ST. GEORGE, Utah — (Sept. 23) Humboldt State spoiled Dixie State College's home debut as an NCAA Division II team Saturday, earning a 48-28 win over the Rebels in the first meeting between the two independent programs.

With the temperature in the Southern Utah desert holding at 70 — about 10 degrees less than the day's high on the North Coast — the Lumberjacks heated up the field with 459 yards of total offense to improve their record to 2-1 overall. Dixie State dropped to 0-5 on the season.

It took only one play for the Lumberjacks to get on the scoreboard — a 74-yard touchdown pass and run from quarterback Blake Moorman to tight end Travis Gibb that followed the opening kickoff. They stretched the lead throughout the first half with crisp offense and swarming defense, the only flaw being penalties that greatly enhanced Dixie's efforts.

Moorman effectively directed the Lumberjacks, completing 10-of-20 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Even more pleasing to Lumberjack head coach Doug Adkins, however, was the emergence of Humboldt State's running game, which amassed 199 yards spread among three strong running backs.

"Our running game was really solid in the second half," Adkins said. "That's an important element that we've been counting on. It makes us a much better football team."

Midway through the first quarter, the Lumberjacks put together a 8-play, 73-yard drive that featured three third down and long conversions. The final one came when Moorman tossed a wide receiver screen to Richard Perkins, who cut the ball back across the field, losing defenders on his way to a touchdown that covered 30 yards.

After several three-down-and-out drives, Dixie managed to move the ball into the red zone for the first time when Amos Allen rushed for 25 yards, breaking tackles on his way to the HSU 19. Humboldt's defense tightened again, forcing the Rebels into a fourth down situation, and Lumberjack cornerback Diamond Francies intercepted Lance Pontonai's pass in the endzone to end the threat.

Humboldt State's next score was set up by another big conversion, this time coming on fourth down and 11. Joey Stein snagged a Moorman pass, racing all the way to the 1-yard-line, and Joey Cueva completed the 75-yard drive by bursting across for the touchdown on the next play to give the Jacks a 21-0 lead with four minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the first half.

Dixie fumbled the ball back to the Lumberjacks on the ensuing kickoff, and three plays later the Lumberjacks settled for a 40-yard field goal by Ben Peterson that made the score 24-0 in favor of HSU.

On its next possession, Dixie found its best offensive weapon to be HSU penalties. Personal fouls and a pass interference call on Humboldt State contributed 45 yards to a 73-yard drive that concluded when Patonai found wide receiver Scott Stevenson for a 12-yard scoring pass with 25 seconds remaining in the half that made the score HSU 24, Dixie 7 at the break.

On their first possession of the second half, the Lumberjacks made good on another third-and-nine, Moorman going to Neuvert over the middle for 21 yards. Moorman picked up 20 yards rushing, calling his own number on the next play to move the ball all the way to the Rebel 28-yard line. A screen pass to Craig Neuvert, who followed Stein's blocking to the 13-yard line, kept the drive going. 

Cueva rushed for five yards, but the drive stalled at the Dixie 5-yard line. Peterson's field goal attempt from 23 yards was good with just over nine minutes remaining in the third quarter to give Humboldt State a 27-7 lead.

On its next possession, Dixie benefited from a HSU turnover this time, covering a fumble by Cueva on the Jacks' 25-yard-line. After holding the Rebels without a gain for three downs, a defensive holding penalty moved the ball to the HSU 15 and gave Dixie an automatic first down. Allen ran the ball to the 10 as the third quarter expired, and Patonai opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass to Stevenson that cut Humboldt State's lead to 27-14.

Making his Lumberjack debut, running back Bobby Thomas had two strong carries up the middle to begin the Jacks' next drive, then kept it going with a 20-yard run to the Dixie 35 that coverted yet another third down. Cueva came back into the game to rush the ball down to the 20-yard line before Moorman finished it off with a long run of his own on the next play to put the Jacks up, 33-14.

After another Dixie turnover on the ensuing kickoff, the Lumberjacks quickly moved the ball into the endzone again, finishing off a 3-play drive with Cueva's second touchdown, this time on a 8-yard run. Dixie responded with a 55-yard drive, Pantonai completing a 2-yard pass to Norton for the Rebels' next touchdown.

Another rewarding moment came on the Jacks' final possession. Backup quarterback J.D. Hellinger led the march 69 yards, finishing it off with the first touchdown pass of his career when he hit Milton White from five yards out.

Humboldt State is back home in Redwood Bowl on Saturday, hosting Southern Oregon University  in the Lumberjacks' homecoming game at 6 p.m.

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