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ST. GEORGE -- The field turf at Dixie State's Hansen Stadium provided footing one last time Saturday night, but the Red Storm played traction-less for most of the game.
Visiting Humboldt State University found their stride on the soon to be replaced turf in a 49-14 run away from Dixie.
The Lumberjacks put six touchdowns on the scoreboard by halftime. The 42-0 score at the break came from big plays, three of which were of 50 yards or more.
Lumberjack junior running back Lyndon Rowells broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run 9 minutes into the game. It was a prelude to a huge Lumberjack half.
"That by far is my biggest game at Humboldt," Rowells said. "I give all the praise to the O-line. If it wasn't for them, nothing would happen."
The Largo, Fla., product said Humboldt State is not accustomed to walking off Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents' fields as victors.
"This is our first road win in the GNAC, I think, in four years," He said. "This is a really good feeling right now."
Humboldt State entered the game coming off a loss to Division I FCS Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 23-17. Though they lost to the Mustangs, head coach Rob Smith said he liked his team's self-image.
"We were disappointed with the loss," Smith said. "That in itself says something. We went to Cal Poly believing that we could beat them. We were very disappointed that we didn't get the job done, but like every game, you want to learn from that. You want to try and get better, and tonight's results are an indication of that happening."
In addition to Rowells' huge play, Jacks' quarterback Mike Proulx and wide receiver Sergio Allen combined for a double-pass to receiver Edwin Henry for a 63-yard touchdown right before the end of the quarter. Humboldt had a 14-0 lead from two plays.
The Lumberjacks tore up even more of the expiring Hansen Stadium turf in the second quarter. Humboldt tacked on four more touchdowns before the halftime break: a 13-yard Rowells' run, a Jordan McGowan Smith 13-yard fumble recovery return, a 52-yard pass from Proulx to tight end Matt Devlin and a 23-yard touchdown pass from Proulx to Henry. The Jacks piled up 406 yards of offense on 40 plays, 218 of those yards came on the ground. Rowells rushed 14 times for 174 yards for a 12-yard rush average. Smith said the first 30 minutes was unique.
"We got the big runs by Lyndon combined with the defense creating turnovers in the first half. It was one of those halves where everything we tried worked," Smith said. "That doesn't happen very often. I have been on both sides of those types of things. It is nice to be on a roll and have things go as well as they did."
The Red Storm offense produced zero points and only 73 yards on 26 plays in the first half. They coughed up one fumble and freshman Cody Stevenson threw one interception. Dixie coach Scott Brumfield said the first half was easy to analyze.
"We didn't control them. We didn't pick up first downs and we made mistakes," Brumfield said. "This is very similar to the Adams State game, where we left our defense out there on the field way too long."
The Red Storm did visit the Hansen Stadium end zones in the second half. Soon after beginning the fourth quarter, Stevenson displayed some of his never-give-up toughness by hitting tight end Alex Nelsen for a 14-yard touchdown and right before the end of the game he hooked-up with Kyser Christensen on a 32-yard scoring strike to conclude the scoring at 49-14.
Stephenson went 10 for 14 passing in the second half for 176 and had the two touchdowns; that after a 7 for 18, 49-yard first half. Brumfield said he is committed to the true freshman and former Juan Diego prep.
"I made a decision at Adams State to go with him and we're going to stick with him," Brumfield said. "We're going to take some lumps with him and we are going to grow as an offense."
The next home game at Hansen Stadium will be on Oct. 9 against Western Oregon, with a new playing surface installed. For Dixie football fans, they hope solid Red Storm footing is found soon.
"Tough way to start the season," Brumfield said. "We recognized how good Humboldt was when watching film on them against Cal Poly. We knew they were much improved."
The Red Storm (0-3) will play at No. 12 Central Washington University (1-2) this coming Saturday.
(Photos courtesy Levi Arnone/ Dixie Sun)
