The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Humboldt State football

  • Jacks comeback to chop down rival Azusa

    Jacks comeback to chop down rival Azusa

    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.

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    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.

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    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.”

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    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.”

  • An alumnus perspective on being Lumberjack football player

    An alumnus perspective on being Lumberjack football player

    Over the last few weeks, a lot of rumor, fear and misinformation have been circling about the possible loss of Lumberjack football next year. As a 40 year old alumnus and former football player, I felt it is important to share my perspective on what it meant to be a student athlete, and more importantly, a student athlete at Humboldt. I speak from my perspective, however I would imagine many other guys feel the same way. I think this is important for three main reasons.

    First, to let the administration know how much that Redwood surrounded stadium and campus means to all of the alumni. Secondly, to offer perspective to the student body and community who may not be football fans. Finally and most importantly, to publicly ask for answers from the administration that is making this decision.

    All alumni have different levels of involvement with the program. My personal involvement is of course as a fan, but also as a booster. I have always tried to support the program when I can and always will. I proudly share my alma mater in my living room with my 6 year old son just about every Saturday in the fall. So at 40 years of age, with kids, wife, a demanding career, why such a die-hard connection? The answer is simple; pride and connection. I am proud of where I went to school, I am proud to have worn Humboldt State on my chest for 21 Saturdays, I am proud of the work I put in with Drew to prepare myself, I am proud to share my university with my children. Most importantly, I am connected. I am connected to men who did the same thing as I. I am connected to these men for life. I am connected to men from Compton, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Hawthorne, Eureka, and Reno. I am connected to men from a myriad of backgrounds that I would have never known had it not been for football. I now realize this is what matters. Yes, winning games is important and feels great. As you get older, what will become more important are the relationships you have built. One thing is certain, as a student athlete you will build relationships with people from backgrounds you would otherwise never be connected to. As a professional in a highly-competitive field that has made a great impact on my life for the better, I have been outside of my comfort-zone. I am able to appreciate other world perspectives. I have shared in different peoples life experiences. I don’t want that valuable opportunity erased from campus.

    So with such positive experiences why is there talk of cutting football? We are being told budget. Well, according to the research study commissioned by the school, cutting football would not relieve the budget issues. Why are athletics not budgeted out of the general fund? We are being told enrollment is down. Why are there 1,500 applications not being looked at? By no means do I claim to be a CSU budget expert, none of us are. So why isn’t the administration having a public forum to discuss the possible loss of an obviously beloved part of the community? Are they looking at better ways to budget? Are we actively seeking out corporate sponsorships? Can athletics do a better job of reaching out to alumni? Why is attendance at football games being underreported? These are all great questions. Why are there no answers? I don’t have the answers, unfortunately those that do remain silent or give noncommittal statements. I would like something from the AD and President as to what the plan is. Is the plan to cut the program and they’re too cowardly to admit it now? Are they looking at ways to budget correctly? I don’t know, we don’t know, I am frightened they may not know.

    I am not a professional writer, I am not a seasoned College administrator, I am a former mediocre college athlete who loves his Green and Gold brothers, and loves his University. My goal in writing this is to try and let those understand the importance my college experience has played in my live. Learning how to compete, how to work, coping with failure, instilling empathy for different life experiences. All of these things have made me a better person. College is about academics but it is also about learning to be a better person. I ask you to evaluate the importance of football not on your love for the game but on your appreciation for the importance of connection. I ask that all my brothers, the community, boosters, students, stand up and speak and fight any attempt to erase this program. I ask the administration to communicate with us. Involve us in the process, let us help, we want to fight with you not against you.

    Respectfully,

    Jarrod Klein

    Class of 2000

    GO JACKS!!!!!