Western Oregon Downs Humboldt State, 27-3

The win moved WOU's record to 4-1 on the season, while the Lumberjacks fell to 2-4.

Photo courtesy: Humboldt State Athletics/hsujacks.com

ARCATA, Calif. - Western Oregon overcame a slow start and injuries to their starting quarterback and top wide receiver to defeat Humboldt State 27-3 on Saturday night at the Redwood Bowl.

The win moved WOU's record to 4-1 on the season, while the Lumberjacks fell to 2-4. Western Oregon will now face 4-1 Central Washington next Saturday (Oct. 13) at McArthur Field (2 pm).

Redshirt freshman quarterback Brady Lovell made his first collegiate start and took his first college snap on the same night, subbing for senior signal caller Mark Thorson, who sat out the game with a sore shoulder.

Lovell responded by throwing two touchdown passes, running for another score and completing 9 of 17 passes for 188 yards: and most importantly, no interceptions.

The Vale, Ore. native also ran for 56 yards of positive yardage, and finished with 33 yards rushing (after -23 in sacks).

The Wolves were also without their leading receiver on the year, Isaiah Smith, who missed the game with a sore shoulder. Both Thorson and Smith are expected to return next week.

While the offense had adjustments to make, the WOU defense worked business as usual. They allowed just 62 yards on the ground and 202 through the air. In the first half, it was the Wolves defense that kept the squad in the game.

WOU had four penalties for 45 yard in the first quarter and also turned the ball over via a fumble.

But the defense allowed only 29 yards of HSU offense in the first 15 minutes of play, despite playing most of the quarter in Lumberjack territory.

After a Bryan Huber interception and 35-yard return to the HSU 33-yard line in the second quarter, WOU had its first good field position of the day and scored five plays later on a four-yard run by Ben Kuenzi.

The Lumberjacks would answer with a 37-yard field goal, keeping the drive alive with two shovel passes from quarterback Brian Hildebrand to running back Marcus Cox while Hilderbrand was under tremendous pressure from an aggressive WOU front.

Western Oregon would answer with a 52-yard scoring strike from Lovell to Brad Ching, the first touchdown toss in the freshman's collegiate career.

The Wolves would take a 14-3 into the locker room at the half, despite 75 yards in penalties and only 181 yards in total offense.

Humboldt State would then claim some momentum with a sustained drive to begin the second half, marching all the way down to the one-yard line, first and goal.

But on three running plays, the Lumberjacks lost two yards and had to settle for a chip-shot field goal attempt. That attempt was blocked by Casey O'Donnell and returned by Matt Buche to the HSU 35-yard line.

Western Oregon would then score with 1:33 left in the quarter on a 11-yard scramble by Lovell to make the count 20-3.

After the Wolves stopped the Lumberjacks on two more fourth quarter possessions, Lovell took the visitors on a clock-killing drive that amassed four first downs on the ground. He then hit a streaking Chris Malcolm on a post route for a 45-yard score that sealed the 27-3 win.

The Wolves had 106 yards of offense in the fourth quarter and held Humboldt State to just 41. For the game, WOU finished with 358 yards to just 264 for the hosts.

Kuenzi led all rushers with 83 yards, and Tyler Wilson added 32. Ching had two catches for 74 yards to lead the receivers. Cox had 49 yards rushing and three catches for 47 yards to lead the Humboldt State offense.

JT Gilmore had 14 tackles on the night to lead the Wolves defense, the third consecutive game that he has had double-figure tackle totals.

After a ragged start in the penalty department, Coach Arne Ferguson's team had just one penalty for five yards in the second half.

Source: Western Oregon Athletics

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