Football | 9/27/2008 1:02:04 AM
Box Score The Western Oregon football team earned its third straight conference road victory, defeating Humboldt State 44-28 at the Redwood Bowl.
The victory improved the Wolves record to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The loss drops Humboldt State to 1-4 and 0-3 in the GNAC.
Western Oregon used a little razzle dazzle on offense and three interceptions by its defense to hold off a spirited and much-improved Lumberjack team in front of 2,200 fans.
Leading just 16-14 in the third quarter, senior tackle Anthony Marin made the defensive play of the game. He intercepted a pass from thrown by HSU quarterback Brian Hildebrand, who was falling down in the grasps of two Western Oregon defenders, and returned it 67 yards for the touchdown to put WOU up 23-14.
The WOU offense then added scores on its next two possessions to seal the game at 37-14. One of those scores came on a double-reverse pass play that will go into the books as a 26-yard strike from Josh Riddell to Demario Ballard, but the play began as a pitch to running back Ben Kuenzi, who tossed it behind him to wide receiver Sean Fullerton, who flipped it back to Riddell.
The Wolves got 101 yards rushing from Kuenzi, two touchdown passes from Riddell and six catches for 81 yards from Ballard. On defense, in addition to Marin's interception and scamper, WOU also got drive-killing pick-offs from Andy Douglas and Caleb Singleton. JT Gilmore had 13 tackles on the night, as the Wolves defense had five quarterback sacks.
Western Oregon led 16-14 at the half as both teams aired it out. WOU had 136 yards through the air on 10-of-16 passing with a touchdown and an interception while HSU put up 183 yards on 11-of-19 passing in the first 30 minutes of play.
The WOU defense got the scoring started as it recorded a safety on its first play from scrimmage. Justin Cuellar sacked HSU quarterback Mike Proulx in the end zone off a botched snap. After both defenses recorded a stop the WOU offense went to work. It marched up the field 67 yards in six plays capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by D.J. Jackson.
HSU got on the board on a 15-yard reverse by Kevin Miles, but WOU answered with a 38-yard throw by Riddell to Shaun Kauleinamoku to make it 16-7.
The Wolves had other opportunities to score in the first half but miscues prevented WOU from putting more points on the board. Up 16-14, with 5:28 left in the second quarter at the Humboldt State 11 yard line, Jackson broke a 10-yarder off left tackle and looked to be going in for the score but fumbled at the 1-yard line and HSU recovered.
Western Oregon converted on 5-7 third downs and it's only fourth down attempt in the first half. WOU was able to hold the halftime lead despite losing the turnover battle 2-0 and giving up 23 more yards in penalties (68-45).
Down only two points at the break (16-14), things came unraveled for Humboldt State in the second half. The hosts had nearly 100 yards of penalties in the third period alone, as the Wolves scored on the Marin interception and Riddell to Ballard flea flicker. WOU added another score a little over five minutes into the fourth quarter with a punishing nine-play, 95-yard drive capped with a Kuenzi seven-yard run.
It was Douglas' interception at the goal line that thwarted a Lumberjack drive and set the tone for WOU's 95-yard march, which gave them a 37-14 lead.
HSU wouldn't give up, going on a six-play, 80-yard drive of its own, and then recovered an onside kick to stay alive. But Singleton ended that drive with a pick of Mike Proulx and three plays later Patrick Fuller scored from nine yards out.
Western Oregon begins the second half of the GNAC next Saturday, hosting Western Washington at McArthur Field (2 pm).
