Lumberjacks Finish 9-1 With 23-20 Win Over Wolves

Western Oregon, which lost twice to the Lumberjacks this year, wraps the season at 6-4, its first winning campaign since the year 2000.

Salem-News.com

ARCATA, Calif. - Humboldt State's offense controlled the clock and the Lumberjack defense made life miserable for Western Oregon's offense during a 23-20 season-ending HSU win on Saturday night at the Redwood Bowl.

The victory allowed Humboldt State to finish with a 9-1 record and with an eight-game winning streak.

The Lumberjacks held Western Oregon to just 257 yards of total offense, far under their average of 425. And in a tight second half that hinged on field position and ball control, HSU had the ball 20 minutes to just 10 for the Wolves.

Meanwhile, 'Jack quarterback Blake Moorman threw for 351 yards and two scores, both of them to fellow senior Joey Stein. Stein finished with seven catches for 190 yards, including a grab and run on the first play from scrimmage for 66 yards.

It was a game of missed opportunities for both teams, but the hosts converted one more time than its visitors.

Both teams had to settle for field goals in the first quarter (3-3), when they could have had more if not for stout defensive efforts. Moorman and Stein's connection immediately took the Lumberjacks deep into WOU territory, but they couldn't get into the end zone.

Ditto for the Wolves at the end of the quarter, where WOU settled for a 29-yard Bruce Voges strike after moving the ball down the field but coming up short in the red zone.

The Wolves then took their first lead of the game after defensive end Matt Jirges intercepted a Moorman screen pass and ran it to the HSU ten-yard line. Three plays later, WOU quarterback Mark Thorson snuck it in from the one-yard line to make the count 10-3.

Humboldt State answered with a Moorman to Stein 41-yard score to tie the game at 10-10, but the Wolves used another short kick by Voges (20-yards) to take a 13-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Lumberjacks went on an impressive drive early in the third quarter, advancing to WOU's 20-yard line. But back-to-back sacks by Jirges pushed the hosts out of field goal range.

The third quarter would remain scoreless, despite a WOU drive deep into HSU territory. But Voges would miss this time from 27-yards, and the two teams went to the fourth quarter with WOU still up, 13-10.

HSU promptly went on a 9-play, 80-yard drive, scoring on a Moorman to Stein toss of four-yards, giving the Lumberjacks a 17-13 lead. Western Oregon went three and out on its next two possessions, and Humboldt State held on the ball enough in the fourth quarter to make life very difficult for WOU.

Finally, the 'Jacks appeared to salt the game away with an eight-yard run by Marcus Cox to cap a short-field drive of 50-yards. That gave them a 23-13 lead with 2:36 remaining.

Western Oregon finally came to life on offense, scoring just 39 seconds later. A Shaun Kauleinamoku kick-off return brought the ball to the 50-yard line, and Thorson then connected with Isaiah Smith on a 39-yard alley oop.

On the next play, Thorson found Sean Fullerton on a 11-yard score, and now it was 23-20 with 1:57 left.

But Voges onside kick attempt did not go the required 10 yards, and the game was essentially over.

Thorson finished 20 of 37 for 215 yards, with Tyler Knudsen pulling in seven of those for 52 yards. Smith had three catches for 70 yards, and Ben Kuenzi led the WOU ground game with 56 yards on 20 carries. The Wolves had just 42 total rushing yards.

Edwin Henry had four catches for 80 yards as another effective target of Moorman. Cox had 61 yards rushing on 18 carries for HSU, 47 of those in the second half.

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