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SEATTLE - University of Washington placed one defensive standout and one offensive stalwart in Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Ben Ossai (of Bakersfield) on the 2006 Sporting News Pacific-10 Conference All-Freshman Team, the publication announced recently. (Click here to read entire story)

Starting from scratch

Stockdale grad Ossai is helping to rebuild Washington's football program

Photo by The University of Washington

Washington offensive lineman Ben Ossai, a Stockdale High graduate, watches from the sideline during a Huskies� game earlier this season. The redshirt freshman starts at left tackle.

For Ben Ossai, there are few things better than third downs at Husky Stadium.

With the Huskies' defense on the field, the redshirt freshman offensive tackle gets the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere.

"On third down, the defense is out and the stands just go nuts," said Ossai, who played at Stockdale. "The stands are so loud and thundering off everywhere. It's insane."

However, just because he enjoys the ambiance of Saturdays at Husky Stadium, don't think he doesn't take his job seriously.

In fact, his favorite moments this season came after springing out of a three-point stance.

Both happened to come during a 35-29 victory over San Jose State to open the season.

While walking down the tunnel -- the walls are lined with reminders of each bowl game the team has ever been to -- to the field, Ossai and the Huskies were greeted by more than 52,000 fans.

Ossai admits he was nervous, commiserating with fellow offensive lineman Juan Garcia, who was also making his first start. The first play of that game is the first moment that will always stick with Ossai. It was just a 1-yard run by Dos Palos native Kenny James and Ossai was on the backside of the play, but it was his first start. With the snap, and the subsequent crashing of shoulder pads and helmets, the nerves began to subside.

James' 17-yard run to give the Huskies their first lead of the season, also provided Ossai with a memory he'll never forget. "The first play got all the jitters and all the built-up nervousness out, and the touchdown was awesome," Ossai said.

Two years ago, Ossai made a commitment to Tyrone Willingham after Willingham made a commitment to rebuild Washington's program. "He's a great coach," Ossai said. "He expects perfection and we try to do the best we can to live up to that." The 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman decided he wanted to be a part of adding to the Huskies' storied past. "The obstacles we've been trying to overcome, we're going to overcome them," Ossai said.

Joining a team that won just one game in 2004 and then watching as the Huskies won just two games in 2005, Ossai knew it was going to take time. With Ossai in the starting lineup, the Huskies began to show signs of significant improvement early this season with 4-1 record heading into a game at USC. The Huskies stayed close, but the loss was the first of four straight, two in overtime.

"We're still going forward every week, getting better every week and doing what we have to do," Ossai said. The last two weeks, both losses came in overtime. At 4-6, Washington needs to win two of its last three games to become eligible for a bowl game, which means the Huskies' last chance to make a bowl might come down to the Apple Cup -- the yearly showdown with Washington State. "The Apple Cup's always a big game," Ossai said. "I've never played in it, but I've been on the sidelines. It's always been a big game."

This year, Ossai won't get the luxury of playing in front of the fans he's grown so fond of. Those third downs he relishes at Husky Stadium will become his opportunity to give the quarterback as much time as he needs or create a crease for a running back on the road in Pullman, Wash. It will be another chance to accomplish the goal he signed up for when he committed to Washington.

"We're doing great things," Ossai said. "We have to buy into what's being put out there for us."

Brett Shelton

With a wealth of experience on defense and at the offensive skill positions, the Sacramento State football team will look to turn the corner in 2006. The Hornets return eight players who have started games on defense, including all-West Region selection Brett Shelton at safety and preseason all-Big Sky Conference choice Tyson Butler at linebacker. The defense has also bolstered its line and will attempt to continue the progress it made in 2005.

Offensively, Sacramento State features five returning receivers and a talented backfield of running backs. The receiving corps includes senior Ryan Coogler, juniors Billy White and Phillip Perry, and sophomore Bobby Mooshagian. Senior transfers Andre Taylor and Jason Barnes are also expected to make an immediate impact in their first season with the team. Senior running back Kris Daniels will anchor a backfield which has numerous weapons. Daniels amassed 347 yards over the final four games of the season, including 132 yards at Montana State. Sophomores Torrell Baker and Gerwin Williams and freshman Dalen Mason will also see time.

Up front, the Hornets will have an entirely new look. Sophomore Tyrone Davis is the lone offensive linemen who has played a snap for Sacramento State. Other notables on the line include Matt Gaughen, a JC All-American last season at Grossmont JC, and Matt Russell, a transfer from Missouri.

The Hornets home schedule features games against Cal Poly, Weber State, Montana State and Northern Colorado. The 52nd Annual Causeway Classic will take place on Nov. 18, 2006 at UC Davis.

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AMEY, PAYNE TOP THE LIST OF 13 HORNET FOOTBALL PLAYERS NAMED ALL-BIG SKY
Release Date: 11/22/2004

Big Sky Release

OGDEN, Utah --- Seniors Fred Amey and Ramon Payne each earned first team all-Big Sky Conference honors and were two of 13 Sacramento State football players to be recognized by the league, it was announced today. Freshman running back Ryan Mole was also named tri-Newcomer of the Year.

