WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Despite another outstanding performance by running back Ja'Quan Gardner, No. 10 Humboldt State had no answer for No. 11 Midwestern State in Saturday's 35-10 non-conference loss.
 
The Mustangs (6-0) offense was powered by a career-best effort by quarterback Quade Coward. The junior passed for 292 yards and four touchdowns, two of which came in the second half. Coward also ran for 66 yards on five carries.
 
"We just got beat. They outplayed us here tonight, and we didn't do things well enough to win," said Head Coach Rob Smith. "We were able to run the ball at times, but we can't rely on just that."
 
Gardner's motor drove the Lumberjacks (5-1) early in the game, but as the team fell behind in the second half, was unable to lead a comeback. The Ceres, Calif., product carried the ball 35 times for 189 yards and a touchdown.
 
HSU struck first in the first meeting between the two programs. Gardner ran for 49 yards of the Jacks' 78 yards on their first possession. The sophomore capped the 10-play scoring drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
 
It took less than a minute for the speedy Mustangs to match the score. Coward connected on 48-yard bomb and a 25-yard touchdown pass and evened the game at 7-7 in just 49 seconds.
 
Coward struck again in the second quarter as he fired an 8-yard strike to Tyrique Edwards to put the Mustangs up by seven, 14-10, with 8:41 to go in the half.
 
Following a HSU defensive stop two drives later, the Jacks found some offensive success. Kicker Cameron Southward split the uprights with under two minutes remaining to finish a eight-play, 34-yard drive.
 
The Green and Gold went into the locker room trailing by four, 14-10.
 
It was all Mustangs after the break. Midwestern State scored 21 unanswered to close out the game.
 
"We felt good at halftime, and we are very disappointed to give up three scores in the second half," said Smith.
 
Dillon Huffman and Cameron Buell were HSU's top defensive playmakers Saturday. Huffman tallied a team-leading 11 tackles (six solo), and Buell compiled four tackles for loss and nine total tackles. Defensive back Chris Hannible notched his team-leading third interception of the season in the fourth quarter.
 
HSU will have little time to focus on the loss as it travels to Ellensburg, Wash., for a conference meeting with Central Washington on Saturday, Oct. 24.