Football Falls To Humboldt State in Home Opener

Saturday, September 13

Saint Mary's Stadium

1:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

Humboldt State

Football Falls To Humboldt State in Home Opener

9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football

Sept. 13, 2003

Box Score

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's football team opened it 2003 home schedule with a 20-6 loss to the Humboldt State Lumberjacks on Saturday from Saint Mary's Stadium. The victory for Humboldt State snapped a six-game winning streak by the Gaels in the series and a seven-game home winning streak for SMC. The loss drops SMC to 0-3 and HSU improves to 1-1 on the season.

In the 2003 home opener for the Gaels, six turnovers turned out to be the doom for Saint Mary. Humboldt State forced five interceptions and recovered one fumble. On the opening drive of the game Saint Mary's had a first and goal on the HSU 10 before Duval Seamster intercepted a Parker Mangum pass in the end zone to keep the SMC off the scoreboard. Seamster, who finished the game with three INTs, pulled down his second pick after Saint Mary's had a first and goal from the 9-yard line, stalling another Saint Mary's scoring opportunity.

Humboldt State scored the first touchdown on the game on an 8-yard pass from Chris Dixon to Dustin Creager one-minute into the second quarter. Saint Mary's answered on its next possession when back-up quarterback Zac Connors connected with Tate Soinila for a 35-yard scoring strike. The touchdown pass was the first through the air for SMC this season. Brad Scoffern's extra point attempt hit the left upright to keep the score at 7-6 in favor of HSU.

The Lumberjacks answered quickly when Dixon threw another touchdown, this time to Sean Quincey from eight yards out. The touchdown strike gave HSU a 14-6 lead with 8:31 remaining in the first half.

The only second half score came with 14:04 remaining in the game as Humboldt State linebacker Tim White intercepted a Connors pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. The point after was missed, giving the Lumberjacks a 20-6 victory.

Junior running back Clint Wilson recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, finishing with a game-high 109 yards rushing and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. As a team SMC finished the game with 252 yards of total offense with 168 coming through the air and 84 yards on the ground.

Humboldt State quarterback Chris Dixon completed 18-of-40 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. Two receivers for the Lumberjacks eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Creager finished with 105 yards with a game-high seven catches and Chris White had six catches for a game-high 107 yards. HSU finished the game with 364 yards of total offense.

Saint Mary's will have next week off before returning to action against Division II opponent Western Washington on September 27. Kickoff is set for Noon at Bellingham, Washington's Civic Stadium.