Box Score BURNABY, B.C. – Long kickoff returns, blocked punts, interceptions – this one had it all. And that was in the first five minutes.

After that, the Humboldt State Lumberjacks settled down to fight off Simon Fraser Clan, 35-7 in front of 350 fans at Terry Fox Field in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game played Saturday. Sixteen days ago, in the Jacks' last contest, HSU appeared before a sellout crowd of 7,100 in it's own Redwood Bowl.

"This was just a strange game, with the small crowd and the long trip," HSU head coach Rob Smith said. "But you can't let that impact how you perform, and I can't complain about leaving here with a 35-7 win."

Humbldt State stretched its record to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the GNAC. Simon Fraser fell to 1-3 and 0-3 in league.

Lack of rhythm may have resulted from the "strangeness" of Saturday's game, which saw all but 14 points scored in the second quarter. Humboldt State's defense didn't show any adverse effects, however, holding Simon Fraser to eight first downs and 248 yards of total offense, 68 of which came on a single play.

Linebacker Jona Faraimo led the stingy defense, making 11 tackles, including two for lost yards. Jerry Maluia added nine for the ball-swarming Lumberjacks.

HSU put up 474 yards of its own, offensively, running 93 plays to only 59 by the hosts. Quarterback Mike Proulx benefited again by a tight offensive line that has yet to give up a sack this season, shutting down SImon Fraser, which had come into the game with a GNAC-high 11.

"Holding opponents without a sack starts with our offensive line," Smith said. "It also has a lot to do with Mike Proulx as a quarterback. He doesn't panic. He's making good decisions back there."

JJ Latu, seeing his first action of the season, started the Jacks off by returning the opening kickoff 78 yards, all the way to the Clan 5-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Lyndon Rowells took the hand-off and ran the ball into the endzone for a 7-0 HSU lead.

Simon Fraser's first play from scrimmage was less successful, quarterback Trey Wheeler throwing the first of two interceptions he surrendered. The Jacks gave the ball back on downs, but then forced the Clan to punt, and Latu made his second big play when he blocked the boot.

That's all the teams would muster in the first quarter, but the offense directed by Mike Proulx began to find its pace in the second. Proulx connected with Chris Bolt for a 3-yard scoring pass, Rowells added a 16-yard TD run, and Victor Spencer hauled in a 14-yard pass for a touchdown.

Rowells finished with his third straight 100-plus rushing game, carrying the ball 26 times for 136 net yards. Proulx was 25 of 44 passing for 262 yards, giving away two interceptions, He spread his completions among seven receivers, including Bolt, Dirk Dallas and Rowells, all of whom caught five passes.

In between the Jacks' first-half touchdowns, GNAC rushing leader Bo Palmer lived up to his reputation, scampering 68 yards for a Clan touchdown. The teams went into halftime with HSU leading, 28-7.

Humboldt State's defense dominated the second half, holding SFU to only 84 yards of offense. The Jacks also added another score, moving the ball 45 yards in six plays and ending the drive when Proulx raced in from seven yards out near the end of the third quarter.

The Lumberjacks are home next week, celebrating Homecoming on Saturday when they host Dixie State University at 6 p.m. in Redwood Bowl.