Pacific's P.J. Minaya, Bryan Mills Singled Out For Weekly Honors
FOREST GROVE – Efforts by Pacific quarterback P.J. Minaya (Jr., Wahiawa, Hawaii) and safety Bryan Mills (Jr., Imbler, Ore.) in the Boxers' 44-20 victory over Lewis & Clark have earned the duo honors from the Northwest Conference and D3Football.com.
Minaya's record passing earned him the Northwest Conference's Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week award for the second time this season. Mills' two interceptions earned recognition from D3Football.com with selection to its Team of the Week.
Minaya threw for a school record 442 yards and amassed a school record 454 yards of total offense in the Boxers' victory over the Pioneers in Portland. Minaya completed 21 of 32 passes, threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth touchdown. He paced the Boxers to a school record 607 yards of total offense. The 442 passing yards also established a new team single game record.
Mills, meanwhile, finished with four tackles in the victory. More importantly, Mills had two interceptions of dynamic Pioneers' quarterback Keith Welch and also had one fumble recovery. His second quarter interception led to a Pacific touchdown and a second interception thwarted a fourth quarter Lewis & Clark drive at the goal line.
"In three seasons at Pacific, both Bryan and P.J. have continued to improve themselves as players each year and we are seeing the results of their hard work and efforts on Saturday this fall," said Pacific Head Coach Keith Buckley. "It is no coincidence that their elevated play parallels the improvement we've seen in our program this year. We look forward to more of these type of performances both individually and collectively at Pacific in the coming weeks and years."
Both players have made significant contributions to a Pacific team that enters the week with a 3-4 overall record and tied for third place in the NWC at 2-2. Minaya has started six of the Boxers' seven games, taking over the role after T.C. Campbell (Jr., Kaimuki, Hawaii) was lost for the season in the Aug. 30 opener against Simon Fraser. Minaya is ranked third in the NWC with 264 passing yards per game. He leads the league with a 67.1 completion percentage. Among NCAA Division III quarterbacks, Minaya is ranked 33rd with a pass efficiency rating of 154.18 and 43rd with his 270.5 yards per game of total offense.
Mills, a three-year starter for the Boxers at safety, enters the week leading the Boxers with two of the team's seven interceptions on the season to go along with six pass break-ups. Mills ranks third for the Boxers with 42 tackles. Mills is tied for ninth in the NWC in interceptions, is second in passes broken up and tied for third with one blocked kick.
Pacific will close out their 2012 home schedule on Saturday as they host Willamette. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Boxers will finish the 2012 season at Linfield on Sat., Nov. 10.
