Azusa Pacific University’s spot in the NCAA Division II football playoffs is there for the taking.

The Cougars just have to grab it.

APU will play for a chance at its first trip to the Division II tournament when it faces Colorado Mesa on Saturday in a nonconference game in Grand Junction. The Cougars are considered to be in with a win over Mavericks, while they could be on the outside looking in with a loss.

APU (9-1), which went 8-0 in winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, is ranked No. 13 in this week’s Division II coaches’ poll and No. 6 in Super Region Three. Colorado Mesa (8-2), which won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, is No. 7 in Super Region 4 and ranked just outside the top 25 nationally. The top seven in each region qualifying for the playoffs.

“This is the moment,” APU coach Victor Santa Cruz said. “This is the reality we’re in. It’s playoff football, still. Colorado Mesa is a league champion.

“Two league champions going head-to-head, I don’t think you brush it aside. We’re excited for it.”

The Cougars bring one of the more balanced teams in the country to Colorado. Quarterback Andrew Elffers, who has accounted for 2,148 yards and 23 touchdowns, leads an offense that tops the GNAC in scoring offense (39.0 points per game, The Cougars, keyed by defensive backs C.J. Broussard and Aaron Berry, are also dominating on defense. They rank third nationally in scoring defense (12.5 ppg) and have 22 interceptions, which ranks No. 2 nationally.

Mesa counters with quarterback Sean Rubalcaba, who has thrown for 1,759 yards and nine touchdowns, and running back David Tann, who has rushed for 908 yards and 19 scores.

SCFA

MT. SAC (7-2, 4-0) AT RIVERSIDE CITY (8-1, 3-), 6 P.M. >> The Mounties face the Tigers for the National Central League title and a spot in the CCCAA playoffs. Mt. SAC is led by Anfernee Bruton, who has thrown for 1,276 yards and 14 TDs, and running back Sateki Finau, who has rushed for 473 and eight scores.

Riverside lost to Long Beach City, 38-31, last week.

ALLEN HANCOCK (4-5, 2-2) AT CITRUS (4-5, 1-3), 4 P.M. >> The Owls are led by Brian Meyette, who has thrown for 2,004 yards and 17 TDs.

SANTA ANA (4-5, 4-1) AT PASADENA CITY (4-5, 2-3), 7 P.M. >> The host Lancers are led by Jesse Hanckel, who has thrown for 1,502 yards and seven TDs.

GLENDALE (3-6, 3-2) AT EAST L.A. (7-2, 5-0), 6 P.M. >> The host Huskies are led by quarterback Jonathan Santos, who has thrown for 1,958 yards and 26 TDs.

SCIAC

LA VERNE (1-7, 1-5) AT WHITTIER (0-8, 0-6), 1 P.M. >> The Leopards are led by Dallas Parent, who has rushed for 1,064 yards and 11 TDs. Whittier is led by Miguel Redmond, who has rushed for 520 yards and three TDs.

OCCIDENTAL (1-7, 1-5) AT CHAPMAN (4-4, 3-3), 1 P.M. >> The Tigers are led by quarterback Bryan Scott, who has thrown for 2,629 yards and 22 TDs.