GLENDORA, Calif. – Despite committing four turnovers in the first quarter, Azusa Pacific defended its home turf and defeated the Humboldt State football team 37-21 at Citrus Stadium Saturday night.

HSU's defense didn't take much time to warm up as it intercepted the Cougars first pass of the game. Azusa quarterback Tyrone Williams dropped back and tried to find his receiver, but Jacks cornerback Evan Camerena stepped in front of the offensive player and returned the ball 21 yards. Twenty-three yards and five plays later, the Green and Gold capped off their first drive with the game's first points. Receiver Leo Wagner ran a crisp slant route and beat his man as quarterback Joseph Sweeney threw him a bullet before Wagner dived into the endzone for six points. Kicker Jose Morales converted the extra point the next play giving HSU the 7-0 lead with 12:26 left on the clock.

Azusa tried to get its offense rolling the next drive, but it was cornerback Ju'wan Murphy who picked off Williams for the second time. Murphy made a perfect read and the diving interception on the visitor 49-yard line. HSU was held to a three-and-out and had to punt the ball, but the Cougar returner was tracked down from behind by Ryan McCombs who punched the ball out and recovered the loose football. Following the three-and-out, Jose Morales attempted a field goal that was blocked and recovered by Azusa Pacific. On the return, the Cougar player attempted to lateral the ball to a teammate but the ball fell to the turf and the North Coast team recovered the ball in enemy territory. Azusa Pacific's defense seemed impenetrable as they forced the turnover on downs and withstood the Jacks on their fourth-and-one attempt. The Cougars seemed to recover the momentum after the miscue, and they drove the ball down to the HSU 14 yard line as the first quarter came to a close.

On the third play of the second quarter, Williams tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Jackson tying the game 7-7 after a Jacob Hall extra point with 13:57 remaining. The Cougars went on to score another two touchdowns as they went into the locker room with a 21-7 lead.

The Jacks seemed to regain some composure as Ju'wan Murphy returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown pushing the score to 21-14. HSU got the lead down to seven again following an Andrew Tingstad one-yard touchdown run with 11:34 remaining in the ball game, but the Cougars added nine unanswered points and finished the game 37-21.

Andrew Tingstad only played the fourth quarter, but he still finished as HSU's top passer completing 5-of-8 passes for 115 yards to go along with his rushing touchdown. Tyree Marzetta ran the ball 14 times for 39 yards and had a catch for 54 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Demetrick Watts led the Jacks with 10 total tackles. Ju'wan Murphy finished the game with two interceptions and five tackles to go along with his two kick returns, 98 return yards, and kickoff return touchdown.

The Jacks will look to notch their first win of the season on Saturday, Oct. 6 in Redwood Bowl. Their Homecoming game against Simon Fraser is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m.