ARCATA, Calif. – A strong second half effort led Central Washington to a 42-17 victory over Humboldt State football Saturday evening in Redwood Bowl. The Wildcats outscored the home team 35-0 in the final 30 minutes.
Saturday's homecoming loss moved the Green and Gold to 3-3 overall and 1-3 against Great Northwest Athletic Conference competition. HSU remains winless at home and slipped to 0-3 in games played on the North Coast.
"We got beat by a better football team, it's that simple," said head coach
Rob Smith. "We have to make plays to win games. And we drop a ball that is a sure touchdown, line up offside on a missed field goal, and those are mistakes good teams don't make. Right now we are not a very good football team."
An impressive first half, featuring a balanced Lumberjack offensive attack and a stout defensive effort, gave the crowd of over 6,400 a reason for optimism.
The Wildcats were limited to just 37 yards of total offense in the first quarter, and a
Cameron Southward field goal put the Jacks ahead 3-0. Southward's 46-yard effort was a season long and was his second attempt of the quarter. The senior missed a 42-yarder wide left on HSU's first offensive possession.
Quarterback Justin Lane guided Central Washington on an eight-play, 59-yard scoring drive to begin the second quarter. Lane connected with Justin Peterson on a four-yard strike, the first of Peterson's two touchdown receptions.
Trailing 7-3, signal caller
Robert Webber orchestrated HSU's longest scoring drive of the game. The junior punctuated the 72-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to
Sage Burmeister.
A blocked punt to end Central Washington's next drive set the Green and Gold offense up at the Wildcats 25 yard line. Running back
Ja'Quan Gardner carried the ball 25 yards for HSU's final touchdown on the first play following the block.
The Jacks held a 17-3 advantage at halftime.
Central Washington was a different team after the break. The Wildcats scored 14 points in the third quarter and amassed 164 yards of offense. Jojo Hillel raced into the end zone from two yards out, and Zalk snagged a 49-yard touchdown reception to put the visitors up 21-17 with one quarter to play.
The Wildcats scored on back-to-back drives to begin the fourth quarter and a rushing touchdown with 4:26 left to play closed out their scoring effort.
HSU was limited to five first downs and 65 yards of total offense in the second half.
Webber was 19-of-44 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown. After missing a majority of the Chadron State game due to injury, Gardner led the Jacks rushing attack with 16 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Jeff Shott was HSU's top tackler with nine total stops, and he finished with 1.5 tackles for loss.
Darrien Hamberry and
Nick Julier both forced fumbles Saturday night.
HSU travels to face GNAC leader Azusa Pacific in Citrus Stadium Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
"We are going to have to regroup and get ready, because it doesn't get any easier the next two weeks," said Smith.
