ARCATA, Calif. – Records are meant to be broken. And sophomore running back
Ja'Quan Gardner has been the one breaking them.
Gardner ran for a program single-game record 305 yards, rushed for three touchdowns and passed for a fourth as No. 11 Humboldt State defeated two-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions Azusa Pacific in front of over 8,000 fans Saturday in Redwood Bowl.
"This win wasn't easy," said Head Coach
Rob Smith. "We knew tonight would be an absolute, flat-out battle. But tonight was Humboldt State's night."
The win improved the Lumberjacks' record to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. HSU also captured its seventh straight home victory.
Gardner's record-breaking night began with a 55-yard first quarter touchdown run that scored the Green and Gold's first points. The Ceres, Calif., native and three-time GNAC Offensive Player of the Week rushed for a 5-yard touchdown and later in the quarter rolled out and completed a 66-yard touchdown pass to
Chase Krivashei in the second quarter.
"We have a special guy running the ball," said Smith. "Ja'Quan is very deserving of attention, but the offensive line is doing a great job up front. Our offensive line dominated, and it is a credit to their coach
Patrick Walsh and all the players on the line."
HSU led 20-3 at halftime, and Gardner compiled 172 rushing yards on 22 carries.
A 30-yard field goal and a Chad Jeffries touchdown run helped the Cougars claw back into the ballgame. Jeffries finished with a team-leading 90 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and two passing scores.
The Lumberjack defense withstood the Cougar re-energized offensive attack and stalled an 18-play, 75-yard, 8:04 drive that lasted into the fourth quarter.
"We have guys playing their tails off on the defensive side," said Smith. "We are playing good football on both sides. Our defense is playing hard and playing smart."
Drew Dubois led HSU with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, despite leaving the game late due to injury.
Cameron Buell was the Jacks' top tackler with 13, including 3.5 for loss.
Jabar Byrd and Gardner each had rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and helped the Green and Gold pull away from the Cougars for good. Byrd's touchdown run was his second of the season.
Gardner broke the Redwood Bowl's single-game rushing record (266 yards versus Simon Fraser) and single-game rushing mark (266 yards)
held by former Lumberjack Mitch Smith since 2000 HSU travels for what will likely be a meeting between top-10 programs Saturday, Oct. 17, in Wichita Falls, Texas, as it faces nationally-ranked Midwestern State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT.