Amey becomes just the second player (Charles Roberts) in school history to be named first team all-Big Sky three times. The Union City, Calif., native led the team with a career-high 1,186 receiving yards on 76 receptions. He closes his career with 4,049 receiving yards, 248 catches and 27 receiving touchdowns. His career yardage is the fourth-best in the history of Div. I-AA and the top career mark in the Big Sky. His reception total ranks 10th in I-AA and second in league history.

Payne emerged as one of the league�s top cornerbacks during the 2004 season. The San Jose, Calif., native tied for the league lead with five interceptions and was named national Defensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network after grabbing three interceptions against Idaho State. He ended the year with 63 tackles, including six for loss. He also added 12 pass breakups and recovered two fumbles. He was named honorable mention as a junior.

Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer was named the league�s Offensive Player of the Year. The junior leads Div. I-AA in passing efficiency with a rating of 175.5, has completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,037 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Montana State linebacker Roger Cooper and Weber State defensive end Brady Fosmark were named Co-Defensive Players of the Year. Cooper finished with 68 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and four sacks. Fosmark led the league with 18.5 tackles-for-loss and tallied 81 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Newcomer of the Year award was shared by Mole, MSU wide receiver Rick Gatewood and EWU offensive guard Rocky Hanni. Mole rushed for 858 yards in just nine games and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. He recorded four 100-yard games and had three scoring runs over 50 yards. Gatewood caught 64 catches for 995 yards with eight touchdowns while Hanni started nine games on the offensive line for a team that averaged 186.8 rushing yards per game.

Defensive end Jacob Houston, linebackers Jimmy Ellingson and Matt Logue, and safety Brett Shelton were each named to the second team. Houston led the conference and finished 10th in Div. I-AA with 10 sacks during the year. The junior�s total is tied for the sixth-best in school history. Houston also added 33 total tackles, including 14 tackles-for-loss.

Ellingson led the Big Sky and was fifth in Div. I-AA in total tackles. The Lake Elsinore, Calif., native tallied 132 total tackles (including four sacks), intercepted two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles. Ellingson�s tackle total tied for the third-best single-season mark in school history and was the most since 1999.

A three-year starter, Logue earned all-conference accolades for the first time after tallying 89 tackles, including 14 for loss. He also added five sacks, intercepted a pass for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and forced a fumble. During his three years, Logue has 32 tackles-for-loss which ranks as the third-best total in school history. He is 12 shy of the school record held by Anthony Daisly heading into the 2005 season.

Shelton was the lone freshman in the league to be named to the first or second team defense. The Stockdale, Calif., native ranked third on the team with 83 total tackles. Shelton also had three tackles-for-loss and forced a fumble.

Seven Hornets garnered honorable mention accolades. On offense, junior guard Chris Samuels, junior center Dustin Nicolodi, senior quarterback Ryan Leadingham and Mole earned the award. Defensively, sophomore cornerback Brandon Smith, freshman safety Brent Webber and sophomore punter Mitch Lively took home the honor.

September 30, 2006

Football Falls in SCIAC Opener
Scurlock '08 Rushes for 129 Yards

Josh Scurlock '08 rushed for 129 yards, including a school-record 94 yard touchdown run, but Whittier College lost 24-17 on the road to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on September 30. The Poets fall to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in SCIAC play while Pomona-Pitzer improve their record to 2-1, 1-0 SCIAC.

Josh Scurlock '08

Scurlock threw for 149 yards and a touchdown and completed 20 of 34 passes, but threw four interceptions. He accounted for all but eight yards of the Poets' total offense in the game. His favorite target was Shawn Briggs '08 who had nine receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. He leads the team with 16 catches this season. Albert Williams '08 finished with six receptions for 74 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Arlo Castelo '09 led the team with nine tackles. Chasen Eddow '08, Ruben Chavez '07, and Ian Crom '09 each recorded a sack. Chris Gartrell '08 and Steffen Santos '09 each intercepted a pass.

The Poets started the scoring with 1:46 left in the first quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Ben Walker '08. Whittier intercepted their second pass of the day in the second quarter and on the ensuing possession, Scurlock found Briggs for a three-yard touchdown pass for a 10-0 lead. Pomona answered on their next possession with a 32-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to three. They added another touchdown and extra point with just over one minute left in the half and took a 14-10 lead into halftime.

Whittier took a 17-14 lead in the third quarter after Scurlock's 94-yard touchdown run with 8:12 left in the quarter. The turning point in the game came with 2:01 left in the third. Whittier College failed to convert on fourth and one on Pomona's 37-yard line. Pomona took over on downs and went on a 12 play, 63-yard touchdown drive that gave them a lead they would not relinquish. They added a field goal with 8:33 remaining in the game to make the score 24-17.

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