2016 Arizona Christian Firestorm football team
The 2016 Arizona Christian Firestorm football team represented Arizona Christian University in the 2016 NAIA football season. The Firestorm, led by first-year head coach Jeff Bowen, are members of the Central States Football League. Bowen took over the team in April 2016, when former head coach Donnie Yantis took a job with Arizona State. The 2015 team was coming off its first season in the conference, and repeated as champions during the 2016 campaign.
The departure of Donnie Yantis started an overhaul of the ACU coaching staff that off-season. Former NJCAA National Championship Coach Joe Kersting was hired to become the co-defensive coordinator along with Grant O'Brien, who had been on the staff as an assistant the previous season. Changes to the offensive staff included the promotion of Dan Friedman to Co-Offensive Coordinator along with Quarterbacks Coach, Steff Kruck. The team also hired Joe Parker as Run Game Coordinator/ Offensive Line Coach and Kyle Jacobo as Running Backs Coach. Also, Aaron Bentley joined the staff as Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. The team named Andrew Ludwig as Developmental Team Head Coach and Matt Silver and Farasi Norman as assistant coaches.[1]
Schedule
The 2016 schedule consisted of 5 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Firestorm hosted CSFL foes Langston Lions, Texas College, Wayland Baptist Pioneers, and Bacone College Warriors, and traveled to SAGU Lions and Lyon College Scots.
The team's four nonβconference games were against UTPB Falcons from the Lone Star Conference, Sul Ross Lobos from the American Southwest Conference, Davenport Panthers from the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and Warner Royals from the Mid-South Conference.[2]
For the first time in school history ACU was ranked in the pre-season NAIA Football Coachesβ Top 25 Poll, at no. 20. The Firestorm had bye weeks for the first two weeks of NAIA play for the 2016 season. After another slow start in non-conference play to start the season (1-2) and dropping out of the Top 25, the team won their next four CSFL games to raise their record to 5-2. The team reclaimed their pre-season position at no. 20 in the NAIA Football polls, making them eligible for the playoffs had the season ended that day. In week 10, the Warner Royals came to Phoenix to play in a non-conference game. The team lost 28-38 and dropped out of the top 25 rankings. The next week ACU hosted Wayland Baptist, who was undefeated in conference, for homecoming. The game essentially became the CSFL Conference Championship game, with the Firestorm pulling through 45-35 in their only home night game of the season. The team rounded out the year by defeating Bacone College at home. For the second straight year, and only the Firestorm's second year in the conference, the team was undefeated in CSFL play. The Firestorm ended the season at no. 22 in the NAIA polls for the second straight year, missing out on the playoffs again.
Week Three: ACU Firestorm (20) at UTPB Falcons β Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Firestorm |
6 |
6 |
15 | 7 | 34 |
Falcons |
0 |
21 |
14 | 14 | 49 |
at Ratliff Stadium, Odessa, Texas
- Date: September 10, 2016
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 9,487
- Referee: Jamie Ramirez
Game information |
First quarter
- ACU β Quinta Thomas 10-yard run (2-pt attempt failed), 3:42. Firestorm 6β0. Drive: 16 plays, 99 yards, 6:02.
Second quarter
- UTPB β C. Hoad 32-yard fumble recovery (C. Danielson kick), 3:23. Falcons 7β6.
- ACU β Quinta Thomas 40-yard run (2-pt attempt failed), 2:10. Firestorm 12β7. Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 1:04.
- UTPB β J. Anglin 2-yard pass from K. Mathis (C. Danielson kick), 0:40. Falcons 14β12. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 1:30.
- UTPB β E. Mack 40-yard fumble recovery (C. Danielson kick), 0:00. Falcons 21β12.
Third quarter
- UTPB β B. Infiesto 2-yard run (C. Danielson kick), 9:09. Falcons 28β12. Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 3:15.
- ACU β Johnathon Parks 14-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick no good), 6:30. Falcons 28β18. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 2:34.
