Football | 10/22/2011 5:39:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Kenny Haynes rushed for 110 yards and Evan Mozzochi threw for three touchdowns to lead Western Oregon into the driver's seat in its search for the first Great Northwest Athletic Conference football title in school history with a 40-24 victory over No. 15 Humboldt State.

The Wolves (5-3, 5-1 GNAC) put together its most complete team effort of the season to knock off the previously undefeated Lumberjacks (6-1, 4-1 GNAC) in front of a packed house of 2,750 fans at McArthur Field on Homecoming. Western Oregon now leads HSU by a half-game for first place in the GNAC standings.

Haynes led a rushing attack which gained 187 yards on the ground compared to just 72 for Humboldt State. Western Oregon registered 135 of those rushing yards in the second half as the Wolves wore down the defensive line of HSU.

"Going into this game we felt how we ran the football and defended the rush was going to be the key," said Western Oregon head coach Arne Ferguson. "We rushed for 187 yards and we contained their running back to less than 100 yards. Whenever you can hold a ball-control offense to under 100 yards rushing you are going to be successful."

The Wolves' defense also created four turnovers, sacked HSU five times and swung the momentum in WOU's favor early by holding the Lumberjacks to just three points after they got inside Western Oregon's 10 yardline twice in first quarter. 

"We knew they could score so we had to keep them away from touchdowns the best we could," Ferguson noted. "Our kids played with a lot of energy and played smart."

Mozzochi added 51 yards on the ground and threw for 192 more while spreading his touchdown passes out to three different receivers, with two of them coming on tipped passes.

The first gave the Wolves a lead they would never relinquish. Mozzochi targeted Tyrell Williams but his pass was deflected high into the air by an HSU linebacker. With the change of trajectory the ball went right over the defense into the waiting hands of Williams, who outraced the defense 51 yards for the score. 

It was then the defense's turn to put points on the board for the second week in a row. Levi Smith came around from his end position and laid a devastating hit on HSU's quarterback Mike Proulx jarring the ball loose. Fellow defensive end Erik Hochhlater scooped up the fumble, and with the help of his blockers, rumbled 24 yards for the touchdown to put Western Oregon in front 17-3 with 11:18 remaining in the second quarter.

HSU's star running back Lyndon Rowells then found the endzone to bring the 'Jacks back to within 17-10, but the Wolves had a scoring drive left in them before the half.  They went seven plays in 2:32, capped off by a two-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Gonsalves, to take a 24-10 lead into halftime.

WOU's Kelly Morgan provided the only scoring of the third quarter. He hit two of his four field goals in the quarter to put Western Oregon up 30-10 with one quarter remaining.

HSU struck for a touchdown just five seconds into the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 13 points (30-17). Western Oregon answered right back with a six-play, 74 yard drive culminating in a 32 yard tipped pass touchdown to Trevor Gates. Gates is now just 78 yards short of setting the Western Oregon single-season scoring record with three games remaining.

Western Oregon would not breathe easy for long though. Humboldt State came right back down the field in 3:19 and Proulx found Victor Spencer on a fade route in the corner of the endzone to make the Wolves' collective crowd hold their breath.

It was then the defense's turn to shine. Over the next three HSU possessions the Lumberjacks were 0-for-6 pass with an interception and were sacked twice. King Manu led the defense with 10 tackles.

"We came to play on both sides of the ball," said senior quarterback Evan Mozzochi. "Our defense did a great job holding their high powered offense (down). Our coaches also did a great job coming up with the game plan and I felt we executed very well."

"Humboldt State is a very good team," explained Ferguson. "There is a reason why they beat a Division I-AA team and Central Washington twice. Their offense is extremely good and their defense makes you earn everything.

"We knew it had to be a concerted effort with our offense, defense and special teams," continued Ferguson. "We feel that in all three phases we played very well."

The Western Oregon football team will close out its 2011 home schedule next Saturday against GNAC opponent Dixie State at 1:00 p.m.