Friday, August 29, 2014

ARCATA, Calif. – Plagued by injuries, Humboldt State plummeted to an 0-11 record a year ago.

That came on the heals of three consecutive seasons in which the Lumberjacks had won 24 of 32 games, earning one conference title and a pair of runner-up finishes.  In each of those seasons, HSU posted or matched the best overall record in the GNAC.

With 2012 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year Nick Ricciardulli (5-8, 180, Sr., Poway, CA – Palomar JC) and two-time GNAC all-league defensive back Jeremiah Maluia (5-11, 202, Sr., Compton, CA) healthy again, a repeat of last year’s campaign, which included four single digit losses, is unlikely.

HSU head coach Rob Smith, who has a 139-95-1 career record in 23 seasons, including six years at Humboldt State (31-33), likes what he has seen so far this fall.

“It puts a smile on a coach’s face to see your team come out each day and compete,” said Smith, who had a 108-62-1 record in 17 seasons at Western Washington before taking a few years off from coaching and then heading to Arcata.

There were few smiles last year for the ‘Jacks, especially, after Ricciardulli, who set a GNAC record in 2012 rushing for 1,579 yards was injured in their season opener. 

He came back to play in HSU’s third game, but then sat out its final eight contests.

Before practices even began last August, Maluia, who has seven career interceptions and 191 tackles, had been declared out for the year.

With those two unavailable, HSU finished last in the GNAC in scoring offense (15.5) and barely avoided the basement in scoring defense, allowing 32.2 points.  Dixie State and Simon Fraser each surrendered 32.5 points per contest.

Ricciardulli injects life into an offense that never found its rhythm in 2013.

“He is so dynamic he changes our offense,” offensive coordinator Eric Tripp said. “We get our running game going and everything else will fall into place.  We can spread the ball around to the wide receivers and it will take a little bit of pressure off our quarterback.”

Ricciardulli will return to an offense that centered around wide receiver Chase Krivashei (5-9, 175, So., Corona, CA – Centennial) last year. 

Krivashei set a GNAC record catching 96 passes for 915 yards and was voted the GNAC Freshman of the Year.

Krivashei is the lone returning offensive first team all-conference selection off of last year’s team.

HSU does return six starters on offense, but will be going with true freshman Robert Webber (5-9, 185, Corona, CA), a former high school teammate of Krivashei, at quarterback. 

Webber is coming off a spectacular prep career throwing for 8,205 yards and rushing for 1,457 yards. In his senior season, he threw for 3,898 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Webber will have an experienced receiving corps to throw to including Krivashei, Kelechi Nwadibia (6-1, 190, Sr., Stockton, CA – San Jose City) and Brandon Kakitsuka (6-0, 180, Jr., Crescent City, CA – Del Norte). 

Nwadibia caught 57 passes for 796 yards and four touchdowns, while Kakitsuka had 22 catches for 327 yards.

Returning to HSU’s offensive line are three players who started four or more games – Josh Hanson (6-2, 285, So., Eureka, CA), Mick Johnson (6-3, 295, Sr., Reno, NV – Galena) and Jarret Adams (6-5, 240, Jr., North Bend, WA – Mt. Si).

On defense, ends Alex Markarian (6-4, 275, Sr., Chino Hills, CA – Reuben Ayala) and Silas Sarvinski (6-1, 265, Sr., Ferndale, CA) are the lone returning 2013 all-conference selections. Both were second team selections.

Markarian had 35 tackles including seven for losses. Sarvinski had 63 tackles including 11 for losses.

Also back is linebacker Cameron Buell (6-3, 245, So., Citrus Heights, CA – Casa Robles), who had 79 tackles and defensive lineman Dillon Huffman (6-2, 295, Jr., Auburn, CA – Bear River) who had 60 stops.

Also back are linebackers Ryan Moreno (6-0, 220, Jr., Poway, CA), who had 56 tackles and Taylor Mitchell (6-1, 227, Jr., North Bend, WA – Mt. Si) who had 48. 

DBs Eric Paopao (6-0, 215, Sr., Oceanside, CA – El Camino) and Ronnie Hicks (6-0, 185, Jr., Lemon Grove, CA – Mt. Miguel) had 47 and 32 tackles, respectively.

