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ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State football travels south and aims to avenge an early season loss against nationally-ranked Azusa Pacific Saturday, Oct. 15, in Citrus Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
A home loss to Central Washington last week gives the Green and Gold a 3-3 overall mark and 1-3 conference record. The Lumberjacks have yet to lose consecutive games this season and are 3-0 against road opposition. 
 
"We need to be ourselves," said head Coach Rob Smith. "We have to get back to doing what has allowed us to be successful in the past. We have a lot of players from Southern California, and they have always looked at this game with great excitement because they get a chance to go back home, see family, have family and friends come out to watch them play so our players will be ready for Saturday."
 
Azusa Pacific dealt HSU a 38-27 loss in Redwood Bowl on Sept. 10. The Cougars remain undefeated in GNAC play, but suffered their first loss on the road last week to Colorado School of Mines. Azusa Pacific dropped nine spots in the weekly American Football Coaches Association poll and sit at No. 19.
 
HSU leads the all-time series 20-11 versus Azusa Pacific. The Jacks have won three of the last five series meetings.
 
Injuries have impacted the Jacks ability to play with their original starting offense. Starting receivers Chase Krivashei and Marjani Ellison will both miss this week's game, and running back Ja'Quan Gardner is still returning to form following an injury two weeks ago.
 
"This is a different football team than last year," said Smith. "I feel like I need to keep reminding people of that because there are so many new players in key roles, and injuries have hit us and forced more changes. You lose Chase Krivashei and that changes who you are offensively. It changes that offensive identity that you have."
 
The Jacks have been outscored 55-14 in the second half of their last two games, and they were shutout after halftime against the Wildcats. Every opponent this season has struck first following intermission, and five have opened the third quarter with a touchdown.
 
"For some reason, we start with great energy, but we come out of the locker room and whatever momentum we had built in the first half, whatever energy we put out in the first half, it seems to be lacking," said Smith. "We have to take a look at everything that's going on and try to identify what it is that's preventing us from coming out with the energy necessary."