Box Score ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington's relentless offense finally wore down a resilient Humboldt State defense to give the Wildcats a 21-14 win over Humboldt State on Saturday.
 
Another exercise in frustration left the Lumberjacks 0-9 overall and 0-8 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with two games remaining. Central Washington improved to 6-2 in league and 6-3 for the season.
 
As well as the HSU defense played Saturday – repeatedly coming up with big stops to cut short CWU drives – the Wildcats' defense was better. That unit held HSU to only 227 yards total offense and 12 first downs.
 
"It's like a lot of other games this year," HSU head coach Rob Smith said. "We're right there, but unable to get over the hump and make the play we need to win ballgames."
 
One seemingly endless trend contributed to the Jacks' misfortunes again Saturday. Missing a plethora of players due injury throughout the season, HSU saw more go down against CWU. Kash Johnson, the Jacks' sixth running back of the season, went out early with a shoulder problem, as did starting quarterback Kyle Morris, who was finished for the day at halftime.
 
"We're clearly playing much better, but we lose Kash to an injury and then Kyle goes out," Smith said. "We're as thin as thin can be."
 
Central opened the scoring in the first quarter after converting a fourth down with a fake punt that saw Isaiah Davis run the ball all the way to the HSU 39-yard line. Four plays later, quarterback Jake Nelson found wide receiver Jordin Kinnune on the other end of a 17-yard touchdown connection.
 
Nelson finished the day a respectable 15-22 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns, throwing one interception. Three running backs each gained more than 60 yards, helping the Wildcats control the clock while compiling 209 net yards rushing.
 
Humboldt State was unable to move the ball at all on its first three possessions, losing a fumble on its second offensive series, and being forced to punt on its other two possessions. All total, HSU converted only three of 12 third down opportunities.
 
The Jacks' defense, however, led by linebacker Silas Sarvinski, kept the outcome in doubt until late. The senior from Ferndale compiled a team-high 13 tackles, including two for a loss.
 
Before the opening quarter ended, the Wildcats put together a long march that carried over into the second quarter. But key stops by Lumberjack safeties Miquan Johnson and Eric Paopao cut short the drive and forced a punt.
 
The Lumberjacks' inability to extend their own drives took a toll on the defense, which spent 18 minutes and 12 seconds on the field during the first half.  Big plays by the unit, however, kept the Wildcats from generating momentum, including a flying stuff by linebacker Cameron Buell on fourth-and-inches at the HSU 30-yard line.
 
Another huge denial came when CWU had moved the ball all the way to the HSU 12-yard line. Going to the same slant pass that was successful on for the first TD, Central Washington's efforts were unsuccessful this time when cornerback Kevin Cooper intercepted Nelson's pass.
 
Casey Mintz took over at quarterback for the Jacks at the start of the second half, and after freshman running back Sutter Choisser broke loose for a 20-yard scamper, Mintz found wide receiver Kelechi Nwadibia in the endzone for the game-tying 32-yard touchdown completion.
 
The teams traded turnovers on their next possessions, Humboldt State getting the ball back on a fumble during the kickoff return, then giving it back when Langlow intercepted Mintz two plays later. Central Washington squandered the chance when placekicker Sean McDonald missed left on a 26-yard field goal attempt.
 
After HSU failed to pick up a first down on its ensuing possession, it only took four plays for the Wildcas to move the ball 66 yards. The big gainer was a 42-yard connection from Nelson to Jones, and Charles Hall's 19-yard cutback run reestablished the CWU lead at 14-7 with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Another huge defensive play kept Central Washington from moving the ball on its next drive. Trying to convert on fourth-and-one from at the HSU 36-yard line,  Nelson's run attempt was stuffed for a loss when HSU linebacker Travis Hansen broke through the CWU line for the tackle.
 
Central Washington's defense was more than equal to that displayed by the Jacks, again forcing HSU off the field on three downs. Nelson's pass to Jesse Zalk gave the Wildcats a first down on the HSU 3-yard line, and another scoring connection, this time to Colter Clinch, extended their lead to 21-7.
 
Humboldt State kept the pressure on, backup quarterback Casey Mintz finding Christian Basden for a sidelines-hugging catch that moved the chains late in the fourth quarter. Mintz finished off the 90-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Chase Krivashei that cut the lead to 21-14.
 
Humboldt State attempted an onsides kick, but the free ball was covered by Central Washington's Deionte Gordon, and the Wildcats converted two first downs to run out the clock.
 
Next up, Smith will travel with his team for the third consecutive week, this time heading to Burnaby, B.C., Canada to face Simon Fraser University on Saturday.
 
"Our players are trying so hard, I don't have to say anything to them," Smith said. They're hurting so much already. We get close, but come up short in certain areas."