Chris Campbell (5-11, 175, Sr., Granite Bay, CA), who led the conference in punting (40.9), returns after earning first team all-league honors, while kicker Matt Bruder (5-9, 185, Sr., Jamul, CA – Steel Canyon) was a second team selection. 

Bruder was 18 of 19 on extra points and 12 of 19 on field goals to increase his career point total to 175.  That ranks sixth all-time in GNAC history among kickers.  He also ranks eighth in career field goals with 24 and fourth in percentage (70.6 on 24 of 34).

HUMBOLDT STATE Lumberjacks (GNAC Projected Finish: #4)

Head Coach:  Rob Smith, Washington ’81 (31-33, 6 years; Overall, 139-95-1,  23 years)
Assistants:  Eric Tripp, asst. head coach/offensive coordinator; Shay McClure, defensive coordinator; Patrick Walsh, offensive line; Shawn Howe, defensive line; Aaron Richards, tight ends; Will Harris, secondary; Michael Dennis, offensive asst.; Connor Waggoner, defensive asst.; Dustin Sobieraj, defensive ends; Andy Laughlin, offensive asst.; Lyndon Rowells, offensive asst.
2013 Record: 0-11    Conference: 0-10, 6th
Returning Letter Winners: Off – 13  Def – 19  Spec – 2 Lost – 20
Returning Starters: Off – 6  Def – 9  Spec - 2
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: 4-3
Stadium (Capacity): Redwood Bowl (6,000)

TOP RETURNEES: Rushing – Jamarie Sanders (DB-RB, 5-10, 180, Sr.,  180-319, 1 TD); Nick Ricciardulli (RB, 5-8, 180, Sr., 26-79 in 2013; 281-1579, 12 TDs in 2012). Passing – Casey Mintz (6-2, 185, Jr., 60-130-9, 766, 5 TDs).   Receiving – Chase Krivashei (WR, 5-9, 175, So., 96-915, 3 TDs); Kelechi Nwadibia (WR, 6-1, 190, Sr., 57-796, 4 TDs); Brandon Kakitsuka (WR, 6-0, 180, Jr., 22-327). Kick Scoring – Matt Bruder (K, 5-9, 185, Sr., 12-19 FG, 18-19 PAT). Defense – Cameron Buell (LB, 6-3, 245, So., 48-31-79, TFL 5 ½ - 18); Silas Sarvinski (DE, 6-1, 265, Sr., 25-38-63, TFL 11-34); Dillon Huffman (DL, 6-2, 295, Jr., 18-42-60, TFL 6 ½ - 25); Ryan Moreno (LB, 6-0, 220, Jr., 32-24-56); Taylor Mitchell (LB, 6-1, 227, Jr., 20-28-48); Eric Paopao (DB, 6-0, 215, Sr., 34-13-47); Alex Markarian (DL, 6-4, 275, Sr., 16-19-35, TFL 7-31); Ronnie Hicks (DB, 6-0, 185, Jr., 23-9-32).  All-Stars – Nick Ricciardulli (GNAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2012); Chase Krivashei (WR, 1st team GNAC, GNAC Freshman of the Year); Chris Campbell (P, 5-11, 175, Sr., 1st team GNAC, 40.9 avg.); Matt Bruder (K, 2nd team GNAC); Silas Sarvinski (DL, 2nd team GNAC); Alex Markarian (DL, 2nd team GNAC); Jeremiah Maluia (DB, 5-11, 202, Sr., Compton, CA, 1st team GNAC in 2011-12).

KEY LOSSES:  David Kulp (OL, 2nd team GNAC); Dillon Reagan (OL, 2nd team GNAC); Kyle Morris (QB, 141-269-10, 1557, 4 TDs);  Andrew Feaster (LB, 57 tackles)

KEY TRANSFERS:   Anthony Ezrim (DT, 6-2, 265, Santa Rosa, CA - Santa Rosa JC); Khaalid Abdulla (OLB, 6-0, 228, Jr., San Diego, CA - Southwestern CC); Derek Stewart (QB, 6-3, 215, Jr., Carson, CA - West LA College); Naaman Butsko (OT, 6-5, 295, Jr., Lake Forest, CA - Saddleback College); Ray Nelson (TE, 6-5, 265, So., Modesto, CA - UCLA).