ARCATA— (Aug. 31) Senior wide receiver Joey Stein came up with three key catches, including two for touchdowns, to help Humboldt State claim a 28-23 win over Western Washington in the football season-opener for both teams in Redwood Bowl on Thursday.

Stein hauled in a one-handed 28-yard scoring pass from quarterback Blake Moorman with five minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the game to move the Jacks ahead, 28-17. Western Washington countered with a touchdown on Calvin McCarty's three-yard run, but Stein came up with a sliding catch that allowed the Jacks to convert a third down and 11 and eventually run out the clock.

Humboldt State drove 98 yards on its first possession, mixing runs by Dan Suban and Moorman's short passes for 15 plays over the span of 5:38. Moorman found Stein in the endzone from 19 yards out to finish out the drive.

"It was a super way to start the season," Humboldt State head coach Doug Adkins said. "Other than the penalties, we had a lot to be pleased with."

Penalties were definitely an issue for the Lumberjacks, who were flagged 16 times for 155 yards. Included in the total were six personal fouls and one unsportsmanlike conduct.

"(The penalties) were mostly the result of poor choices," Adkins said. "We weren't very intelligent in those situations, and it is definitely something we'll be working on."

After claiming the early lead, the Lumberjacks never trailed. Western Washington remained in the hunt mostly due to the efforts of running back Calvin McCarty, who carried the ball 30 times for 139 yards, scoring all three of his team's touchdowns.

Western had a chance to tie the game early in the second quarter, driving to the Lumberjack 8-yard-line before HSU's Junior Tuitele forced a McCarty fumble that the Jacks' Sean Sherbert recovered. On the Vikings' next possession, Humboldt State cornerback Tyson Hampton intercepted James Monrean's pass, returning the pick 19 yards for a touchdown that put HSU up, 14-0.

After an HSU personal foul provided WWU with good field position, McCarty finished a 7-play, 55-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run that cut the Jacks' lead to 14-7 at halftime.

Late in the third quarter, HSU appeared to score again when Moorman connected with Suban on a 39-yard touchdown pass, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty. Moorman followed the miscue with a 44-yard touchdown strike to Richard Perkins on the next play, giving the Jacks a 21-7 lead.

"I was pleased with Blake (Moorman's) decisions," Adkins said. "He really came through and made some good plays when we needed them most."

Moorman finished the game 15-of-25 passing for 223 yards, suffering one interception to go along with his three touchdown passes. Darren Ross had five catches for 58 yards, leading a list of six receivers utilized by the senior quarterback.

McCarty again put WWU in contention, ending a 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 8-yard scoring run with 2:05 left in the third quarter. Robby Smith's 33-yard field goal pulled the Vikings within four at 21-17 midway through the third quarter, but Stein's touchdown catch two minutes later gave the Jacks enough cushion for the win.

Humboldt State plays its second home game on Saturday, Sept. 8, facing off against Central Washington University. Game time in Redwood Bowl is set for 6 p.m.

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