Tyler Thornton brings down Humboldt State running back Nick Ricciardulli during Saturday’s 30-10 defeat to HSU in Azusa Pacific’s road opener. (Photo by Joe Reinsch)
By Joe Reinsch
(Courtesy of the APU Athletic Department)
ARCATA, Calif. — Humboldt State held Azusa Pacific All-American running back Terrell Watson to 51 yards while producing two 100-yard rushing performances of its own, defeating the NCAA Division II No. 14-ranked Cougars 30-10 Saturday night in the Redwood Bowl.
Nick Ricciardulli ran for a game-high 146 yards, and freshman Ja’Quan Gardner added 136 yards as the Lumberjacks jumped out to a 23-0 lead and led 30-3 at halftime.
Gardner’s 54-yard scoring run opened up the scoring just over a minute into the contest, and he added a six-yard TD with 11:18 left in the first quarter. Ricciardulli’s score from five yards out made it 23-0 with 10:39 left in the second quarter before Jamie Cacciatore’s 26-yard field goal with 5:13 before halftime put Azusa Pacific on the board. Chad Jeffries threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Henry late in the third quarter for the Cougars’ lone TD. With the loss, Azusa Pacific falls to 1-1 and will host Simon Fraser University Sept. 20 in Glendora’s Citrus Stadium.
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