Clan Suffers Heartbreaking Loss on Seniors’ Night

BURNABY, BC. – Simon Fraser University was outscored 14-3 in the fourth quarter and lost 30-24 to Central Washington University on Seniors’ Night Friday at Swangard Stadium.

Simon Fraser had an opportunity to win the game in the final two minutes, driving to the Central Washington 30 yard-line with 38 seconds to play but Clan quarterback Ryan Stanford was intercepted at the three yard line ending any chance of a Clan victory.

The win snapped a three game losing streak for the visitors. The Wildcats improved to 4-5 on the season and 2-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.  Simon Fraser remains winless on the season at 0-8, 0-5 in the GNAC.

“What makes this loss tough is that we have a great group of seniors and that core group has held this team together and you want more for them,” said Clan head coach Kelly Bates. “I told them afterwards what they have done will not be wasted. This is the foundation, they have laid it, and I am proud of them all.”

Simon Fraser led 21-16 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats used a combination of big plays and solid defense to pull out the come-from-behind victory. Simon Fraser outgained the Wildcats 381 to 342, with the big difference in the game coming on a CWU 95-yard kickoff return by Jesse Zalk in the third quarter.

CWU running back Quincy Carter opened the fourth quarter with a three-yard touchdown run, and after a failed two-point conversion, the Wildcats led 22-21 with 14:54 left in the contest.

Simon Fraser took a long drive down the field, consisting of 10 plays ending in a 43-yard field goal to give the Clan a 24-21 lead with 11:23 remaining.

But Central Washington answered back. QB Justin Lane found WR Justin Peterson for a 32 yard touchdown, and the pair connected again on the two-point conversion, to give CWU a 30-24 lead with 9:53 left.

The Central Washington forced a pair of punts on SFU’s next two possessions and CWU had the ball on its own five-yard line with 4:35 to go in regulation. The Clan defence stopped the Wildcats again, and SFU regained possession with 2:04 left in the game.

Stanford and the Clan started at their 39, and aided by a pass interference call, marched to the CWU 30. Defensive back Myles Carelock ended the Clan’s attempt to take the lead with an interception near the end zone with 31 seconds left.  The Wildcats lined up in victory formation and ended the contest with the 30-24 victory.

SFU quarterback Ryan Stanford finished the game 16-of-39 for 235-yards and a 75-yard touchdown pass to Justin Buren. Stanford and Justin Buren connected on the 75-yard touchdown pass and run play on third and long to take a 14-9 lead in the third quarter. Running back Ante Milanovic-Litre pushed the margin to 21-9 after a 12-yard TD run.

But CWU answered back with the 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“There were so many momentum swings in the game but that kick return for a TD really hurt us,” said Bates. “Our defence had two big stops at the end to give a chance but we couldn’t finish. There is just no quit in these guys and that comes back to the seniors and the foundation they have laid.”

Stanford’s biggest target was Buren who had 114 yards receiving on four catches while Litre had four catches for 44 yards

Litre ran for a career-high 142 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns.

“Ante was never going to be a tailback for us but we had some injury issues and I put him in at tailback and we found out that we have a pretty good running back,” said Bates. “With everything that he can do we are going to have a lot of options with him back there in the future.”

Defensively Jordan Herdman led the Clan with 14 tackles, seven solo, followed by Justin Herdman with 10.

The Clan gained its first lead of the game on the first play of the second quarter, with Litre rushing four yards to the end zone to take a 7-0 lead.

The Clan led 7-3 at the half and 21-16 after three quarters.

Simon Fraser blocked two field goal attempts in the game.

The Clan will conclude its 2015 season on the road next week (Nov. 14) as they take on Azusa Pacific.