Box Score
ARCATA — In the very least, Humboldt State broke several self-destructive trends in Saturday's 21-13 loss to Azusa Pacific. But the end result was the same, dropping the Lumberjacks to 0-7 overall and 0-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.
The Lumberjacks avoided the frequent turnovers that have cut short many drives and presented opponents with opportunities. HSU also added big plays to its evening's achievements when quarterback
Kyle Morris hooked up with
Kelechi Nwadibia for a 49-yard gainer and with
Chase Krivashei for a 41-yard connection.
But even with those previously missing components in place, it wasn't enough to keep the visiting Cougars from improving to 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the GNAC, maintaining their tie at the top of the standings.
"I'm so proud of the fight the players showed tonight," HSU head coach
Rob Smith said. "Even in practice, they've had a great attitude. A season like we're having would stretch anybody to their limits, especially considering the success we've had in recent years. Still, they keep coming out and battling."
Though there wasn't a major discrepancy between the overall offensive yards put up by each team – 427 yards gained for APU and 378 by HSU – the source of most of Azusa's yardage illustrated a clear separation between the teams' resources. Cougar running back Terrell Watson tore up the turf, rushing for 279 yards on 37 carries, while four HSU players compiled a total of 62 yards on 24 attempts.
"(Watson's) a big, talented back who can wear you down," Smith said. "That may have been the case in the second half."
Supporting Smith's theory is the fact that 199 of Watson's yards came in the second half. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior scored a critical touchdown on a 7-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, providing a cushion the Lumberjacks couldn't overcome.
Watson's performance overshadowed what was perhaps the best performance of the year by HSU quarterback
Kyle Morris, who completed 27-40 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. Morris spread the wealth among seven HSU receivers, but freshman sensation
Chase Krivashei again led the way with 12 catches for 110 yards.
Another true freshman – strong safety
Miquan Johnson – led the Lumberjack defense with 13 tackles. Linebacker
Cameron Buell added 10, and Travis Hansen contributed nine, including two of the Jacks' total of eight tackles for a loss.
A scoreless opening quarter threatened to mimic the teams' game earlier this season, one that was tied 0-0 at halftime before the Cougars broke out for the win with a big second half. But Azusa Pacific put up the first numbers of the night when Preston Van Hofwegen gathered in a 12-yard pass from quarterback Dasmen Stewart to give APU a 7-0 lead with 2 minutes, 22 seconds remaining until halftime.
Humboldt State immediately answered, driving the ball 72 yards in 10 plays, finishing off the effort when
Aaron Dhuyvetter snagged a 9-yard Morris pass in the endzone to tie the score. The schools headed to the halftime locker room even at 7-7.
Early in the third quarter the Jacks took their only lead of the game when
Matt Bruder drilled a 21-yard field goal. But Watson accounted for seven of the plays during 9-play, 52-yard Cougar drive that ended with Stewart's 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Schick, providing APU with a 14-10 advantage.
Bruder continued his stellar season with a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, pulling his team within one at 14-13. But Watson's scamper to the endzone six minutes later gave Azusa Pacific the 21-13 lead from which the Jacks couldn't recover.
Suffering through its worst start to a season since 1964, Humboldt State's search for a turnaround doesn't get any easier. The Lumberjacks travel for the next three weeks, taking bus trips to face Dixie State in St. George, Utah, Central Washington in Ellensburg, and Simon Fraser in Burnaby, B.C., Canada. They'll end the season with a Nov. 16 home game against Western Oregon.
