3 pass ypg, 33.6 total ppg.
ANDY ROOF, 6-5, 305-pound senior: Roof started
nine of 10 games at left guard as a senior for CWU . He did not play in GNAC
opener against Dixie State on Oct. 3 due to injury. Transferred to Central from
Washington State, where he had a three-year career, lettering for the Cougars in
2005 and 2006. Played high school ball at Spokane's East Valley High School,
where he earned first-team all-state (4A) honors as a senior (A.P. and Tacoma
News Tribune), and was a Seattle Times "Blue Chip" list out of high
school. CWU Statistical Averages in Roof's nine career games: 147.2 rush ypg,
3.8 rush ypc, 55.6% comp, 210.2 pass ypg, 27.8 total ppg.
Dixie State
Braeden Dillon, 6-1, 275-pound junior: A
first-year player at Dixie, Dillon was a great pickup for the Red Storm. The
Lodi, California product was a first-team all-conference player while at San
Joaquin Delta Junior College in California last year and two-time all-league
player in high school and is playing center this year.
Kalepo Pene, 6-3, 320, junior: Another fine
recruit from San Joaquin Delta College, Pene is big, strong, and versatile as he
plays both guard and tackle for Dixie.
Humboldt State
Taylor Boggs, 6-3, 285-pound junior: The team
captain, even though only a junior. Boggs missed some action earlier this year
due to an ankle injury. His return sparked the resurgence of the HSU running
game. Attended Pikeville College in Kentucky for a year before transferring to
Humboldt State. A first team all-GNAC selection in 2008 after redshirting in
2007, and also honored as a strength and conditioning All-American. First
team-all conference at Upland (Calif.) High School. His cousin is Owen Schmidt
of the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Oregon
Michael Dyer, 6-2, 315, Sr.: Started all games
this year at WOU, played in 10 games as a junior in 2008. Redshirted in 2007
after playing at West Hills Community College in California. He was a 4A
all-state player and all-Portland Interscholastic League player at Grant High
School. He also played in the Les Schwab Bowl for outstanding senior high school
players in Oregon.
Jose Escobedo, 6-5, 305, Sr.: The Wolves
offense took a big hit this year when Escobedo went down with an injury at
mid-season against Dixie. He was projected as their top offensive lineman after
earning second team all-GNAC honors as a junior, starting 11 games and helping
running backs Ben Kuenzi and DJ Jackson earn all-GNAC honors. A 2005 graduate of
Nyssa (Ore.) High School, where he was a first team All-Wapiti League on the
defensive line, and second team as a kicker and offensive tackle. Escobedo also
played in the East-West Shrine Game, a contest for the state's top small school
senior football players. His brother, Pro, played football and track and WOU and
was a Division II national champ in the hammer throw.
GNAC Players of the Week (as selected by
the conference office)
Offense - Josh Riddell.
The Western Oregon senior quarterback completed
25 of 40 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns leading the Wolves to a 31-28
win over Humboldt State. Riddell had six completions on a 12-play, 68-yard
touchdown drive in the fourth quarter as WOU got the winning score on a
five-yard run by D.J. Jackson. Riddell, who started his career at
Mississippi State, became the sixth quarterback in GNAC history to surpass the
5,000-yard career mark in both passing and total offense, finishing the day with
5,070 and 5,182 yards, respectively.
Defense - Caleb Singleton.
The Western Oregon junior defensive back had a
GNAC season high 16 tackles, including 10 solos, and also had a 60-yard
interception return in the second quarter in the Wolves' three-point win. His
interception on a second-and-goal play from the WOU 5 not only prevented a
Humboldt State touchdown but set up a Riddell's 30-yard TD toss to Tirrell
Thompson that gave WOU a 21-7 lead.
Special Teams - Jerome Williams.
The Central Washington senior defensive back
had 130 return yards, including a 72-yard kickoff return to start the third
quarter and set up CWU's only touchdown of the second half in a 23-9 win at
Dixie State. Williams had 93 yards on two kickoff returns and 37 on four punt
returns. He also had four tackles and three pass breaks.
This Week's Picks
Central Washington at Western Oregon
This is the Wolves' big chance to snap an
11-game losing streak against the Wildcats. Western certainly had its chances to
do so earlier this year, blowing a 21-0 lead at The Battle in Seattle before
losing 23-21 to CWU. This time it's on the Wolves home field, so an upset could
be brewing. But CWU has a knack of winning close games - especially against WOU.
It's another thriller, however, 27-24, CWU wins.
Dixie State at Humboldt
The Lumberjacks haven't won a GNAC game this
year, but have certainly been close, losing by one point to WOU, losing by four
points at Dixie, losing by a touchdown at home against CWU. Dixie has played a
lot of close games, too, but this time Humboldt ends the season on a winning
note, 27-20.
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