Box Score
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Time after time, Humboldt State found itself in position to take control of Saturday's football game against Dixie State. And almost as often, the Lumberjacks found a way to sabotage themselves in a 28-19 loss to Dixie State.
The Lumberjacks' season of woe continued, dropping their record to 0-8 overall and 0-7 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Dixie State improved to 3-5 in all games and 2-4 in the GNAC.
"We were two of seven in the redzone," a frustrated HSU head coach
Rob Smith said. "We can move the ball between the 20s, but when we get down close, everybody fails to do what they need to do."
Those missed chances began in the first quarter. Trailing 7-0, HSU put together a 56-yard drive that stalled at the Dixie State 13-yard line. Placekicker
Matt Bruder came in to attempt the 30-yard field goal but missed. It was the first time in his career that he missed an unblocked kick from inside the 40.
Also in the first quarter, the Jacks forced a fumble that produced solid field position, but again were unable to produce points. They finally broke through late in the opening quarter, tying the game at 7-7 when quarterback
Kyle Morris scrambled for the touchdown.
The second quarter featured Bruder's 49-yard field goal, but a 21-yard run by Dixie State quarterback Griff Robles gave the Red Storm a 14-10 lead. On their ensuing possession, the Jacks moved the ball crisply down the field on consecutive 18-yard completions from Morris to
Kelechi Nwadibia, but a fumble by
Jamarie Sanders gave the ball back to DSU on its own 28-yard line.
HSU was able to capitalize once in the third quarter, taking over the ball at the DSU 34-yard line after a bad snap on a punt attempt forced the Red Storm to turn the ball over on downs. Kash Johnson accounted for 18 yards on a five-play drive that ended with Johnson's two-yard touchdown run. A missed PAT kick left HSU with its only lead of the game at 16-10.
The Lumberjacks had another opportunity go awry when they drove to the Dixie 4-yard line, only to be stuffed on third down. A faked field goal attempt on the next play came up empty when holder
Chris Campbell's pass fell incomplete.
After retaking possession, it only took the Red Storm six plays to move the ball 96 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Key to the drive was a 62-yard completion from Robles to Joe Don Duncan, and a 28-yard hook-up with Mitch Frei ended it to give Dixie State a 21-16 lead.
The Red Storm's ability to put together long drives like the go-ahead march underscored another factor contributing to Humboldt State's loss.
"When you give up 550 yards to the other team's offense, you're not going to win many of those games," Smith said. "This was a win-able game. You can't imagine how frustrating it is."
Robles accounted for most of the yards himself, rushing for 223 and passing for 267. For HSU, Morris completed 19 of 34 passes, totaling 254 yards and throwing an interception.
Bruder's 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter pulled the Jacks within two at 21-19, but Dixie answered back quickly with a 74-yard scoring drive. Robles accounted for all of those yards on the ground, including a 50-yard explosion that gave the Red Storm a 28-19 lead.
Again, HSU had a chance to score quickly and force late drama when Travis Hansen recovered Robert Metz' fumble on the Dixie State five-yard line. Morris tried to the push the ball into the endzone on the Jacks' first play after the turnover, but fumbled it right back on the DSC one.
