ALVA, Okla.. – Give them all the accolades and No. 1 statistical ratings they request, Northwestern Oklahoma’s “Black Cloud” defense though met its match and then some in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs.

The NAIA’s No. 10-ranked Azusa Pacific, led by a powerful defense that has had to take a back seat to Northwestern’s “Black Cloud” all season, proved to be the superior unit today in leading the Cougars to a 16-0 victory over No. 4 Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Junior Mike Betancourth kicked 3 field goals and Peder Moore returned a fumble 8 yards for the game’s only touchdown to lead Azusa Pacific to its first-ever playoff victory in enemy territory.

The Rangers, who came into the game averaging 35 points and 404 yards of total offense during the regular season, were frustrated at every turn by a Cougar defense that posted the program’s first-ever shutout over a non-NCAA Division III team. Azusa Pacific held Northwestern to just 141 yards and handed the Rangers their first goose egg in 45 games.

“Our defense has carried us all season, and they were outstanding today,” said Azusa Pacific coach Peter Shinnick. “We figured we had to be physical to stop their run and there was a lot of pounding in this game.”

Playing in a steady rain and less than desirable condition, the Cougars took advantage of a slick surface and played a field position game. After pinning the Rangers deep in their own territory, the Cougars turned a short Ranger punt into an eventual Betancourth 31-yard field goal to put Azusa Pacific up 3-0 with 5 minutes left in the first half. Then with time running out in the half, Betancourth banged home a 39-yard field goal with 1 second left after Jon Miller returned another Ranger punt 20 yards to set up the trey.

“We wanted to play a field position game,” said Shinnick. “There were a couple of fourth-down occasions that we would have gone for it or kicked a field goal, but this time we punted to keep them pinned and it eventually paid off.”

Up 9-0 following a Bethancourth 22-yard field goal, the Cougars again punted to the Ranger 15-yard line where for the fifth time Northwestern began a drive inside its own 20. On the first play, Ranger QB DeMarko Jones fumbled a pitch handoff. Cougar NG Peder Moore scooped up the loose ball and trotted in 8 yards for the TD and an insurmountable 16-0 lead with 2:33 left in the third quarter.

Northwestern never had a chance to mount a comeback. Azusa Pacific surrendered just 1 first down the rest of the way to preserve the shutout.

The Cougars forced 4 turnovers in the game, including 2 in the first quarter. On the Rangers’ opening drive, they drove 48 yards to the Cougar 17-yard, along the way picking up 3 of the 8 first downs they would get for the game. Yet on the ninth play of the drive, Chourse Young fumbled the ball and Chuck Asiodu recovered for Azusa Pacific to thwart NWOSU’s only threat of the game. Jones then fumbled near midfield on the Rangers’ next possession.

Offensively, Azusa Pacific did just enough to give its defense some needed rest. The Cougars accumulated 262 yards of total offense. Senior RB Ben Buys rushed for 56 yards on 18 carries, while junior QB Sean Davis completed 10-of-22 passes for 106yards.

“We did a good job against a quality defense,” said Shinnick. “We moved the ball when we needed to and handled their pressure.”

Moore, who had 7 tackles including a sack, was named the defensive player of the game. Betancourth, whose 3 field goals give him a school-record 17 for the season (breaking Devon Jones’ 1980 single-season standard of 16), was awarded offensive player of the game honors.

With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 10-2 on the season and will learn of its quarterfinal foe and site of that game Sunday (Nov. 21). Northwestern Oklahoma, which had advanced to the NAIA championship game 3 times in the past 5 years, has its season come to an end at 9-2.