D2Football.com
Covering
 
D2 Football Home
D2 Football News
D2 Football News
D2 Football Video
D2 Football Columnists
D2 Football Scores
D2 Football Top 25 Poll
D2 Football Player Awards
D2 Football Regional Rankings
D2 Football Statistics
D2 Football All Americans
D2 Football Pro Hopefuls
D2 Football Information
D2 Football Teams
D2 Football Champions
D2 Football Championship Game
D2 Football Harlon Hill
D2 Football Stadiums
D2 Football Alumni
D2 Football Interactive
D2 Football Message Board
D2 Football Chat
D2 Football Coaches
D2 Football Coaching Vacancies
D2 Football Schedule Openings
D2 Football About Us
D2 Football Advertise
D2 Football Staff
D2 Football Contact Us
 
 
D2Football.com Columnists Great Northwest Athletic Conference

Great Northwest Athletic Conference

November 3rd, 2009

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.

 

Return to Columnist

 
         
S1 Copyright © 2000-2006 D2Football.com. All rights reserved.