RECAP: Turnovers prove costly in loss to HSU

Burnaby, BC -Turnovers and mistakes proved to be too costly for the Simon Fraser University football team, as they fell 33-17 to the Humboldt State Lumberjacks at Swangard Stadium Saturday afternoon.

SFU turned the ball over on their first drive, which led to a touchdown by the Lumberjacks to go up 6-0 after a missed point-after attempt.

The Lumberjacks extended their lead to 9-0 early in the second quarter off of a field goal, before HSU threw a touchdown, which made the score 16-0.

SFU would get on the board before halftime, as safety Josh Jackai (Hayward, CA) intercepted a pass and returned it 42-yards down to the HSU 22 yard line.

On the first play following the turnover, Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ) scrambled for 16-yards, before Tiernan Docherty (Richmond, BC) kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to make the score 16-3 at halftime.

The Clan defence held Humboldt State to 342 total yards of offence, 100 yards less than their average as they kept SFU in the game throughout the afternoon.

“Defensively we battled really hard and did a lot of nice things against one of the better offences,” head coach Jacques Chapdelaine said.

Linebacker Jordan Herdman (Winnipeg, MB) finished with a game high 27 tackles, while defensive end Keenan North (Bellingham, WA) added eight tackles, with three being for a loss including one sack.

To start the second half, the defence forced a punt, and after HSU started with good field position on their second drive, SFU held them to just a field goal.

Just passed the midway point of the third quarter, the Clan offence found its rhythm, as it marched 67 yards on seven plays, ending with a five-yard touchdown pass from Stanford to Justin Buren (Coquitlam, BC) to cut the deficit to nine, 19-10.

Humboldt State however, responded with a touchdown drive of their own, to put them up 26-10.

But SFU would not give up, as running back Stephen Spagnuolo (Vancouver, BC) rushed for 29 of the teams 80 yards on their ensuing drive, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 26-17.

That would be as close as the Clan would get however, as the Lumberjacks tacked on another touchdown to win by sixteen.

Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC) led the team with 60 yards on five receptions, while Spagnuolo ended with his second straight 100-yard game, finishing with 106 yards rushing and a touchdown.

With the loss, SFU’s record falls to 2-7 and 2-5 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The Clan will be back at home next weekend, as they face the Azusa Pacific Cougars at 1:00 p.m. November 8^th. For ticket information, please email [email protected]