For the second consecutive season, the Azusa Pacific University football team opened the season with an emotional victory.

The Cougars are hoping to follow it up with a difference outcome than in 2014 when they lost to rival Humboldt State.

The Lumberjacks face APU at Citrus College on Saturday.

•APU PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO

The Cougars are well aware of what happened in a 30-10 loss to Humboldt State last season, which came a week after an emotional win over traditional NCAA Division II power Grand Valley State (Michigan) in the opener.

“Last year, coming off the Grand Valley win — it was obviously a great win — but you have to know that you have to be ready the next week,” APU coach Victor Santa Cruz said on Monday during his weekly press conference. “That’s where I think the experience of last year, the maturity comes (into play). They are doing the work; they are getting ready.

“We have an opponent coming into town that is a great football team. We have our hands full.”

Humboldt State, which finished second to the Cougars in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference last season, opened the season with a 27-20 win over Western Oregon.

APU, which moved up to No. 17 in this week’s Division II rankings, was led last week by former area standouts Chad Jeffries (Glendora High School) and Kurt Scoby (Charter Oak, St. Paul and Monrovia). Jeffries threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns and Scoby rushed for 80 yards in the 27-24 win at West Texas A&M.

“There is a lot of area’s we still need to improve in,” Santa Cruz said. “I thought our effort was great, but there are some execution things we have to clean up. Week one to week two is always the biggest jump for any team, and we have our hands full. There is an urgency to get this done.”

Terrell Watson makes NFL practice squad

Former APU football star Terrell Watson has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, it was announced this week.

Watson, who is the Cougars, all-time leading rusher with 5,756 yards , ran for 130 yards in three exhibition games for the Bengals.

Mt. SAC drops in rankings

<URL destination="http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/20150905/defending-state-champs-mt-sac-starts-season-with-30-6-loss">The Mt. San Antonio College football team, which was ranked No. 2 nationally by JCGridIron to begin the season, fell to No. 24 after a 30-6 loss to College of the Canyons in the season opener last Saturday.

</URL>The Mounties also dropped from No. 1 to No. 14 in the California Community College Athletic Association state rankings.

Mt. SAC faces Fullerton at Yorba Linda High School on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.