The Lumberjack student newspaper
Ja’Quan on his way to a touchdown. | Ian Benjamin Finnegan Thompson

Jacks comeback to chop down rival Azusa

Translate

The Lumberjacks kept a packed Redwood Bowl on the edge of their seats during Homecoming after the teams thrilling come from behind victory over conference rival Azusa Pacific, 52-49.

The nearly 6,000 roaring fans in attendance had the air taken from their sails early on when the Jacks fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter.

Thompson.Ian.Feature-3834
Ja’Quan Gardner breaking through a defensive line. | Ian Benjamin Finnegan Thompson

Jacks senior wide out, Chase Krivashei, eased the crowds pain a bit when he scored the Jacks first touchdown of the night on a pass from senior quarterback Robert Webber making the score 14-7.

APU would get the next two scores on the legs of its star running back, junior Kurt Scoby, putting Azusa up 28-7. This set the stage for a performance for the ages.

The game would be decided in the trenches as Scoby was nearly unstoppable but he met his match on this night in Jacks All-American running back Ja’Quan Gardner. Whatever Scoby did, Gardner did better.

“It brings out your competitive spirit,” Gardner said. “You wanna do your best and you wanna play up to par.”

After another APU touchdown, the situation was looking grim with only 36 seconds left in the first half and the Jacks down three scores, the team needed a boost.

They got it in a huge way when Gardner broke off the Azusa defense for a dazzling 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to close the half and give the Jacks the momentum bringing the score to 35-21.

Gardner finished the first half with 148-yards rushing, two scores and almost 300 total yards while his counterpart Scoby finished with 105-yards and three scores.

Thompson.Ian.Feature-3558
Ja’Quan Gardner running into the end zone. | Ian Benjamin Finnegan Thompson

The Jacks picked up right where they left off in the second half and scored quickly in just two plays finishing it off with a 20-yard Gardner run to make it a one score game.

After another Azusa touchdown, the Jacks made their move. Thanks to back-to-back interceptions by the Jacks secondary and just a few more Gardner touchdowns, the Jacks took the lead 49-42.

Azusa quarterback Andrew Elffers kept the game tied by connecting with his favorite target, receiver Darrell Adams to set up a touchdown.

With 4:30 left in the fourth quarter, the Jacks moved methodically down the field to set up a gut wrenching go-ahead 47-yard field goal attempt by junior kicker Jose “Pepe” Morales.

“Going out there I had a lot of thoughts in my head,” Morales said. “As soon as the snap came, it just all went away and once I saw it come off my foot and looked up at it, I knew it was good.”

Thompson.Ian.Feature-3914-Edit_Print_Color
Ja’Quan Gardner running past defensive line. | Ian Benjamin Finnegan Thompson

The crowd erupted as the kick sailed through the uprights to put the Jacks up for good despite a final push by Azusa in the games final seconds.

Gardner broke almost all of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference records with his Hall of Fame performance Saturday night. He broke the GNAC’s all-time career records for touchdowns (67), scoring (402), all-purpose yards (6,366), and rushing yards (5,124).

The senior star also set a new GNAC single-game record for scoring with six touchdowns for 36 points and total yards with 446 (293 rushing, 3 receiving and 150 kick return).

HSU remains at home to host Western Oregon next Saturday Oct. 21 at the Redwood Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Jacks were the veteran group against Azusa and have leaders at all the right spots who were willing to do whatever it took to get that win.

“It says a great deal about the character of our kids,” Coach Smith said. “It’s a never give up group. They get down and they still believe.”

Share This Post

More Stories

Nina G uses comedy to start conversations

During the virtual comedy event held by the SDRC, Nina Ghiselli tells her story and emphasizes the importance of student disability resources within schools.

It’s not just the Capitol Police

As the world watched from their televisions on January 6, we witnessed scenes unfold before our eyes that were, to many, unimaginable: supporters of President Trump swarmed the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, then proceeded to break in and

The San Jose State University Football Team Comes to Humboldt

On a day’s notice from administration, the SJSU football team spends a week and a half in Humboldt practicing because their county did not allow it. Students react to their presence on campus in the midst of a pandemic. Directed

Homelessness in Humboldt, CA

This is the first trailer of a homeless documentary created by HSU students. We have spent months filming and will continue to film throughout the next year. Follow the heartbreaking stories of the homeless community around Humboldt county and the

Thrifty Arcata

Taking a tour of the local thrift shops in Arcata during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed and produced by Skylar Gaven.

