Box Score BOTHELL, Wash. — Central Washington made a strong statement Saturday that it is not yet prepared to hand over its long-time standing as the top football team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wildcats' 31-3 win over Humboldt State, the team that ended CWU's five-year reign as GNAC champions a year ago, took over the top spot in the standings that the teams shared entering the match-up.
Humboldt State, ranked No. 9 in last week's national poll, fell to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the GNAC. Central Washington improved its record to 4-1 and is now 4-0 in league. Six GNAC games remain to be played before the 2012 title is decided, however, and the Jacks will keep that fact in focus heading into next Saturday's home game against Western Oregon.
In a contest moved to Bothell from CWU's Ellensburg home field because of wildfire-caused poor air quality, Central Washington's defense kept the Jacks in check during a tight first half before the Wildcats pulled away in the second half. Quarterback Ryan Robertson, whose 2011 season was ended by an injury sustained the last time the teams met, completed 21-31 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Demetrius Sumler added the ground attack, rushing for 152 yards on 27 carries.
One Lumberjack streak the Wildcats were unable to end was running back
Nick Ricciardulli's string of consecutive games rushing over the 100-yard barrier. Ricciardulli continued his impressive fall, compiling 106 yards on 27 carries to surpass the century mark for the fifth time in five games.
Humboldt State quarterback
Alex Rump continued his consistent season, completing 23 of 39 passes for 217 yards. It was Rump's first game as starting signal-caller in which he didn't complete a touchdown pass, however, and the first time in Coach
Rob Smith's five years as HSU coach that the Lumberjacks didn't score a touchdown.
The Wildcats scored on the first drive of the game, moving the ball 56 yards in 11 plays and finishing off with a 10-yard TD pass from Robertson to Ridge Nielsen. Sean Davis's 32-yard field goal accounted for the only points put up by either team in the second quarter, giving Central Washington a 10-0 lead at the half.
Still, the Lumberjacks actually held a slight edge in total yards at halftime (166-161), and both teams managed 10 first downs in the first half. The Jacks' only impressive drive, however, ended at the CWU 2-yard line when
Matt Bruder's 25-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Humboldt State cut into the deficit in the early minutes of the second half, moving the ball 57 yards in 11 plays to put up points on a successful 43-yard Bruder's field goal. Momentum quickly returned to the Wildcats' side of the ball, however, first with a 75-yard drive that consumed nearly six minutes before Robertson connected with Greg Logan for a 7-yard scoring reception.
Holding a 17-3 lead, the CWU defense took control, forcing the Lumberjacks to punt on three straight possessions, and in between, Sumler added another score on a 58-yard romp to the endzone. Humboldt State then turned the ball over on downs, and the Wildcats capitalized by scoring the final touchdown of the game when Sumler scooted across the goal-line from nine yards out.
