AZUSA, Calif. – Defense is supposed to limit opposing offenses but sometimes it just has to flat out has to steal from them, and Azusa Pacific’s hard-hitting defense did just that, leading the NAIA’s No. 11-ranked Cougars to a 21-12 victory over Pacific Lutheran.

Pacific Lutheran motored up and down the field all night, amassing 407 yards worth of total offense, but the Lutes needed another 40 yards which would have produced 21 more points and assured a first-ever victory over the Cougars. Instead, the Azusa Pacific defense thwarted a trio of Lute drives inside the Cougar 20-yard line which allowed the Cougars to post their second victory in as many games this season and its third straight in as many meetings with Pacific Lutheran.

The Cougar defense induced 4 turnovers, 2 off interceptions and another pair from fumbles, and both fumbles were back-breakers, coming inside the Azusa Pacific 12-yard line.

“Our defense stuck guys after they made catches,” said Azusa Pacific coach Peter Shinnick. “They were getting hit all night long, and both of those fumbles were results of previous hits where the guy knew it was coming.”

It wasn’t until 13 seconds left in the first half that either offense could produce points. Azusa Pacific took advantage of a short field situation and a lengthy punt return by Brian Rocheleau which set up a 10-yard scoring strike from Sean Davis to Jon Miller, giving the Cougars a 7-0 lead at halftime.

PLU had twice knocked on the Cougars’ door in the first half, but it failed to score each time. On the Lutes’ second possession of the game, Rocheleau forced a Chris Pitzer fumble at the Azusa Pacific 15 that in effect wiped out a Dave Weller to Scott Peterson 77-yard hook-and-ladder run on the previous play.

Then at the start of the second quarter, Pacific Lutheran had the ball first-and-goal at the Cougar 7-yard line, but that drive was snuffed out when Lute QB Dusty Macauley was sacked by Nick Tavaglione and Steve Holte fourth down.

Azusa Pacific opened a spread when it capped the opening drive on the second half by going 65 yards on 4 plays, highlighted by Grady Thomas’ 47-yard catch-and-off from Davis.

PLU answered on its next possession after Macauley hooked up with Mark McCall for a 58-yard bomb to cut the deficit to 14-6.

The Cougars came right back though and pushed their lead to 21-6 when Nate Farris returned a punt 76 yards down the far sideline to pay dirt, midway through the third quarter.

“Once I turned the corner there was just a wide open alley,” recalled Farris. “Jon Miller came in and got that last block and I just had to finish it off.”

However, Pacific Lutheran did not go away, scoring on the fourth play of the fourth quarter, a Pitzer 2-yard run, to get back to within 9 at 21-12. The Lutes then had a chance to get even closer, moving the ball 66 yards midway through the fourth quarter before McCall coughed up a reception at the Cougar 10-yard line. Rocheleau pounced on the loose ball with 3:25 remaining in the game.

“Our secondary is going to come up and hit you,” said Rocheleau, who has a team-high 5 pass deflections in 2 games this season. “We’re going to put a hat on you.”

The Cougar offense was paced once again by sophomore running back Ben Buys, who rushed for a game- and season-high 158 yards (86 in the second half) on 32 carries (4.9 av.g). He has now rushed for 343 yards in 2 games against Pacific Lutheran.

Sophomore QB Sean Davis was 9-for-17 for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Senior FS Dominique DeGrammont led the Cougars with 9 tackles and collected his first collegiate interception in the fourth quarter.

The loss kept legendary PLU Frosty Westering from becoming only the tenth collegiate coach ever to win 300 games.

“They don’t quit,” said Shinnick. “Whether it’s Frosty’s last season or not, that’s how they play all the time. He does an amazing job. He’s a special man, but we’re thrilled he didn’t get his 300th here.”

With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 2-0 on the season while Pacific Lutheran falls to 0-1.