Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Putting up big numbers offensively while keeping their opponent's totals to a minimum produced the desired result for the Humboldt State Lumberjacks on Thursday – a 29-3 victory over Colorado Mesa University in the 2011 football season-opener.

Senior quarterback Mike Proulx threw for 366 yards, completing 21 of 35 passes and throwing for two touchdowns to pace the HSU offense. Brian Blumberg connected on all three of his field goal attempts, and Sean McDonald led the Jacks' defensive unit with 11 tackles, including three for a loss.

Proulx's effort was his second-highest single game total yardage of a stellar collegiate career, surpassing the 359 he threw for against Western Oregon in 2009. Contributing significantly to his Thursday totals was wide receiver Pat Gondkoff, who made five catches for 158 yards.

"Mike got the ball deep early, and really showed his leadership again," HSU head coach Rob Smith said. "And I think you can see that Pat Gondkoff is a player who is ready to make a name for himself."

After surrendering a 11-play, 53-yard scoring drive in the first quarter that concluded with Caleb Pavy's 36-yard field goal, the Jacks' defense clamped down to keep the Mavericks stuck on three points the rest of the way. Colorado Mesa only made it into the redzone one more time, but Pavy missed a 34-yarder late in the fourth quarter.

Supplementing McDonald's efforts was the entire Jacks' unit, including a secondary that helped contain two CMU quarterbacks while also limiting the run. Strong safety Jerry Maluia had 10 tackles and linebacker Casey Sarvinski added eight.

"The defense did a great job of recognizing what they were doing with their new offense and settling down," Smith said.

Humboldt State opened the game with an 8-play, 99-yard drive that ended when Lyndon Rowells ran the ball into the endzone from three yards out. The kick failed, and CSU Mesa answered with its own march, cutting the lead to 6-3 with just under four minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter Tommy Darcey caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Proulx and Blumberg booted home a 28-yard field goal to give HSU a 16-3 halftime lead.

Humboldt State's final three scoring drives came in the third quarter, the first one ending with a 24-yard touchdown catch by Dirk Dallas. Blumberg added 24- and 23-yard field goals for the final margin of victory.

Rowells finished the game with 92 yards rushing on 22 carries, including a long scamper of 22 yards. Tight end Chris Bolt had three catches for 76 yards, and Dallas, Darcey and Kevin Miles also made three grabs in a diversified passing attack.

Humboldt State makes its home debut Thursday, opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play against defending champion Central Washington University. The game, which will be televised nationwide on CBS Sports Network, kicks off at 5 p.m. in Redwood Bowl.