Monday, September 14, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Humboldt State football team defeated the GNAC’s reigning champion No. 17 Azusa Pacific 62-41 on the road to claim this week’s Red Lion Team of the Week honor.

The Jacks gained 533 yards offensively, rushing for 313. They led the game 49-6 in the third quarter. Running back Ja’Quan Gardner rushed for 225 yards on 25 carries, scoring three touchdowns on his way to a second straight GNAC Offensive Player of the Week award. Quarterback Robert Webber threw five touchdown passes and 220 yards, finishing 13-for-16 on the evening and receiver Chase Krivashei had seven catches for 84 yards and three touchdown grabs.

“Anytime you beat a two-time defending champion is a nice win,” said head coach Rob Smith. “We have so much respect for Azusa Pacific. We have to get past this game though, learn from it, evaluate it and get ready for our next game.”

With the win, Humboldt State catapulted itself into the AFCA Division II Poll, ranking No. 25. The Jacks received 74 votes in the poll after receiving three in the week one poll.

“We executed offensively as well as any team I’ve coached,” said Smith. “Momentum is a huge factor as we got it early and carried it through the first half.”

Traveling to Glendora, Calif., the Jacks faced an Asuza Pacific that had not lost in 364 days. Humboldt State beat the Cougars 30-10 in non-conference play at HSU last season. The Jacks are 2-0 and the only remaining undefeated GNAC football team.

The Jacks got off to a blazing start, taking a nine play, 77 yard opening drive for a score, capped off by a 16-yard pass from Webber to Krivashei. Webber threw his second touchdown late in the first quarter to Sage Burmeister for six yards to put the Jacks up 14-0. Gardner added to the lead with a 22-yard run to extend the lead to 21-0 less than two minutes into the second quarter. After an APU score, the Jacks ran off 28-straight points to put the game out of reach.

Although the Jacks’ defense gave up 41 points and 400 yards of offense, they forced three APU three-and-outs in the first half, allowing less than 100 yards and just one score. The defense finished with three sacks and one interception.

The Jacks return home to face Dixie State, who is coming off an impressive 49-20 win over Central Washington. Humboldt State and Azusa Pacific will meet again for their conference matchup Oct. 10.