GLENDORA, Calif. -- Humboldt State put together five first-half touchdown drives, building an early lead in a 62-41 win over No. 17-ranked Azusa Pacific in the Cougars' 2015 home opener.

Ja'Quan Gardner rushed for 225 yards and three TDs, while Humboldt State QB Robert Webber completed 13-of-16 for 220 yards and five TDs to lead the Lumberjacks offense. With the win, HSU improves to 2-0 overall, while the Cougars drop to 1-1.

Azusa Pacific rallied in the second half for the second consecutive week, scoring touchdowns on five consecutive drives to finish the game. Chad Jeffries threw for a career-high 319 yards, completing 22-of-35 with two TDs, and Kurt Scoby rushed 13 times for 56 yards and added a pair of rushing TDs for the Cougars.

Webber threw two first-quarter TD passes, first to Chase Krivashei (16 yards) to finish the game's opening drive and then from six yards to Sage Burmeister. Gardner added his first score, a 22-yard dash, to extend the early lead to 21-0 before Scoby capped a six-play, 74-yard scoring drive with a nine-yard score that put Azusa Pacific on the board.

Scoby added another scoring run midway through the fourth quarter, and Jeffries found Ethan Zeidler for both of his passing touchdowns. Jeffries also scored on a four-yard keeper midway through the third quarter, to open up the Cougars' second-half scoring.

QUICK STATS -For the second straight week, Zeidler was the Cougars' leading receiver, making eight catches for a career-high 130 yards 
-Last week, Jeffries completed passes to seven different receivers, and Saturday night he connected with eight separate targets 
-Jeffries set career-highs in both pass completions and attempts 
-Two of the GNAC's most efficient red zone offenses were perfect inside their opponent's 20-yard line, scoring touchdowns on all 11 combined trips inside the 20

COUGARS' UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Saturday, Sept. 19, 6:00 pm at Simon Fraser
Saturday, Sept. 26, 6:00 pm (MDT) at Dixie State
Saturday, Oct. 3, 6:00 pm vs. Central Washington