ARCATA — Way down south in the high desert, Humboldt State searches for its first win of the 2010 season and a positive start to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference campaign when the Jacks face Dixie State in the St. George, Utah, on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Mountain Time, translating to 6 p.m. Pacific. Airtime for the pregame show on KATA 1340 AM radio is 5:40 p.m.
On-the-Air
Every Lumberjack football game is broadcast live over the local airways on KATA, 1340 AM, beginning with the pregame show 20 minutes prior to game time. Bicoastal Media Sports Director J.B. Mathers describes the action and HSU Hall of Fame inductee Burt Nordstrom adds commentary. …Audio is also streamed live over the Internet through the hsujacks.com web site. The UStream format allows an interactive chat between listeners during the webcast. The specific URL for access is located at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics.
Live Stats
All Lumberjack football home games can be tracked online by using the Live Stats feature on hsujacks.com. Real time statistics, drive progress and other information are featured on the game viewer. The feature can be found at http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/football/. Dixie State offers live stats on its web site, http://www.sidearmstats.com/dixie/football/
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Dixie State game can be secured through the Red Storm’s ticket office. Contact the office via email at boxoffice@dixie.edu or call (435) 652-7800.
Coach Rob Smith
Entering his third year as the Lumberjacks’ head coach, Rob Smith’s Lumberjacks have posted a 7-15 record through the program’s transition. Before coming to HSU, Smith guided the very successful Western Washington University football program for 17 years. During his career as the Vikings’ head coach, Smith’s teams posted a cumulative record of 109-62-1 for a .640 winning percentage . His wins total and winning percentage are the best in school history.
Head-to-Head
The teams split last year’s home-and-away series, Dixie State claiming a 24-20 victory in St. George, and the Jacks finishing off their season with a 33-23 win over the Red Storm in Redwood Bowl. Overall, the Jacks and Dixie are even at four wins each.
Lumberjack Notes
Threatening the upset against NCAA Division I FCS Cal Poly San Luis Obispo wasn’t enough to satisfy the Lumberjack coaching staff or players. The 23-17 defeat dealt the Jacks by the Mustangs was the seventh time in their past eight losses that has come by a margin less than a touchdown. “I’m tired of those type of games. We’re all tired of being close,” HSU head coach Rob Smith said. “We need to learn to make plays when plays need to be made. On the positive side, this (loss) shows we’re not that far away.” …The play of HSU’s defense was a definite plus, coming up with two big stops, one at the goal line and one with Elzie Gatson’s interception in the endzone. …Already laden with quality returners, the Jacks’ defense is obviously improved by the addition of several newcomers. Smith and his staff recognized the impact of linebacker Jonathan Faraimo and defensive end Phillip Edwards by naming them the team’s Co-Defensive Players of the Week. Both players made seven tackles, and Faraimo scored a touchdown after scooping up a fumble and rolling 29 yards into the endzone. The staff noted that defensive tackle Andrew Iupati, the third of those three Division I transfers, also played an impressive opening game. …Offensively, running back Daniel Wyatt was chosen as this week’s Offensive Player of the Week. Wyatt rushed for 46 yards on 11 carries after replacing starting tailback Lyndon Rowells, who experienced problems with leg cramps. …Despite his cramping problems, Rowells was another newcomer who showed how the Jacks have improved themselves this season. The transfer from College of the Redwoods had 36 yards in eight carries, and also caught five passes for 23 yards. …Selected as scout team Players of the Week were Ricky Sims on offense and Sal Mendez on defense. …Quarterback Mike Proulx benefitted from excellent pass protection by his crew up front, led by All-American candidate Taylor Boggs at center. Proulx was only sacked once by the heralded CP defensive line. …Special teams Players of the Week were punters Chris Bolt and Tim McMullen, both of whom had impressive games. The tandem gave the Jacks an average of 43.2 yards per punt, with Bolt booting the first two of the day before switching to punt protection duties to replace the injured Guy Ricciardulli. …Humboldt’s journey to Utah is one of the toughest treks in the GNAC. The Jacks will bus to the Bay Area on Thursday, take an early flight to Las Vegas on Friday, then bus again to arrive in St. George. …More adversity comes in the form of weather, with a high of 94 degrees predicted for Saturday. The elevation of 2,860 feet is the lowest in the mountainous state of Utah, and shouldn’t be a factor.
Injury Report
HSU suffered a major blow when the team’s top defensive player of the past two years, strong safety Guy Ricciardulli, sustained a shoulder injury. He’ll be evaluated further by medical staff to determine the seriousness and if he will be able to play at all this season. …Free safety Tanner Webb suffered a minor leg injury, as did tight end Matt Devlin. Both are expected to be able to play Saturday.
Red Storm Notes
Dixie State is being guided by first-year head coach Scott Brumfield, who was an All-American lineman at Dixie State during his playing days. His previous coaching experience was at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. …The Red Storm comes into the game 0-2, losing its season-opener, 34-14 to Adams State two weeks ago, then falling in a tight battle with Central Washington, 24-14 last Saturday. “I’m not sure what happened in the Adams State game, but we know they’re better than that,” Smith said. “They played Central tough, and have incentive to win.”…Freshman quarterback Cody Stevenson went 21-of-42 for 187 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against CWU. …The Red Storm has struggled with its running game, rushing for only 42 yards in its first two games combined.
Coach Smith’s Pregame Assessment
“Dixie State has some outstanding defensive players. Their middle linebacker (Keauntea Bankhead) and the two transfers from Western Washington (linebacker Nick Cragen and defensive end Nick Rocco) get to the ball quickly and are very active players.” … ”I’m impressed with the way our players were ready to compete. The confidence level is the highest I’ve seen in my two years here. Now we have to build on that, make a few plays here and there, and we’ll be successful in conference.” … “Both teams in this week’s game are going to be hungry. Somebody is going to get their first win of the season.”
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