Box Score
ST. GEORGE, Utah – People may have been looking past the Dixie State game, thinking the No. 19-ranked Humboldt State already had it in the bag, but head coach
Rob Smith and his team knew they had to get down to business on their last regular season road game before they could even think about Western Oregon. The Jacks took control of the game against the Red Storm early and never let go, winning 45-30.
With the win, Humboldt State now stands at an overall record of 8-1, 6-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, as the Jacks head into the final home game against Western Oregon. The game will decide which team will be the new GNAC conference champions. Dixie State drops to 1-9 on the season with the loss, 1-6 in conference action.
"Even though the next game against Western Oregon is a championship game, it doesn't become that if we don't take care of business today," said Smith. "We were focused on this game. We came out and made some big plays and did what we needed to do."
Brian Blumberg put the Jacks up on the scoreboard first with a 30-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Mike Proulx connected with
Dirk Dallas for two consecutive touchdown passes to put the score at 17-0 with 10 minutes left before the half.
Lyndon Rowells tacked on another touchdown to put the score at 24-0, collecting a pass from Proulx for a 28-yard touchdown.
Humboldt State's defense came up big for the Jacks by not allowing Dixie State to get a first down until late in the second quarter, also sacking the Red Storm's quarterback twice and picking of one of Stefan Cantwell's passes.
Jordan McGowan led the defense for the Jacks, posting eight tackles and two break ups.
Cantwell threw another pick right before the time ran out in the second quarter, which the Jacks returned for a touchdown, but it was called back due to unsportsmanlike conduct, leaving HSU with the 24-0 cushion at the half.
"In the first half, we played about as well as we could," said Smith.
The offense accumulated 535 total yards, including 207 from the running game. Proulx led the offense for the Jacks, going 26-for-42 on the night with no interceptions, no sacks and five touchdown passes.
"He's the thing that keeps this engine going back there at quarterback," said Smith. "He's so confident and he's chomping at the bit to get another shot at Western Oregon."
Proulx wasn't his normal self against the Wolves the first time around, throwing three interceptions and picking up five sacks, in the Jacks' first and only loss of the season. Against the Red Storm, however, Proulx had no trouble finding his receivers to come up with big plays for Humboldt State. Proulx connected with
Tommy Darcey in the third and David Munoz in the fourth with touchdown passes to keep the Jacks in the lead, even though Dixie State had started to gain momentum with a comeback attempt.
Cantwell and his offense scored three touchdowns in the second half to put the score at 38-22. Rowells ran 65 yards for HSU's last touchdown of the night to give the Jacks a decent cushion, but the Red Storm dropped the lead to just 15 when Cantwell found Joe Duncan for the last touchdown of the night to leave the score at 45-30.
"Our number ones on both sides really performed well," said Smith. "We're not going to let the fact that Dixie got back in the game take that away from us. It was a great win for us."
It's quite a turnaround from when Proulx,
Drew Shaw,
Kevin Miles,
Corey Green and
Kevin Duley were freshmen back in 2007, when the Jacks went 2-7 on the season. Smith is glad Senior Day will be the chance for those five fifth-year seniors to play for an out-right championship.
Humboldt State will have a week to recover and get ready for the big game next Saturday, but Smith and his coaching staff may have a few concerns to deal with.
Victor Spencer and
David Kulp were taken out of the game with minor injuries, but Smith believes they both should be back for the GNAC showdown with the Wolves on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. in the Redwood Bowl.
"Bottom line is we're going to put all of this behind us and get ready for Western Oregon," said Smith. "It's championship week at the Redwood Bowl."
