Football | 11/6/2010 4:58:24 PM

Box Score [Box score]

ARCATA, Calif. - The Western Oregon University football team kept its hopes of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference title alive with a 26-24 win at Humboldt State, Saturday, Nov. 6.

Kelly Morgan's 25-yard field goal with just under three minutes remaining proved to be the difference in a tightly contested game. This capped off a perfect day for Morgan, who proved to be the hero of the game, as he connected on all four of his field goals.

The win sets up a showdown for Western Oregon to grab a share of the GNAC title next week at Central Washington. The Wolves (7-3, 5-2 GNAC) currently are tied for second place with Humboldt State (7-3, 5-2), a game back of the Wildcats (7-3, 6-1 GNAC). If WOU wins they would be declared co-champions with CWU.

Western Oregon's running attack and its run defense proved to be the difference in the game. Adryan Allen carried the ball 16 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Trevor Roush also gained 70 yards on the ground, with 56 of those coming on the Wolves' second play of the game. The Wolves' quarterback duo of Cory Bean and Evan Mozzochi also got in on the action with 59 yards combined. Bean added a two-yard touchdown run to cap off 17 unanswered points for WOU, which made it 23-17 midway through the third quarter.

As equally impressive a feat was Western Oregon stifling the Lumberjacks' running game. Humboldt State entered the contest leading the GNAC with 198.3 rushing yards per game, but was held to just 86 yards on 27 carries. The conference's leading rusher, Lyndon Rowells, was held in check all game as he gained 82 yards, 31 below his season average.

Demario Ballard recorded his second straight 100-yard receiving game for Western Oregon, with five catches for 106 yards. He was one of just three Wolves to catch a pass on the afternoon.

WOU also employed a two quarterback system in the game. Evan Mozzochi played the whole first half and completed 6-of-17 passes for 112 yards. Cory Bean took over in the second half and threw for 62 yards on 6-of-11 passing. Each quarterback threw one interception.

Bryce Peila claimed the one takeaway for Western Oregon. He picked off Mike Proulx's underthrown pass across the middle and returned it 38 yards to set up the Wolves' go-ahead touchdown right before halftime. Peila nearly took the ball to the end zone for the third straight game but was tripped up with just one man to beat. Caleb Singleton once again led the Wolves in tackles. He made nine stops, while Scotland Foss and Gerritt Vincent each added eight.

Western Oregon had chances to go up big early in the game but could not manage to find the end zone. On its first drive of the game, following Roush's 54-yard scamper, WOU reached Humboldt's 12 yard line before settling for a field goal from Morgan from 26 yards out.

It was nearly the same story on the second drive. After Mozzochi connected with Ballard for a 63 yard gain, the Wolves pushed the ball to HSU's eight yard line before coming away with another field goal by Morgan.

After Humboldt State answered back with a pair of touchdowns through the air, Western Oregon put together a 10-play, 64-yard drive ending in a Morgan field goal to pull to within 14-9.

It was then Peila who came up with the big interception on the following drive to help the Wolves finally find pay dirt, as Allen scored from one yard out with 2:53 left in the half.

Western Oregon will play its final game of the 2010 season next Saturday (Nov. 13) at Central Washington. Kickoff will be at noon.