Lumberjacks stop Eagles short of comeback victory

Despite Cody Paul, senior tailback of Seal Beach, California, running for two 70-plus-yard touchdowns, the CSC Eagles losing streak grew to four games Saturday, losing 31-27 to Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, at Elliott Field.
CSC outscored the Lumberjacks in the first and third quarters, but HSU dominated in all categories to take control of the game.
In the first quarter, Paul rushed for 75 yards to put the first points on the board for the Eagles. The Lumberjacks only scored a field goal in the first quarter, but they found the end zone twice in the second quarter and denied the Eagles from scoring again until the third when Paul ran another 74 yards for a touchdown following an HSU punt.
The punt return was the first CSC punt return for a touchdown since Trelan Taylor, current defensive back coaching assistant, did so in 2012.
“I always think I have to catch it first,” Paul said about the punt return. “I worry about gaining possession for the team before anything else and the rest comes naturally.”
The Eagles gained some momentum after being down 17-7 at the half and outscored HSU 20-14 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to win the match.
The lead changed four times in the second half before HSU stopped Kevin Coy, redshirt sophomore of Davenport, Florida, on the one-yard line to deny a final push for the Eagles.
Paul’s 104 rushing yards and 22 receiving, accounted for 126 of CSC’s total 396 yards, and he marked all 83 kick return yards, and all 84 punt return yards CSC gained in the match.
HSU totaled 501 offensive yards and controlled the ball for 41 minutes, 53 seconds.
In a press release on Humboldt State’s athletic page, head coach Rob Smith said that injuries left three starters on the sidelines, allowing players third and fourth in the depth chart to take the field.
CSC’s Matt Vinson completed 22 passes of 43 for 197 yards including two touchdowns and one interception, which brings his total yardage to 825 this season.
In comparison, HSU’s quarterback Robert Webber, junior of Corona, California, connected on 32 of 42 for 262 yards with two touchdowns. Webber also carried four times for 17 yards.
“I thought we played well,” Paul said. “We had opportunities to win the game and unfortunately we came up a bit short. I’m excited for the Homecoming game and I’m looking forward to playing in front of the best crowd in the country.”
The Eagles will face Dixie State University, St. George, Utah, Saturday for Homecoming. Dixie is 2-3 overall and 2-2 RMAC and hasn’t won a game on the road yet.
Dixie State defeated New Mexico Highlands University, 21-14, and Western State Colorado University, 28-20. CSC hasn’t faced NMHU yet, but WSCU defeated CSC 24-15, Sept. 17.
Dixie’s Blake Barney, sophomore quarterback of St. George, Utah, took the field for the first time this season last week against Western. Barney was out the first few games because of injury, according to Dixie State University’s athletic page. In the match against the Mountaineers, Barney went 10 for 18 and 101 yards; he threw for one touchdown and was sacked once.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.