ST. PETER, Minn. -- Playing without its biggest offensive gun while trying to ignore the coldest temperatures its ever played in, the NAIA's No. 9-ranked Azusa Pacific generated its own heat with 2 quick scores en route to 23-10 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College at Hollingsworth Field, this afternoon.

The Cougars needed just 4 plays to jet out to a 14-0 lead less than 5 minutes into the game. On their first play from scrimmage, sophomore QB Sean Davis hit a streaking Nate Farris for a 58-yard touchdown strike (Farris' ninth TD catch of his career over 40 yards in length).

On their next possession, the Cougars took advantage of a short 25-yard Gustavus punt and drove 54 yards on just 3 plays, capped by freshman James Keeler's 33-yard TD sprint.

The rest of the game wasn't as easy for the Cougars, who needed the 2-touchdown padding to keep the Golden Gusties at bay. As temperatures steadily dropped from the opening-kickoff 35 degrees, so too did Azusa Pacific drop the ball, fumbling it 3 times, all with less than desirable timing.

Freshman Patrick Carroll's second-quarter fumble gave Gustavus the ball at the Azusa Pacific 25-yard line. Despite a gallant effort by the Cougar defense, Gustavus finally the punched the ball into the end zone 6 plays later on a fourth-down sneak by QB Sean Smith, pulling the Gusties to within 4 at 14-10 by halftime.

The Cougars then took the second-half opening kickoff and drove the ball 57 yards to the Gustie 8-yard line before Keeler coughed up the ball on a first-and-goal play. The Cougar defense made the best of the situation though when on the next play senior DE Anthony Diggs forced Smith to intentionally ground the ball from end zone, resulting in a safety and a Cougar 16-10 lead.

The final Cougar fumble came again well into Gustavus territory when freshman RB Grady Thomas put the ball on the turf at the Gustie 29-yard line with less than 2 minutes left in the game. However, the Cougars had already put the game out of reach when on its previous possession, they drove 33 yards, all accounted for on 8 Keeler rushes, to tally another TD on a Keeler 1-yard dive, pushing the lead 23-10 with 5:21 left in the game.

Keeler, who was making his first-ever collegiate start in place of the injured Ben Buys, hardly acted like a rookie, rushing for the most yards ever by a Cougar freshman making his first start. Keeler tallied 166 yards on 27 carries (6.1 avg.) to become the 22nd Cougar to record a 100-yard game. He registered 107 of those yards on 12 first-half carries, thanks mostly to his 33-yard TD run and a 44-yard dash to end the half.

Meanwhile, Davis, who was under constant pressure from the Gustie defense, nonetheless played his finest game yet as a Cougar, completing 13-of-22 passes for 147 yards and a TD. He engineered a Cougar offense that tallied 345 yards.

For the third straight game, the Cougar defense was outstanding in its play, limiting the Golden Gusties to just 143 yards in total offense, including a mere 54 yards in the second half. (The Cougars are allowing the opponent just 163 yards a game over the past 3 contests).

Azusa Pacific, which is second in the nation in rush defense (73.9 avg.), held Gustavus to just 17 rushing yards on 33 carries, thanks in part to a season-high 7 quarterback sacks. Diggs tallied a career-best 2.5 sacks, including the one that went for a safety, while junior DT Peder Moore had a hand in 2 sacks. Diggs led the Cougars with 7 tackles while Nick Tavaglione recorded 6 tackles, including his team-leading eighth sack of the season.

Additionally, the Cougar defense shut out Gustavus in the second half and has now gone 5 straight games without allowing a point in the second-half.

Azusa Pacific, which has won 16 of its past 18 games, improves to 7-1 on the season and strengthens it position for an NAIA playoff berth. The Cougars take next week off before closing out the regular season on Nov. 15 at home against Chapman at 6 p.m.