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ARCATA, Calif. -- The Humboldt State football team hosts Azusa Pacific in a non-conference home opener Saturday afternoon at the Redwood Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT.



COACH SMITH HAS THEIR NUMBER
Smith has a 5-2 record against Azusa Pacific, but the Jacks have lost their last two meetings with the Cougars. HSU's all-time record against APU is 19-7.

HOME COOKING
The Jacks have won seven of their last 10 home openers. Smith is 4-2 in home openers while coaching at HSU.

ALL EYES ON WATSON
Running back Terrell Watson, the GNAC's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is the heart of the Cougar offense. Last season, Watson carried the ball 68 times for 439 yards and three touchdowns in Azusa's two wins over HSU. He led the conference with 1,954 all-purpose last year and rolled for 202 yards on 42 carries against GVSU Thursday.

Watson's 42 carries against the Lakers were three shy of tying Nick Ricciardulli's single-game GNAC record of 45 carries. APU's offensive weapon already holds several conference records.

LOOKING FOR NO. 10
The Cougars have won nine straight games dating back to the 2013 season and 15 of their last 17 contests. APU took two from HSU last season and won by a combined score of 49-15.

THORNTON IN YOUR SIDE
Senior defensive back Tyler Thornton, the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, caused headaches for the Jacks' offense and opposing offenses last year. Thornton had a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in the team's first meeting of 2013, a lopsided 28-2 decision in favor of the Cougars. He forced two fumbles and broke up three passes in Thursday's APU win.

BORN TO RUN
The return of Ricciardulli and the addition of several talented backs means the Jacks offense can return to its bread and butter running the football. Prior to last season, HSU never ranked below second in the GNAC in rushing offense. The Green and Gold not only were fifth in conference rushing offense in 2013, but averaged just 100.2 yards per game on the ground, its lowest average since 2008. The Jacks rushed for 209 yards Saturday versus the Javelinas. Freshman running back Ja'Quan Gardner rushed for 156 of the team's 209 yards versus Texas A&M-Kingsville. The last time HSU carried the football for over 200 yards was Oct. 20, 2012, in a 57-18 route of Dixie State.
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MAKING HISTORY
Saturday marked the first time in head coach Rob Smith's tenure that a true freshman started the season at quarterback for the Green and Gold. Robert Webber was solid in his collegiate debut. He finished 18-for-31 for 191 yards and a touchdown. Webber passed for 3,898 yards and 43 touchdowns and rushed for over 600 yards as a high school senior. Webber was named to the MaxPreps All-California First Team, All-CIF First Team and was an All-Big VII League First Team selection. One advantage for the young signal caller is his relationship with another Corona Centennial grad – receiver Chase Krivashei. The two worked together during the summer, and Webber says that his comfort with Krivashei made the choice to bring his talents to the North Coast an easy one.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
HSU's defense took care of business Saturday, despite the ejection of senior defensive back Jeremiah Maluia following a targeting call. Senior linebacker Travis Hansen led the defense with three tackles for loss and paced the unit with a team-high six tackles. Hansen also forced a fumble and intercepted a Javelina pass. The defense contained the Javelina running game and held it under 100 yards (98), something it will have to do again Saturday to have an opportunity to win against Azusa Pacific. The last time the HSU defense kept an opposing offense from breaking the century mark came in the 2013 season-opening loss to Simon Fraser.

NEW FACES, BIG IMPACT
Gardner and wide receiver Cass White made a big impact in Saturday's win against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Gardner, who rushed for over 6,000 yards during his career at Ceres High School, carried the ball 17 times for a team-high 156 yards in his first collegiate action. He averaged 9.2 yards per carry and had a 17-yard touchdown run.

White, a transfer from Southern Nazarene, compiled a team-leading five receptions and finished with 59 receiving yards. The San Diego native caught a 12-yard touchdown from Webber late in Saturday's game. He spent the 2013 season at SNU, but averaged 139 receiving yards a game in two seasons at Southwestern College (2011 and 2012).

PRESEASON HONORS ROLL IN FOR JACKS
Beyond Sports Network selected five Lumberjack football players to represent HSU in its annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Football Team. Running back Nick Ricciardulli, wide receiver Chase Krivashei, defensive linemen Silas Sarvinski and Alex Markarian, and punter Chris Campbell earned preseason honors.

NEW SEASON, NEW EXPECTATIONS
Expectations were high when the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll tabbed the Jacks to win the conference championship prior to the 2013 season. The GNAC pecking order looks different in 2014 as HSU is slotted to finish fourth in the annual poll.

JACKS ANNOUNCE 2014 CAPTAINS
Seniors Maluia, Markarian and Ricciardulli, and sophomore Krivashei were named 2014 Team Captains.