Mistakes Prove Too Costly

AZUSA, CALIF. – Humboldt State scored 23 consecutive points through the middle of the game and then held off a furious rally to defeat Azusa Pacific, 37-35, in Azusa, Saturday night.

The Lumberjacks overcame a 21-7 first-half deficit and took advantage of APU miscues, including a second-half opening muffed kickoff that Shawn Wilson recovered and took into the endzone to pull HSU to within 21-17 less than 10 seconds into the third quarter.

Humboldt State added two more TDs to assume a 30-21 advantage before Darryl Nolan returned a kickoff 96 yards to keep the Cougars within striking distance at 30-27 with 6 minutes left in the game. However, the Lumberjacks had no problem answering on the ensuring drive, motoring 80 yards on 5 plays, the last 40 coming on a Percy McGee TD run.

Azusa Pacific's starting QB J.D. Fox went down in the first half with a possible broken jaw, forcing true-freshman Bryan Lucas into his first collegiate action. Lucas responded by completing 16-of-25 passes for 185 yards, but he was picked off twice.

McGee, Humboldt State's all-time leading rusher, finished the game with 187 yards on 24 carries with 3 TD runs.

Humboldt State moves to 2-1 on the season while Azusa Pacific, which suffers its first loss at home since Nov. 5, 1994, falls to 1-1

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