Source: Aaron Martin – Sports Information Assistant | SFU Clan Athletics
Burnaby, BC – A dominant first half from the Humboldt State University Lumberjacks (2-1, 1-1) proved too much for the SFU Clan football team (0-3, 0-1) to overcome on Saturday night, as they fell 56-24 at Swangard Stadium.
“It’s a process, I mean we’ve talked about that before,” said SFU head coach Kelly Bates. “It’s a long process, it’s not going to be a short process, and you’re either getting better, or you’re getting worse. I think we go up and down during the games, obviously, that’s the nature of the beast, but I do think there’s things we can build on here, and we’ve got to take the positives, but still understand the reality as we move forward.”
Despite the end result, the Clan had a ton of positive signs in their GNAC opener. The biggest bright spot was the play of redshirt sophomore tailback Jalen Jana. Getting the start in favour of the injured Ante Litre, Jana piled up 262 yards on 29 rushes, including a dynamic 52-yard score in the fourth quarter. The multitalented back also saw time under center in the wildcat, throwing a 14-yard touchdown.
“We had to fix a lot of things [coming back from Texas A&M Kingsville], a bit of a confidence issue, but of traveling, but we got those fixed over the week and stuff,” said Jana. “You see, in that second half, we really moved the ball well, the offensive line blocked great, and there were some big holes.”
Quarterback Miles Richardson was up-and-down in his Clan home debut, going 14-for-38 for 168 yards, a touchdown, and two picks through the air. Junior wideout Justin Buren nabbed five balls for 102 yards, while freshman Tom Franklin was a red-zone threat, catching two balls for 18 yards and a pair of majors.
The Jacks started fast – on the Jacks’ first play from scrimmage, junior tailback Ja’Quan Gardner raced through a hole in the right side of the line and bolted for an 88-yard touchdown. Gardner, HSU’s all-time career rushing leader, finished the contest with 211 yards and four TDs on 19 carries.
The Jacks tailback added a nine-yard score on their next possession, before Blair Zerr put the visitors up 21-0 in the final minutes of the opening stanza.
Down 35-0, kicker Chad Heerspink got SFU on the board with four minutes left in the first half, nailing a 33-yard field goal.
Five minutes into the third quarter, the Clan popped their first offensive touchdown of the season. The lead-up was impressive, as Simon Fraser got into scoring position on a 39-yard catch from Buren, before Jana took the team down to the goal line on a 35-yard scamper. Two plays later, Richardson found Franklin in the flats on the four-yard score.
After Gardner raced his way to a 58-yard touchdown for the Jacks, Jana responded on SFU’s next drive, piling up 63 yards on the ground, including a 42-yard burst, before tossing a perfect ball to Franklin in the end zone out of the wildcat.
After a forced fumble on a punt return gave SFU the ball back midway through the final frame, Jana showed off his long speed, bursting through the HSU defense for that 52-yard touchdown.
The Lumberjacks backups added a score late in the game to close out the scoring.
The Clan will now head back out on the road, as they are scheduled to face the Azusa Pacific Cougars next Saturday, September 24. Kickoff scheduled for 6:00 pm in Azusa, CA.
Kick To Win Free Tuition
SFU students can win free tuition by kicking a field goal at every SFU Clan home football game. Two SFU students will be chosen to attempt a field goal from the 35-yard line. Any SFU student that successfully makes the kick will win the value of their tuition based on the number of credit hours registered in the current term up to $2,500. Students will be chosen by engaging with @SFUClan through social media on Game Day, and every fan chosen is already a winner, receiving a $75 Gift Card to the SFU Spirit Shop just for participating. More details here.
Homecoming Game On Terry Fox Field
The Clan will return to campus for one special game on Oct. 1 during the 2016 season where fans will be able to enjoy food trucks, a half-time performance by the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band and the chance to Kick To Win Free Tuition.
Single Game Tickets
Tickets to Clan football games are free to SFU students with a valid student card. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for visiting students and $2 for youth, seniors and SFU staff. Tickets are available at the games one hour prior to kick-off.
Free Parking
Parking is always free at every Clan football game at Swangard Stadium and all SFU varsity events at the Burnaby campus 90 minutes prior to the start of the contest in the West Mall Parkade.
56
vs
24
HUMBOLDT STATE (2-1-0 , 1-1) -VS- SIMON FRASER (0-3-0 , 0-1)
| Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 56 | |
| 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
- HSU:
- Webber (168),
- Gardner (211),
- Burmeister (47)
- SFU:
- Richardson (167),
- Jana (262),
- Buren (108)
- DATE:
- 9/17/2016
- SITE:
- Burnaby,BC
- STADIUM:
- Swangard Stadium
- ATTENDANCE:
- 850
- KICKOFF TIME:
- 6:00
- END OF GAME:
- 9:02
- DURATION:
- 3hr 2min
Scoring Summary
| Scoring Play | HSU | SFU |
|---|---|---|
| HSU – Gardner 87 yd run (Southward kick ), 1 plays, 87 yards, TOP 0:12 | 7 | 0 |
| HSU – Gardner 9 yd run (Southward kick ), 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:24 | 14 | 0 |
| HSU – Zerr 27 yd run (Southward kick ), 6 plays, 59 yards, TOP 2:02 | 21 | 0 |
| HSU – Gardner 3 yd run (Southward kick ), 2 plays, 7 yards, TOP 0:18 | 28 | 0 |
| HSU – Doctor 27 yd pass from Webber (Southward kick ) 3 plays, 27 yards, TOP 0:44 | 35 | 0 |
| SFU – Heerspink 33 yd field goal 13 plays, 66 yards, TOP 6:49 | 35 | 3 |
| HSU – Doctor 4 yd pass from Webber (Southward kick ) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:58 | 42 | 3 |
| SFU – Franklin 4 yd pass from Richardson (Heerspink kick ) 9 plays, 0 yards, TOP 2:26 | 42 | 10 |
| HSU – Gardner 58 yd run (Southward kick ), 7 plays, 97 yards, TOP 3:45 | 49 | 10 |
| SFU – Franklin 14 yd pass from Jana (Heerspink kick ) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:42 | 49 | 17 |
| SFU – Jana 52 yd run (Heerspink kick ), 6 plays, 89 yards, TOP 3:01 | 49 | 24 |
| HSU – Josue 1 yd run (Southward kick ), 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:20 | 56 | 24 |
| 56 | 24 |
- REFEREE
- Wane Dallosto
- UMPIRE
- Dan Stivers
- LINESMAN
- Gavin Anderson
- LINE JUDGE
- Reese Baker
- BACK JUDGE
- Nick Larsen
- FIELD JUDGE
- Ty Druse
- SIDE JUDGE
- R. Petkevicius
- SCORE KEEPER
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