AZUSA, Calif. -- For the third time in 4 home games, Azusa Pacific gave the fans a treat at the end. In front of a Homecoming crowd of 4,123 in Azusa, the Cougar defense stopped Humboldt State on a fourth-and-1 from the Cougar 4-yard line with 14 seconds left to preserve a 20-13 victory over the Lumberjacks.

Lumberjack RB Matt Dwane tried to leap over the pile but was hit by Elbert Baker and Jamen Wurm, and when the officials measured, the dive came up short.

"I've told these guys all along that what defines a great team is not winning games each week, but making great plays that allow you to win," said Cougar head coach Vic Shealy. "If anyone said we have no home field advantage in Azusa, they are crazy. The momentum was not in our favor, but the people in the stands picked us up."

The Lumberjacks got on the board early when Dwane took the opening kickoff 67 yards to the Cougars 23-yard line. The stalled drive was salvaged by a Mike Brandt-Spitzer 32-yard field goal. Four minutes later, Brandt-Spitzer converted on another FG attempt, this one from 28-yards out to give HSU a 6-0 lead.

Azusa Pacific eventually answered at 12:41 in the second quarter when RB Jack Williams scored on a 2-yard run. However, Jim Daichendt missed the PAT, and the score remained even at 6-6.
The Cougars struck again with 19 seconds left in the half when senior QB Geoff Buffum hit WR Scott Thomas for a 47-yard TD strike, to give the Cougars a 13-7 boost heading into the locker room at the half.

The teams traded punted throughout most of the third quarter until Humboldt State made a costly turnover. With just over a minute left in the quarter, Lumberjack RB Sean Schneider fumbled the ball, and Thomas picked it up and scampered 75 yards for his second TD of the game, giving the Cougars a 20-6 lead.

"I saw the ball sitting in the middle of the pile, and I didn't hear a whistle, so I just kept running," said Thomas.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Lumberjacks pulled to within a touchdown when Dwane scored on a 4-yard run to cut the deficit to 20-13. The Lumberjacks repositioned themselves for a game-tying TD, but Dwane fumbled with 3:48 left at the Cougar 32-yard line, and Baker landed on the loose ball for the Cougars.

Trying to run the clock out, the Cougars were faced with a third-and-8, forcing Buffum to pass. The Lumberjacks smelled the play, and DB Tom Pardikes picked off the pass, returning it 26 yards to the Cougar 13-yard line, to set up the Cougar defensive heroics. All 4 Lumberjack running plays went to Dwane. And on fourth-and-1 at the Cougar 4-yard line, Dwane couldn't get by Baker or Wurm, securing the Cougars win, their third in a row and second straight against the Lumberjacks.

"The adrenaline was flowing and we knew what was necessary," said Baker, who finished with a career-high 17 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. "When it came down to it, we got the job done."
Buffum finished 12-of-22 for 124 yards and 1 TD pass. Williams had 21 carries for 156 yards and a TD and added an interception to the mix. Wurm and Oscar Burgueno added 12 tackles as well.

The Cougars return to action on Oct. 31 when they travel to Whittier College to face the Poets at 7 p.m.

Scoring by Quarters
Humboldt State             6   0    0    7 -- 13
Azusa Pacific              0  13    7    0 -- 20
 
        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
SCORING
Mike Brandt-Spitzer (HSU) 32 FG, 13:23 1st quarter
Mike Brandt-Spitzer (HSU) 28 FG, 9:32 1st quarter
Jack Williams (APU) 2 run, 12:41 2nd quarter,
  (kick failed)
Scott Thomas (APU) 47 pass, 0:19 2nd quarter,
  (Daichendt kick)
Scott Thomas (APU) 75 fumble return,
  1:08 3rd quarter, (Daichendt kick)
Matt Dwane (HSU) 4 run, 10:02 4th quarter,
  (Brandt-Spitzer kick)
 
 
PASSING
Geoff Buffum (APU) 12-22, 124 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Travis Mari (HSU) 4-11, 89 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
 
RUSHING
Jack Williams (APU), 21 att., 156 yds, 1 TD
Matt Dwane (HSU), 26 att., 127 yds, 1 TD
Eddie Steele (HSU), 16 att., 79 yds, 0 TD
 
RECEIVING
Scott Thomas (APU), 1 comp., 47 yds, 1 TD
Dexter Davis (APU), 4 comp., 38 yds, 0 TD
Ryan Kinser (HSU), 1 comp., 56 yds, 0 TD
 
 
           TEAM STATISTICS
               APU            HSU
OFFENSE        279 yds        300 yds
RUSHING        155 yds        211 yds
PASSING        124 yds        89 yds