Football | 10/6/2012 9:57:00 PM

Box Score

ARCATA, Calif. – Freshman running back Joe Harris rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown while senior quarterback Cody VonAppen rushed for three scores as the Western Oregon football team cruised to a 42-14 victory over No. 24 Humboldt State on Saturday night. With the victory, WOU improved to 3-3 on the season, 3-2 in league play, as the Lumberjacks fell to 4-2 overall, 3-2 in conference action.

WOU got off to a fast start as the Wolves jumped out to lead they would never relinquish, outscoring HSU, 21-0, for the quarter. On HSU's first drive, the defense would put the Wolves on the board first as defensive lineman Sipili Tuigamala picked off a deflected pass and ran it eight-yards for the score to give WOU an early seven-point lead.

The Wolves would extend the lead to 14-0 as WOU would turn in a one-play scoring drive after a fumbled punt by HSU. Taking over on the Luberjacks' 15-yard-line, Harris ran left and into the endzone to give the Wolves a 14-point advantage.

Lucas Gonsalves would put the finishing touches on a terrific first quarter for the Wolves as his three-yard touchdown reception from VonAppen capped a six-play, 94-yard drive as WOU took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter.

WOU kept the momentum going as a pair of rushing touchdowns by VonAppen would give the Wolves a 35-7 lead with 8:55 remaining in the second quarter. Humboldt State managed to tack on a touchdown late in the quarter; however, the Wolves would carry a decided, 35-14 lead heading into the break.

The WOU defense would do the rest as it held the top-ranked offense in the league to just 230 total yards for the game and VonAppen capped the victory with a 17-touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. The score would give the Wolves a 42-14 victory as WOU picked up its third-straight victory.

The Wolves held a 347-230 edge in total yards as WOU rushed for a season-high 250 yards on the ground. The defense held Humboldt State to just 57 yards on the ground while forcing three turnovers as WOU won at Humboldt State for the fifth time in the last six years.

WOU will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 13, as the Wolves host Dixie State for Homecoming at 1:00 p.m.