Wednesday, August 31, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. - The fifth and final of our GNAC Football Video Previews profiles Humboldt State.
Humboldt State, ranked No. 13 in the first AFCA Division II Coaches Poll of the season, used one of the top offenses in Division II to roll to a 10-2 record last year, becoming the first GNAC playoff team since 2009. Its only losses came to top-25 teams on the road in Midwestern State and in the second round of the playoffs to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State. The Lumberjacks finished ninth in Division II in scoring offense (41.4 points per game), 10th in rushing offense at 265.2 yards per game and 18th in total offense at 473.8 yards per game.
The Lumberjacks’ offense will be potent once again with 15 letterwinners and six starters back in 2016. The list is led by superstar running back Ja’Quan Gardner. The runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award as a sophomore, Gardner set GNAC records with 2,266 rushing yards, 338 carries and 2,369 all-purpose yards. He led Division II in rushing yards, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns en route to being named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.
Also returning on offense for Humboldt is First Team All-GNAC senior wide receiver Chase Krivashei, who led the GNAC with 15 receiving touchdowns and an average of 77.2 receiving yards per game, and junior quarterback Robert Webber, who threw for 2,239 yards and 22 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. The three will be protected by one of the top offensive lines in the country, led by junior All-American and two-time GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Alex Cappa and Second Team All-American Lucas Govan.
The question mark for Humboldt State is on defense where the Lumberjacks lost three key starters. Second Team All-GNAC linebacker Cameron Buell paces the returners after he finished with 89 tackles in 2015, including 12.5 for loss. Stepping up to fill holes on the defensive line are seniors Christian Castro and Darrian Hanberry and sophomore Emilio Rodriguez.
GNAC 2016 FOOTBALL VIDEO PREVIEW SCHEDULE
Sun., Aug. 28: Simon Fraser
Mon., Aug. 29: Central Washington
Tues., Aug. 30: Western Oregon
Wed., Aug. 31: Azusa Pacific
Wed., Aug. 31: Humboldt State