Two weeks into the GNAC season is still too early to make a call on the eventual champion, but trends start to emerge that become more set in stone after this third week coming up. This weekend is when contenders truly start making a move to create distance between themselves and those which will become the rest of the pack. But that doesn't take away the excitement of the slate of contests this weekend.

Azusa Pacific (0-2 overall, 0-1 GNAC) vs. Dixie State (1-1, 1-0)
6 p.m., Saturday, Glendora, Calif.

Yeah, we're going to do this. We're making this the game of the week. Why? Because Azusa is playing its first home game as a Division II member. Because Dixie State is coming off a big win over Western Oregon and quite honestly is broken play or two away from being 2-0 on the season.

Dixie surprised a few people with its win over Western Oregon last week. The Red Storm's 24-10 victory should give DSC some confidence going into another road game against Azusa Pacific. Two things that stand out, however. One, game time temps should be in the low 90s at kickoff. Secondly, Azusa destroyed Dixie last year, 48-19, but of course last year was...well, last year.

APU head coach Victor Santa Cruz has been honest about the difference a year makes, especially with personnel this year coming in without the same type of experience on the field in 2011.

"The youth of our team right now is the number one thing that excites you and the number one thing that's going to be a challenge," he said in his weekly press conference. "No one came out of the womb walking. We all bumped our heads quite a few times and that never stopped us from trying to keep getting up and walk. No one had a problem with growing and learning then and we sure don't have a problem growing and learning now."

Let's look at the numbers show us after two weeks.

Dixie is much improved in stopping the run, as opponents have gained 116 yards total in two games. Terrell Watson and crew over at Azusa, however, are putting up 126 yards per game over the last two weeks.

Dixie seems to be more balanced offensively thus far this season. The Red Storm average 386 yards per contest with 230 in the air and 156 on the ground. While APU is rushing 126 yards every week, the Cougars aren't averaging much more in the air, something that potentially makes them a bit one-dimensional.

Both teams need to improve on turnovers. Dixie has turned it over seven times already in 2012. Azusa has been guilty of that five times as well. Both are poor in protecting the quarterback. Neither team so far is an offensive juggernaut when it comes to putting the points on the board.

Azusa has much to prove in it playing in its first home game still searching for its first win. This is early enough into the season where a two-game losing streak isn't an end-all to the season. However, Dixie turned a corner in a convincing win over Western Oregon. That momentum continues with a 20-16 victory for the Red Storm.

#21 Humboldt State (2-0, 1-0) vs. Simon Fraser (1-1, 0-1)
6 p.m., Saturday, Arcata, Calif.

We found out what kind of defense Simon Fraser has this year, while Humboldt State had no problem in relegating Azusa as yet another team to lose to the Lumberjacks.

Simply put, Simon Fraser's on the road, playing against a Humboldt State squad which is ranked 21st, 2-0 and playing the third of three straight at the Redwood Bowl. Not sure how ugly this might turn out to be.

In last week's 56-28 loss to Central Washington, Simon Fraser had no answer to the CWU running game, owners of six trips into the end zone by way of the rushing attack. When you suffer through 316 yards on the ground not much is going to go your way. And what's bad for Simon Fraser is the fact that Humboldt State has the talent (averaging 202 yards on the ground) to exploit that again.

The Clan can put some points on the board as 51- and 28-point tallies prove the Clan offense has some firepower.

But the fact remains that the Lumberjacks are far bigger and more experienced even with new quarterback Alex Rump and running back Nick Ricciardulli. Humboldt starts 3-0 on the season with a 40-10 victory.

Western Oregon (0-2, 0-1) vs. Central Washington (1-1, 1-0)
1 p.m., Saturday, Monmouth, Ore.

Depending on who you talked to Western Oregon was considered a sleeper pick to threaten for the GNAC crown. So far in 2012, the Wolves haven't proved those picks to be correct.

Perhaps most glaring for WOU is the -7 reality of turnovers. Western Oregon had six turnovers against Dixie State last weekend. Making matters worse is the fact that offensively the Wolves rely on the pass more than being equally dependent on the run (228 yards per game in the air, just 83 on the ground). They don't do that great defending against the run either, which doesn't bode well for WOU as CWU rumbled 316 yards against Simon Fraser last weekend.

One intangible for Central Washington could be very tangible by kickoff on Saturday: This is the third straight road game to open the young season already for the Wildcats. While it makes sense to keep the home games going when students are actually on campus (school doesn't start until next week) bus trips and a plane trip to open the season have to be tiring.

However, the smart money's on Western Oregon's woes to continue and Central Washington's noticeable uptick to keep climbing. Wildcats, 28-17.

Jon Guddat covers the GNAC for D2football.com. Contact Jon at [email protected].