1998 Azusa Pacific Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 1998 Azusa Pacific Cougars football Independent 12–2 Vic Shealy 4th Gary Knecht 4th Cougar Athletic Stadium NAIA national champion NAIA National Championship Game W 17–14 vs. 1998 Olivet Nazarene Tigers Olivet Nazarene The 1998 Azusa Pacific Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Azusa Pacific University as an independent during the 1998 NAIA football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Vic Shealy, the Cougars compiled a 12–2 record and won the NAIA national championship.1998 Football Schedule Azusa Pacific University October 30, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/sports/football/schedule/1998Azusa puts streak on line against Olivet Nazarene The Jackson Sun December 19, 1998 1C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88086978/azusa-puts-streak-on-line-against/ Newspapers.com The team opened the season losing two of its first four games before winning its final ten games. In their October 17 game against 1998 La Verne Leopards La Verne, the Cougars established a new school record with 634 yards of total offense. Senior quarterback Geoff Buffum passed for a school-record 416 yards and five touchdowns. Senior receiver also set a new school record with 238 receiving yards. The Cougars qualified for the NAIA playoffs for the first time in the 34-year history of the Azusa Pacific football program. They defeated 1998 Huron Screaming Eagles Huron (North Dakota) in the semifinal game by a 26–24 score. In the NAIA National Championship Game, played at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tennessee, they faced 1998 Olivet Nazarene Tigers Olivet Nazarene. Azusa Pacific trailed, 14–7, at the end of the third quarter, but scored 10 points in the fourth quarter on a safety, a touchdown run by Jack Williams, and a two-point conversion, to win by a 17–14 score. The team was led on offense by senior quarterback Geoff Buffum, senior receiver Dexter Davis and junior running back and cornerback Jack Williams, a transfer from BYU.Azusa Pacific Finds Winning Touchdown Los Angeles Times November 25, 1998 D5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88087691/azusa-pacific-finds-winning-touchdown/ Newspapers.com Williams was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the NAIA Championship Game and finished the season with 1,642 rushing yards.Williams keeps APU's sluggish offense going The Jackson Sun Ross W. Reily 8D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88088192/williams-keeps-apus-sluggish-offense/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Cougar Athletic Stadium in Azusa, California. In January 1999, Shealy resigned as head coach at Azusa Pacific to become the defense backs coach for Air Force.Azusa Pacific coach resigns to join AFA staff The Billings Gazette January 10, 1999 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88088363/azusa-pacific-coach-resigns-to-join-afa/ Newspapers.com Schedule y y September 5 at 1998 San Diego Toreros San Diego San Diego, CA W 14-7 4,000 Toreros drop season opener North County Times Associated Press September 6, 1998 C4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88087106/toreros-drop-season-opener/ Newspapers.com September 12 1998 Olivet Nazarene Tigers Olivet Nazarene Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA W 31-24 2,652 Cougars Stand Up to Olivet Nazarene Azusa Pacific University September 12, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/9/12/football-cougars-stand-up-to-olivet-nazarene.aspx September 19 at 1998 Central Washington Wildcats Central Washington Ellensburg, WA L 17-51 2,500 Cougars Feel Murphy's Law Azusa Pacific University September 19, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/9/19/football-cougars-feel-murphys-law.aspx September 26 at 1998 Hardin–Simmons Cowboys Hardin–Simmons Shelton Stadium Abilene, TX L 17-30 2,749 Cowboys rally from early 17-0 deficit for win Abilene Reporter-News Al Pickett September 27, 1998 1D, 5D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88087204/cowboys-rally-from-early-17-0-deficit/ Newspapers.com October 3 1998 Chapman Panthers Chapman Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA W 26-21 2,311 Chapman Falls to 0-4 With Loss to Azusa Los Angeles Times October 4, 1998 C19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88087383/chapman-falls-to-0-4-with-loss-to-azusa/ Newspapers.com October 17 1998 La Verne Leopards La Verne Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA W 42-22 2,315 Records Fall In 42-22 Win Azusa Pacific University October 17, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/10/17/football-records-fall-in-42-22-win.aspx October 24 Humboldt State<hc> Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA W 20-13 4,123 Goal Line Stand Preserves Victory Azusa Pacific University October 24, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/10/24/football-goal-line-stand-preserves-victory.aspx October 31 at 1998 Whittier Poets Whittier Whittier, CA W 27-9 1,107 Cougars Take Away The Victory Azusa Pacific University October 31, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/10/31/football-cougars-take-away-the-victory.aspx November 7 1998 Occidental Tigers Occidental Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA W 49-7 1,056 Cougars Bounce Oxy Azusa Pacific University November 7, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/11/7/football-cougars-bounce-oxy.aspx November 14 at 1998 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens Pomona-Pitzer Claremont, CA W 14-0 700 Defense Secures NAIA Playoff Berth Azusa Pacific University November 14, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/11/14/football-defense-secures-naia-playoff-berth.aspx November 21 1998 Taylor Trojans Taylor (IN) Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA (NAIA first round) W 31-28 2,123 Cougars Kick Taylor Out of Playoffs Azusa Pacific University November 21, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/11/21/football-cougars-kick-taylor-out-of-playoffs.aspx November 28 Central Washington Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA (NAIA quarterfinal) W 35-28 1,625 A Measure of Revenge Azusa Pacific University November 28, 1998 October 31, 2021 https://athletics.apu.edu/news/1998/11/28/football-ameasure-of-revenge.aspx December 5 1998 Huron Screaming Eagles Huron (ND) Cougar Athletic Stadium Azusa, CA (NAIA semifinal) W 26-24 3,124 Azusa Pacific Wins on a Kick Los Angeles Times Scott Moe December 6, 1998 D7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88080772/azusa-pacific-wins-on-a-kick/ Newspapers.com December 19 vs 1998 Olivet Nazarene Tigers Olivet Nazarene Jim Carroll Stadium Savannah, TN (NAIA Championship Game) W 17-14 5,000 Deja vu finish for Olivet Nazarene Chicago Tribune December 20, 1998 III-18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88080671/deja-vu-finish-for-olivet-nazarene/ Newspapers.comAzusa Pacific claws back The Jackson Sun December 20, 1998 8D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88088039/azusa-pacific-claws-back/ Newspapers.com https://apu_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/football/1998.pdf 1998 Azusa Pacific Cougars football Statistics APU References Azusa Pacific Category:Azusa Pacific Cougars football Category:NAIA football national champions Azusa Pacific Cougars football