- UTPB β K. Brown 13-yard pass from K. Mathis (C. Danielson kick), 4:52. Falcons 35-18. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:33.
- ACU β Johnathon Parks 60-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 4:19. Falcons 35-24. Drive: 2 plays, 60 yards, 0:28.
- ACU β Derek Brush 31-yard field goal, 0:18. Falcons 35-27. Drive: 8 plays, 29 yards, 2:53.
Fourth quarter
- UTPB β T. Davidson 20-yard pass from K. Mathis (C. Danielson kick), 14:52. Falcons 42-27. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 0:53.
- ACU β Justin Carroll 67-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 5:49. Falcons 42-34. Drive: 4 plays, 85 yards, 1:08.
- UTPB β J. Williams 1-yard run (C. Danielson kick), 0:41. Falcons 49-34. Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards, 5:02.
Top passers
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 26/41, 293 yards, 2TD
- UTPB β K. Mathis - 34/55, 368 yards, 3TD, INT
Top rushers
- ACU β Quinta Thomas β 8 rushes, 85 yards, 2TD
- UTPB β B. Infiesto β 21 rushes, 87 yards, TD
Top receivers
- ACU β Johnathon Parks β 5 receptions, 103 yards, 2TD
- UTPB β M. Leonard β 9 receptions, 117 yards
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Week Four: ACU Firestorm (RV) at Sul Ross Lobos β Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Firestorm |
7 |
3 |
14 | 0 | 6 | 30 |
Lobos |
7 |
10 |
7 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
at Jackson Field, Alpine, Texas
- Date: September 17, 2016
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 2,154
- Referee: Terrell Pierce
Game information |
First quarter
- SRS β James Davis 11-yard rush, 11:58 (Adam Cruz kick). Lobos 7β0. Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 4:11.
- ACU β Quinta Thomas 3-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 7:45. Tied 7-7. Drive: 7 plays, 91 yards, 4:07.
Second quarter
- ACU β Derek Brush 33-yard field goal, 12:38. Firestorm 10β7. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:04.
- SRS β Jeremy Reed 31-yard pass from James Davis (Adam Cruz kick), 10:59. Lobos 14β10. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:39.
- SRS β Adam Cruz 42-yard field goal, 0:00. Lobos 17-10. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 4:27.
Third quarter
- ACU β Damario Fair 3-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 11:27. Tied 17-17. Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 3:24.
- SRS β Jeremy Reed 9-yard pass from James Davis (Adam Cruz kick), 6:05. Lobos 24β17. Drive: 11 plays, 83 yards, 5:17.
- ACU β Justin Carroll 9-yard pass from Ryan Esslinger (Derek Brush kick), 0:31. Tied 24β24. Drive: 13 plays, 89 yards, 5:29.
Fourth quarter
Overtime
- SRS β Adam Cruz 36-yard field goal. Lobos 27-24. Drive: 4 plays, -2 yards.
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold 3-yard run. Firestorm 30-27. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.
|
Top passers
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 21/32, 255 yards, TD
- SRS β James Davis β 22/34, 241 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
- ACU β Quinta Thomas β 19 rushes, 84 yards, TD
- SRS β James Davis β 10 rushes, 49 yards, TD
Top receivers
- ACU β Donovan Smith β 5 receptions, 65 yards
- SRS β Jeremy Reed β 4 receptions, 64 yards, 2 TD
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Week Five: ACU Firestorm (RV) at Davenport Panthers β Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Firestorm |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
Panthers |
7 |
6 |
7 | 0 | 20 |
at Farmer's Athletic Complex, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Date: September 24, 2016
- Game time: 11:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 1,604
- Referee: Tony Moldovan
Game information |
First quarter
- DAV β Jacob Geter 1-yard run (Patrick Gregory kick), 9:02. Panthers 7β0. Drive: 10 plays, 44 yards, 4:45.
Second quarter
- ACU β Donovan Smith 18-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 8:37. Tied 7-7.
