The Lumberjack

Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Elizabeth Hilbig

If you're one of the fans who left after the third quarter of Saturday night's Humboldt State football game, you missed a comeback that will be talked about for years to come.

Down by 16 points and with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game, the 'Jacks rallied for a thrilling 30-22 victory in triple overtime against the Dixie College Rebels in the Redwood Bowl.

For the first three quarters, Humboldt State couldn't find any rhythm. Penalties and turnovers ended one drive after another, preventing the 'Jacks from getting into the end zone. At the same time, Dixie College used Humboldt State's miscues to build a 16-0 lead that had fans leaving in disbelief. While the spectators felt the game was over, the players did not.

"I knew we were so close to turning this game around," sophomore wide receiver Edwin Henry said. Henry, who finished the game with four catches for 58 yards, said he never felt the game was out of hand for the team.

"All we had to do was believe in ourselves," Henry said. "We just had to overcome our mistakes and errors, and we did."

If the first 49 minutes were error-prone, the final 11 were nearly flawless. The 'Jacks drove down the field from their own 19-yard line in 70 seconds to score the team's first touchdown of the night. Senior running back Marcus Cox bulldozed through the Rebel defense to cut the lead to 10. On the ensuing play, the 'Jacks completed a two-point conversion when junior quarterback Brian Hildebrand completed a pass to Henry that trimmed Dixie College's lead to 16-8. Cox said after the game that the momentum the team got in the fourth quarter was exactly what they needed to get back on track.



"We came into this game with a 1-3 record. We're not used to losing," said Cox, who finished the night with 31 rushes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. As the game progressed, the officials made several calls against Humboldt State that all but ended the team's comeback effort. Cox said the team didn't focus on the officiating because they knew that if they made the right plays, they would win the game.

"We have a great team," said Cox. "We can't control the calls the refs are going to make. We can only control our attitude and our effort, and when we do we can beat anyone."

Humboldt State's defense shut down Dixie College on the Rebels' next two possessions, giving the 'Jacks one final chance to tie the game. The 'Jacks did not disappoint. With just over three minutes remaining, Cox scored his second touchdown of the night on a nine-yard run to cut the Rebels' lead to 16-14. Senior wide receiver Richard Perkins caught a pass from Hildebrand on the next play, Humboldt State's second two-point conversion of the night, to tie the game at 16-16. Both teams received a final possession before the end of regulation, but neither could convert on their opportunity.

Both teams scored in the first overtime. The 'Jacks struck first, but missed on their extra-point opportunity. Dixie College answered with a touchdown of their own to set up the potential game-winning kick. With the remaining fans making as much noise as possible, the Rebels attempted to kick their way to victory, but failed when the place holder botched the snap.

Neither the 'Jacks nor the Rebels scored in the second overtime. For a while the game that seemed all but over in the fourth quarter appeared to have no end in sight. However, the Humboldt State defense made sure the game would end in the third overtime. With a 30-22 lead thanks to a Hildebrand touchdown run and two-point conversion, senior defensive back Keon Gaither intercepted Dixie College's quarterback to end the game and seal the 'Jacks' incredible comeback victory.

Senior offensive lineman Duane Manyweather said the game addressed several problems the team had in their first four games while boosting the 'Jacks' confidence heading into their game this weekend. He added that the fans that left after the third quarter did so at their own loss.

"Those who left should have known it's not over until it's over," Manyweather said. "People were mislead by our 1-3 record and as a result they missed a great finish."

Humboldt State's win over Dixie College on Saturday will go down as one of the best games Humboldt State fans have seen in recent memory. One player said after the game that the win was a fitting tribute to a player who exemplified the team's unwillingness to give up.

"This victory is for Kenny Edwards," said sophomore defensive lineman Lucius Mills. Edwards, a member of the 2006 team that went 9-1, died on Christmas Day this past December. "This game proves that we never give up. Kenny was never one to quit. Every victory we get this season, including tonight, is because of Kenny."



Garrett Purchio can be contacted at gmoneykid@comcast.net

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