ARCATA, Calif. (Oct. 8) – After trailing 17-7 entering halftime, the Central Washington University football team dominated every aspect of the second half, scoring 35 unanswered points en route to a convincing 42-17 victory Saturday night at the Redwood Bowl.
 
"This is a very good win, against a very good opponent," CWU Head Coach Ian Shoemaker said.  "The last two times we played Humboldt, we were on the bad side of some lopsided victories.  We are 1-0 this week, and that was the goal.  Now we shift our mindset to Western Oregon and homecoming."

With the win the Wildcats improve to 4-2 on the season, and 3-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Humboldt State falls to 3-3, 1-3 in the GNAC.
 
The Wildcat defense set the tone allowing just 65 second-half yards as the Wildcat offense scored on four-possessions to change the tide of the game.
 
"We missed some chances in the first half and we went into the locker room confident," CWU Head Coach Ian Shoemaker said.  "Defense came out and gave us the ball back and from there we just kept the momentum going."
 
Justin Lane finished the game 26 of 38 for 330 yards and three touchdowns.  Two of those touchdowns went to Justin Peterson who caught five balls for 78 yards.  Jesse Zalk led CWU with 171 receiving yards on nine catches, with a long of 49.
 
For the second straight game, Kevin Haynes led the Wildcats in tackles with seven, followed by Tovar Sanchez who finished with six.  Sanchez also recorded half of a sack, putting him just one sack away from tying the career record of 24.
 
The CWU defense allowed just 51 rushing yards in the game and just 202 passing.  The Lumberjacks came into the game averaging 469 yards of offense and was held to just 253.
 
"Our guys came out and played hard.  "CWU Defensive Coordinator Scott Power said.  "We didn't make many adjustments in the second half.  We missed a few assignments in the first half, but our guys were dialed in to start the second.  I am extremely proud of what they accomplished today."
 
Big plays shaped the first half.  A 42-yard pass from Lane to Zalk set the Wildcats up for a four-yard touchdown connection between Lane and Justin Peterson.
 
 The Lumberjacks scored on a pair of 25 yard plays, both a run and a pass.   A blocked punt by HSU on the CWU 25 yard line set up the second.
 
The teams were virtually equal in first half yardage, with HSU holding a 188 to 178 advantage. 
 
The Wildcat defense came out strong in the second half, forcing a three-and-out.  The Wildcats took their first offensive possession and marched down the field to the Lumberjack goaline.  Shoemaker subbed in JoJo Hillel at QB and red-shirt freshman scored from two yards out on a read option.
 
Central starting firing on all cylinders after the score as the defense again forced a three-and-out and Lane hit Zalk on a 49-yard streak in the endzone.
 
In the second half the CWU defense allowed just five first downs, and the offense scored on five of its six possessions.
 
The Wildcat also scored three rushing touchdowns, one each by Hillel, Austin Pernell, and Christian Cummings.
 
The Wildcats will return home next week for homecoming, when they host Western Oregon on Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.