- DAV β Nate Couturier 38-yard pass from Hunter Krause (Patrick Gregory kick no good), 1:18. Panthers 13β7. Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 1:51.:
Third quarter
- DAV β Nate Batts 10-yard pass from Hunter Krause (Patrick Gregory kick), 1:18. Panthers 20β7. Drive: 3 plays, 10 yards, 1:26.
Fourth quarter
Top passers
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 24/38, 247 yards, TD, 3INT
- DAV β Hunter Krause - 12/21, 119 yards, 2TD, INT
Top rushers
- ACU β Marcus Horne β 6 rushes, 35 yards
- DAV β Mike Ivy β 26 rushes, 105 yards
Top receivers
- ACU β Donovan Smith β 8 receptions, 101 yards, TD
- DAV β Herman Brunis β 6 receptions, 48 yards
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Week Six: Langston Lions at ACU Firestorm β Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Lions |
0 |
3 |
7 | 0 | 10 |
Firestorm |
14 |
7 |
7 | 6 | 34 |
at Shadow Mountain High School, Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: October 1, 2016
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game attendance: 1,240
- Referee: Ty Druse
Game information |
First quarter
- ACU β Justin Carroll 71-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 8:16. Firestorm 7β0. Drive: 3 plays, 74 yards, 0:31.
- ACU β Quinta Thomas 51-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 0:06. Firestorm 14β0. Drive: 2 plays, 85 yards, 0:31.
Second quarter
- LU β Juan Carpio 31-yard field goal, 5:42. Firestorm 14-3. Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 2:45.
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold 1-yard pass from Tyler Dunken (Derek Brush kick), 0:01. Firestorm 21β3. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 2:03.
Third quarter
- ACU β Justin Carroll 3-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 9:56. Firestorm 28β3. Drive: 12 plays, 45 yards, 2:45.
- LU β Norbert Ralph 1-yard run (Juan Carpio kick), 6:53. Firestorm 28-10. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:03.
Fourth quarter
- ACU β Ryan Esslinger 1-yard run (Derek Brush kick no good), 5:07. 'Firestorm 34-10. Drive: 13 plays, 89 yards, 6:35.
Top passers
- LU β Mark Wright - 14/30, 293 yards, INT
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 19/37, 324 yards, 2TD
Top rushers
- LU β Norbert Ralph β 8 rushes, 69 yards, TD
- ACU β Justin Carroll β 16 rushes, 82 yards, TD
Top receivers
- LU β Kievon Jackson β 5 receptions, 130 yards
- ACU β Donovan Smith β 6 receptions, 83 yards
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Week Seven: ACU Firestorm at SAGU Lions β Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Firestorm |
0 |
14 |
0 | 15 | 29 |
Lions |
0 |
14 |
2 | 6 | 22 |
at Lumpkins Stadium, Waxahachie, Texas
- Date: October 8, 2016
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 1,247
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- ACU β Alias Sturges 10-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 13:27. Firestorm 7-0. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 3:52.
- SAGU β JP Lowery 1-yard run (Chadd Dearen kick), 10:47. Tied 7-7. Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:40.
- ACU β Streeter Turner 15-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 6:04. Firestorm 14-7. Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 1:43.
- SAGU - Jeremy Carr 27-yard pass from Lincoln Kenitze (Chadd Dearen kick), 1:08. Tied 14-14. Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 1:43.
Third quarter
- SAGU β Safety, 9:27. Lions 16-14.
Fourth quarter
- ACU β Justin Carroll 26-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 11:57. Firestorm 21β16. Drive: 3 plays, 47 yards, 0:04.
- SAGU β Toras Hill 21-yard pass from Lincoln Kenitze (Marco Matthews kick no good), 9:26. Lions 22-21. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:31.
