ARCATA, Calif. – Coming into the weekend's non-conference meeting with Dixie State, Humboldt State wanted a complete performance. The Lumberjacks accomplished that goal and more as they defeated the Red Storm 66-7 Saturday in Redwood Bowl.
 
"This was our most complete game in all three phases – offense, defense and kicking game," said Head Coach Rob Smith. "Tonight was another step in the right direction. We did a lot of things right, and we fed off the energy of our Redwood Bowl crowd."
 
Robert Webber, Ja'Quan Gardner, Chase Krivashei and Marquise Deadwiler led the Jacks dynamic offense. The "Corona Connection" was clicking Saturday as Webber and Krivashei connected on six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Krivashei wasn't the only Green and Gold receiver to find success against the Red Storm, Deadwiler compiled 107 receiving yards and a touchdown.
 
The two-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week shined Saturday. Gardner carried the ball 21 times for 107 yards and three touchdowns. The Ceres, Calif., product broke a game-high 41-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.
 
Webber finished the game 15-of-18 (83 percent) from the pocket and completed four passes of 20-plus yards. The sophomore signal caller's longest completion was a 93-yard second-half heave to Deadwiler.
 
The HSU defense was especially stout versus Dixie State. On a night when last season's defensive staff stood on the opposite sideline, the Jacks defense displayed its confidence and superior execution under new leadership.
 
"Give credit to our defensive coaching staff for putting together a great game plan," said Smith. "Our defense took the Azusa Pacific game personally. We want our defense to play fast and physical, and you saw that tonight. There was a lot of motivation to go out tonight and play well in front of the defensive coaches that are now with the Dixie State coaching staff."
 
Cameron Buell anchored the defense with 11 tackles (nine solo) and collected a pair of tackles for loss. Daniel Castro and Chris Hannible snagged their first interceptions in the Green and Gold. Dillon Huffman terrorized opposing Red Storm quarterbacks and tallied a team-high four quarterback hurries.
 
Dixie State found limited success Saturday and scored once early in the first quarter. Blake Barney raced a quarterback keeper 33 yards to paydirt to make the score 7-7. Barney was sacked twice, by Eric Paopao and Emilio Rodriguez, and finished with 151 yards of total offense.
 
Smith was proud of his team's ability to find success against a team the Jacks beat twice by a combined score of 121-16 in 2014.  He contributed HSU's success to a strong week of practice and renewed team focus.
 
"We knew we were the better team going in, but you have to play like the better team should play," said Smith. "We didn't give anything easy to Dixie tonight. They were a team that beat Central Washington a week ago, and we had respect for Dixie State and what they do."
 
The Jacks have a bye week before traveling to Rapid City, S.D., for a conference game against South Dakota Mines on Saturday, Oct. 3.