treyHSU
20
Western Oregon WOU 0-1 , 0-1
29
Winner Humboldt State HSU 1-0 , 1-0
Western Oregon WOU
0-1 , 0-1
20
Final
29
Humboldt State HSU
1-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WOU Western Oregon 0 7 0 13 20
HSU Humboldt State 7 12 0 10 29

Game Recap: Football |

Comeback chopped down, WOU falls at Humboldt

Shimabukuro tosses career-high yards, TDs in 29-20 GNAC defeat

ARCATA, Calif. – Western Oregon dropped a 29-20 decision at Humboldt State in the opening game of the 2015 regular season and Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule.  WOU falls to 0-1 overall and in the early race for the GNAC title.
 
Senior quarterback Trey Shimabukuro threw for a career-high 368 yards (26 of 38) and three touchdowns leading the Wolves comeback effort in the second half. Preseason All-American Paul Revis topped the century mark for the seventh time with 116 receiving yards on six catches. Senior running back Joe Harris tallied 70 yards on 16 carries, averaging 4.4 yards per touch.
 
Humboldt State scored on three of their first four possessions to take a 19-0 lead at the midpoint of the second quarter following a WOU safety.
 
WOU got on the scoreboard with a 7-play, 69-yard drive late in the second quarter. Shimabukuro kept the drive from stalling out by hitting sophomore receiver Keoni Piceno for a 22-yard gain. Junior tight end Andy Avgi made two spectacular grabs – a 25-yard catch in congestion to move the sticks and a jumping one-handed reception in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.
 
Midway through a scoreless third quarter, WOU marched into Humboldt State (1-0, 1-0 GNAC) territory with a 44-yard scamper from Harris. Two plays later, HSU stripped the ball out late on a rush and stymied the Wolves' drive.
 
The comeback attempt from 12 points down began at the onset of the final quarter as Shimabukuro connected with Revis on a play that covered 33 yards and pulled WOU within five (19-14) with 14 minutes to play.
 
Humboldt State responded to the WOU scoring drive with a touchdown on the ensuing possession and halting the Wolves' 12-play campaign with a sack of Shimabukuro on fourth down. HSU added a field goal to take a 29-14 lead with 2:59 remaining.
 
The Wolves went into the two-minute pass offense to preserve the clock while moving down the Redwood Bowl turf. Wesley Gray moved the chains with a 39-yard grab on third down. Two plays later, Daniel Thomas grasped Shimabukuro's third TD pass, an 8-yard toss right at the goal line. The extra point try missed, keeping the host Jacks up by nine. HSU recovered an onside kick and knelt away the final seconds.
 
Senior linebacker Shane Kuenzi led the Wolves defense with nine tackles. Linemen George Swartzlender and Michael Kluge each added seven stops. Swartzlender had two tackles for loss (-5) while Kluge had WOU's lone sack (-7). Sophomore linebacker Tyler Johnson notched six stops.
 
Western Oregon opens their home schedule next Saturday against Simon Fraser at McArthur Field. Kickoff for a GNAC non-conference tilt with the Clan is set for 1 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version