- ACU β Donovan Smith 27-yard pass from Tyler Dunken (Gerrit Groenewold to Tyler Dunken pass), 6:09. Firestorm 29β22. Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 1:09.
|
Top passers
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 21/31, 208 yards, 2TD, 2INT
- SAGU β Lincoln Kenitzer β 22/37, 269 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
- ACU β Quinta Thomas β 20 rushes, 145 yards, TD
- SAGU β Marco Matthews β 9 rushes, 33 yards
Top receivers
- ACU β Tyler Dunken β 3 receptions, 42 yards
- SAGU β Toras Hill β 6 receptions, 167 yards, TD
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Week Eight: Texas College Steers at ACU Firestorm (RV) β Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Steers |
0 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
Firestorm |
7 |
29 |
7 | 14 | 57 |
at Shadow Mountain High School, Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: October 15, 2016
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game attendance: 848
- Referee: Gary Reed
Game information |
First quarter
- ACU β Johnathon Parks 19-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 10:47. Firestorm 7β0. Drive: 1 plays, 19 yards, 0:07.
Second quarter
- ACU β Quinta Thomas 17-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 13:09. Firestorm 14β0. Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 3:01.
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold 10-yard run (Tyler Hunt Run), 10:16. Firestorm 22-0. Drive: 6 plays, 39 yards, 1:43.
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold 1-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 7:15. Firestorm 29-0. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 1:16.
- ACU β Streeter Turner 19-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 1:10. Firestorm 36β0. Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 0:41.
Third quarter
- ACU β Johnathon Parks 4-yard pass (Derek Brush kick), 11:09. Firestorm 43β0. Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 3:40.
- TC β Carlos Mosby 1-yard run (Markese Denmon kick), 0:01. Firestorm 43-7. Drive: 22 plays, 84 yards, 11:00.
Fourth quarter
- ACU β Mark Wood 14-yard pass from Ryan Esslinger (Derek Brush kick), 8:28. 'Firestorm 50-7. Drive: 2 plays, 15 yards, 0:37.
- ACU β Ricky Bradley 25-yard fumble recovery (Derek Brush kick), 8:16. Firestorm 57-7.
Top passers
- TC β Sean Stell - 12/21, 122 yards, INT
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 13/17, 183 yards, 3TD, 1INT
Top rushers
- TC β Jude St. Julien β 5 rushes, 27 yards
- ACU β Damario Fair β 9 rushes, 58 yards
Top receivers
- TC β Phillip Callier β 5 receptions, 60 yards
- ACU β Johnathon Parks β 5 receptions, 71 yards, 2TD
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Game information |
First quarter
- ACU β Justin Carroll 95-yard run (2-pt attempt failed), 8:35. Firestorm 6-0. Drive: 1 play, 95 yards, 0:18.
Second quarter
- LC β Osvaldo Esperic 28-yard field goal, 4:16. Firestorm 6-3. Drive: 9 plays, 85 yards, 3:56.
Third quarter
- LC β Jonathan Hendri 14-yard pass from Dwane Robinson (Osvaldo Esperic kick), 12:57. Scots 10-6. Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 1:59.
- ACU β Johnathon Parks 64-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 10:28. Firestorm 13-10. Drive: 4 plays, 53 yards, 2:04.
- ACU - Damario Fair 85-yard run (Derek Brush kick), 8:00. Firestorm 20-10. Drive: 1 play, 85 yards, 0:06.
- ACU - Derick Hughes 18-yard pass from Gerrit Groenewold (Derek Brush kick), 3:51. Firestorm 27-10. Drive: 2 plays, 47 yards, 0:08.
Fourth quarter
- LC β Dwane Robinson 5-yard rush (Osvaldo Esperic kick), 13:04. Firestorm 27-17. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:45.
- ACU β Quinta Thomas 2-yard rush (Derek Brush kick), 8:03. Firestorm 34β17. Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:20.
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Top passers
- ACU β Gerrit Groenewold β 20/30, 283 yards, 2TD, INT
- LC β Dwane Robinson β 10/21, 122 yards, TD
Top rushers
- ACU β Damario Fair β 6 rushes, 139 yards, TD
- LC β Marco Matthews β 9 rushes, 33 yards
Top receivers
- ACU β Johnathon Parks β 4 receptions, 71 yards, TD
- LC β Riley Caraway β 4 receptions, 81 yards
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References