House Plants Generate Peace and Meaning During the Pandemic

Three different people with the same love for plants! House plants have become quite popular these days especially since we’re all basically stuck inside during the pandemic. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but these beautiful green oxygen-makers provide more

Prop 22 represents political favoritism of money over workers’ rights

California’s passing of proposition 22 on Nov. 5 represents a frustrating history of workers’ rights being trampled by the overwhelming influence of greed in politics.  This proposition forces app-based workers to be classified as independent contractors, rather than employees. This

Remembering Evelyn Andrews 10 months after her passing

By Katelyn Dendas It has been 10 months since my friend, teammate and freshman year dorm mate, Evelyn Andrews, passed away. I don’t remember what the grief counselor said or what transpired after that Monday, but I do remember arriving

Protestors seek to defund HSUPD

Two local, activist organizations work together to stage a sit-in against Humboldt State’s police department.

Getting stuck on the Trump train

Writer Anthony Aragon details his experience of accidentally joining a pro-Trump car rally.

Justin Turner exposes the World Series to COVID-19

Justin Turner didn’t need to be the story in the wake of the Dodgers’ first World Series victory in 32 years. Instead here we are, wondering what sort of, if any, punishment Major League Baseball will decide to hand down

Four more years of fear

News Editor Carlos Holguin explains why he is worried about the next four years.

Dismal democracy

The Lumberjack editorial staff comments on America’s flawed electoral system As the world watches the United States 2020 election results, waiting for our pseudodemocratic process to churn out a new president, historically unprecedented voting methods misrepresents the reported Election Day

The Mario triple pack invokes a nostalgia attack

When I was a child, the first video game system I owned was a Nintendo 64. Among the games I played was Super Mario 64. I played it all the time and when I wasn’t playing it, I was lying

Women’s lacrosse drops their competitive season

Greta Roberts, president and player of Humboldt State University’s women’s lacrosse team, made the decision with her coach and teammates to cancel the upcoming spring season. The team decided that not being able to recruit in the fall would be

Dobby’s proposition opinions

Haven’t voted yet? Well, you’re running out of time. Here’s a quick rundown of California’s propositions on the ballot this year

Corporations buy out propositions

In a series of general and misleading advertisements, corporate backers of Propositions 22 and 23 show their grubby hands

CDOR continues virtually

The Campus and Community Dialogue On Race returns covering global justice for Black Lives.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Local food management practices of the Tolowa Dee-ni, Yurok and other indigenous peoples.

Humboldt State Admin attempts to discredit the Lumberjack

***A Lumberjack editorial represents both the majority opinion of the student newspaper’s editorial board, nine editors, as well as the overwhelming majority of Humboldt State University’s student body. Collectively, an editorial echos, embodies and advocates for community beliefs.*** Insensitive communications

Music of the Moment 6

21 Savage and Metro Boomin drop a classic with “Savage Mode II”

Spartans arrive at HSU despite campus concerns

***Editor’s note: SJSU football program was tested in congruence with Mountain West conference guidelines*** The Spartans have arrived and this time they’re not carrying spears or shields. Instead the San Jose State football team stepped onto the Humboldt State campus

Music of the Moment 5

After shooting Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez cancels himself

Welcome to the Twilight Zone

Comparisons between episodes of the classic TV show The Twilight Zone and our own dismal reality

Music of the Moment 4

YoungBoy Never Broke Again dodges the sophomore slump with his new album “Top.”

Self-Care Cuts

Changing your hair to change your life

HSU Seaweed Farm sets sail

The first commercially-approved seaweed farm in California will be on the map.

Music of the Moment 3

For better or worse, Big Sean is likely gone for good.

More Layers, More Protection?

Humboldt State demands double masking on campus, does more layers equal more protection?

The Ethnic Studies Bill is a Blessing

Ethnic Studies will thankfully become mandatory for all California State University students – as it should be.

The Complex Interface of Humans and Wildfires

How fire suppression is a mixed bag in Humboldt County Every fire season, blankets of smoke roll over Humboldt County. Here on the coast, that’s as close to wildfires as some of us get. But our practice of fire suppression

Defund HSU’s Police Department

Incidents of racism from the former UPD Chief, past examples of excessive force from current officers and a shrinking university budget.

How Not To Be Bitten By A Kitten

Please prepare to be prey Congratulations, a baby feline has recently come into your life. If they’re anywhere from 2-18 months, they bite. They see you as prey. Because you are prey. You always have been. You always will be.

Graduating Into Uncharted Waters

HSU graduates attempt to navigate a world turned upside-down by COVID-19 In May, Humboldt State University graduated hundreds of students, as it does every year. Unlike past years, graduates didn’t get to shake hands with their respective dean and receive

HSU Cultural Center Budget Slashed

Associated Students leaves student body devastated after significant reductions in cultural center’s budget.

All aboard the plague ship

Unprecedented times are met with normalized behavior, HSU puts students and community members at higher risk after reopening campus and student housing.

Music of the Moment

The hip-hop community rallies behind the Black Lives Matter Movement

Inside the Immune System

How the body uses multiple levels of defense against foreign intruders

Catcalling Can’t Continue

Verbal harassment toward women is about control and the assertion of gender discrimination