Football | 11/11/2016 10:13:00 AM

CWU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES: (6-3, 5-2 GNAC)
 
OPPONENT: Humboldt State (6-4, 3-4 GNAC)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Nov. 12 @ 12 P.M.
SITE: Ellensburg, Wash. – Tomlinson Stadium
LIVE STREAMING:  Stretch Internet.
 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
 
The Wildcats are coming off an impressive 41-0 victory over Simon Fraser University. CWU tallied an astounding 510 total yards of offense and held SFU to a mere 191. Saturday's contest featured receiver Jesse Zalk breaking four single game records and one career record.
 
CWU hopes to maintain the momentum this week against a tough Humboldt State University team. The game also marks the final game for the following seniors who will be honored prior to kickoff
Kaben Humphrey-Butler
Winslow Kouassi
Justin Lane
Tanner Lucas
Max McIntosh
Kent McKinney Jr.
Matt Miller
Uso Olive
Tovar Sanchez
Nate Sandstrom
Josh Stolz
Tyler Stumph
Blake Williams-Miller
Korey Young
Jesse Zalk
Andrew Ulrich
 
BREAKING RECORDS
 
CWU's standout wide receiver Jesse Zalk penciled his name into the CWU and GNAC record books last Saturday in Central's 41-0 blowout victory against Simon Fraser University. Zalk hauled in 10 catches for 307 yards to set a new CWU and GNAC record for receiving yards. Zalk also scored five receiving touchdowns, which set a new CWU and GNAC record for receiving touchdowns in a game.  
 
In total, Zalk set four CWU single game records in the game (receiving yards, touchdowns scored, receiving touchdowns scored, and points scored), and two GNAC records (receiving yards, receiving touchdowns).
 
In addition, Zalk became the school's new career leader in all-purpose yards, now sitting at 5,076 all-purpose yards in his four years at CWU. Zalk is also just the third non quarterback in school history to record over 300 yards of total offense.
 
Quarterback Justin Lane also broke two school records on the day with 16.1 yards per attempts, and his 297.9 passing efficiency rating is more than 40 points higher than the previous mark held by Ryan Robertson.  Lane finished the day with 362 yards passing, connecting on 19 of 25 pass attempts and four touchdowns.

 
ZALK AND HAYNES EARN GNAC POW HONORS
 
Junior linebacker Kevin Haynes and senior receiver/returner Jesse Zalk have been named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for their contributions to the CWU football team's 41-0 victory over Simon Fraser this past weekend.
 
Zalk hauled in 10 catches for 307 yards to set a new CWU and GNAC record for receiving yards. Zalk also scored five receiving touchdowns, which set a new CWU and GNAC record for receiving touchdowns in a game. In total, Zalk set four CWU single game records in the game (receiving yards, touchdowns scored, receiving touchdowns scored, and points scored), and two GNAC records (receiving yards, receiving touchdowns).
 
Haynes anchored the CWU defense that tallied their second shutout of the 2016 season. The junior linebacker, also from Battle Ground, Wash. (Battle Ground H.S.), led the Wildcats in tackles with 12 (six solo) and averaged a tackle every 5.5 plays on defense. Haynes also had 2.0 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. Haynes spearheaded the CWU defense that held SFU to 191 yards of total offense, and 2.9 yards per play.
 
 
CAREER STAT UPDATES
 
Kevin Haynes: 8^th in total tackles with 264… 8^th in solo tackles (169)… 9^th in assisted tackles (95)… SINGLE SEASON RANKING: 8^th in tackles for loss (17.5)
 
Justin Lane: 1^st in yards per pass attempt 8.2… 3^rd in average per completion with 14.3… 2^nd in pass efficiency 139.9… 5^th in total offense per play (6.48)… 7^th in pass attempts (540), pass completions (310), passing yards (4,422), pass completion percentage (57.4) and total offensive yards (4,521)… 8^th in passing touchdowns (34).
 
Tovar Sanchez:  1^st in sacks (26), tackles for loss (56.0), yards lost from tackles for loss (273), yards from sacks (179) 4^th in forced fumbles with 6… 9^th in fumbles recovered with 4.
 
Jesse Zalk:  1^st in kick return yards (2,131), Kick Returns (81), kick return touchdowns (3)… 1^st in all-purpose yards (5,076)… third in punt return touchdowns (2), and average kick return yards (26.31)… 4^th in pass receptions for touchdown (26),  pass receptions (180) and receiving yards (2,497)… 7^th in punt returns (43) and touchdowns scored (31)… 9^th in punt return yards (388) and total points scored (388).
 
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
 
Humboldt State enters this week 6-4, 3-4 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The Lumberjacks are currently on a three-game winning streak that dates back to Oct. 22.
 
The Lumberjacks enter this week's matchup against CWU ranked first in the GNAC in total offense (453.8) and rushing offense (169.2). HSU also ranks second in scoring offense, averaging 35.5 points per game.
 
HSU has relied heavily on the rushing production of junior Ja'Quan Gardner. Gardner has garnered national attention as one of the nation's premiere running backs. In 2015, Gardner received recognition as the Harlon Hill runner up, the NCAA Div. II equivalent to the the Heisman Trophy. Gardner is having an impressive 2016 campaign, leading the HSU rushing attack that gains over 169 yards a game. Gardner is averaging 124.8 yards per game and has scored 18 touchdowns.
 
Gardner gets a lot of help from a very strong offensive line that has allowed just 15 sacks on the season. They are anchored by All-American Alex Cappa.
 
Defensively, the Lumberjacks have struggled keeping opposing offenses at bay. Humboldt currently ranks last in the GNAC in rushing defense, allowing 198 yards per game. Opponents are averaging 5.6 yards per rush and have scored 21 touchdowns on the ground. Junior defensive back Jeff Shot leads the Lumberjack defense with 65 total tackles (35 solo) on the season.
 
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
CWU and HSU first played in 1958, a game that ended in a 27-27 tie in Arcata, Calif. The teams played five more times between 1961-1997 with HSU winning each contest. The Wildcats flipped the script winning 16 straight contests between 1999 and 2009. The Wildcats won their last meeting against HSU earlier this season, 42-17. The Lumberjacks have won two of the last three meetings against CWU, most recently a 42-17 decision in October of 2015. Overall, CWU leads the all-time series 21-10-1.