ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 24) – Central Washington University junior Justin Lane threw for over 300 yards for the third time in as many games, becoming the first quarterback in 17 seasons to accomplish the feat.  However, the Wildcats' football team fell to sixteenth-ranked Humboldt State University 42-17 Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
The Wildcats fall to 3-5 on the season and 1-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play while the Lumberjacks improve to 6-1, 4-0 in the GNAC.
 
Lane was efficient in the matchup completing 23 of 36 passes for 336 yards and to touchdowns, including a 61-yard strike to Jesse Zalk late in the second quarter.  Lane's 300-plus passing yards in three-straight games is a first since Casey Jacox during the 1998 season.
 
"Lane is growing into the position and the offense and it is exciting when we can gain that many yards, our hope is performances like that will start leading to wins," CWU Head Coach Ian Shoemaker said. "Justin was very efficient today which was important due to the fact that we couldn't get the run game going.  Our hope was to be a bit more balanced, but unfortunately we had to change things up a bit."
 
The Wildcats gained netted just 48-yards rushing, losing 49 yards on the seven sacks forced by the HSU defense.
 
Zalk led the Wildcats in receiving for the third consecutive game, hauling in seven catches for 131 yards and one score.  Kyle Self caught the only other CWU touchdown on the day, a 10-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
 
"Jesse is playing really well right now, and we are leaning on him heavily to perform for us and he is making big plays," Shoemaker said about his wide out. "Ever since he returned from injury he has been firing on all cylinders and leading our team."
 
Humboldt State scored on their opening drive going 47 yards in five plays taking just 1:25 seconds to take a 7-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats responded by marching 93 yards down the field before Sean McDonald split the goal posts on a 23-yard field goal with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
 
Ja'Quan Gardner, who leads the nation in rushing yards per game, scored on run plays of five and two yards to give Humboldt State a 21-3 lead.  Gardner finished the contest with 140 yards on 28 carries.
 
After Zalk's long touchdown reception the Wildcats trailed 28-10 heading into halftime.
 
The Lumberjacks broke away in the third quarter as quarterback Robert Webber scampered into the end zone from nine yards out to take a commanding 35-10 lead.  Humboldt State added their final score with 12:33 left in the game when Chrise Hannible intercepted one of Lane's passes and returned it 76 yards for a score.
 
With the loss the Wildcats have now lost three-straight games for the first time since 2011.
 
The Wildcats will get a much-needed week off as they next return to action on Nov. 6 when they travel to Simon Fraser for a Friday game at 6 p.m.
 
"We need to get healthy and after this next week we hope to get a few guys back," Shoemaker added.  "It has been a struggle all season, health wise, and we will take this time to take care of our bodies and tighten our game up in preparation for our game at SFU."