Humboldt beats Erie to start district play

By

Sports

October 18, 2014 - 12:00 AM

HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High opened district play on a high note Friday, roaring to leads of 28-0 after one quarter and 49-0 at halftime.
Head coach K.B. Criss sat his varsity in the second half, and while visiting Erie started making noise, it wasn’t nearly enough in the Cubs’ 49-28 victory.
The victory lifts the Cubs to 4-3 on the season, and more importantly, 1-0 in Class 3A, District 6 play.
The Cubs did little wrong at the outset, scoring on its first seven possessions.
I was proud of the way our kids came out and played the first half,” Humboldt head coach K.B. Criss said. “I thought we executed well on both sides of the ball.
The only hiccups along the way were a penalty that negated a touchdown late in the first half, and an ankle injury that sidelined senior tailback Jacob Carpenter in the second quarter.
Other than that, it was all Humboldt.
Unofficially, the Cubs outgained Erie 283 yards to 36 in the first half.
Senior quarterback Kason Siemens tossed three touchdown passes, to Carpenter, Zach Vanatta and Jake Haviland, while Bryce Isaac, Rhett Smith and Corey Whitcomb each scored from the ground. Haviland’s 46-yard punt return midway through the second quarter pushed the lead to 35-0 in the opening minute of the second quarter.
The Cubs’ only missed scoring opportunity came late in the half, after Haviland intercepted Red Devil quarterback Brett Thompson and returned to the ball to the Erie 38.
A holding penalty negated a 32-yard touchdown run by Isaac two plays later. Humboldt fumbled a pitch on the next play, and Erie recovered with 1 second left.
The junior varsity players took the field the rest of the way.
“I was proud of those kids,” Criss said. “They come to practice every day and are a big part of the team. It was good to get them some well-deserved reps.”
Without Humboldt’s fierce pass rush in the way, Thompson had a strong second half for the Red Devils, throwing for four touchdown passes. After completing only 3 of 20 attempts for 28 yards and a pick prior to halftime, Thompson wound up throwing for 188 yards after the break.
Siemens led the way for the victory, rushing for 84 yards and throwing for 40 more. Carpenter rushed for 61, Smith had 49 and Isaac and Whitcomb had 19 apiece. The Cubs averaged 6.9 yards per carry, and 8 yards per pass attempt.
Vanatta had a 35-yard catch, Whitcomb had one for 19, Haviland had 1 for 15 and Carpenter had one for 11.
On defense, Haviland had an interception, while Whitcomb and Kalob Cleaver each had half a sack.
“It’s good to get off to a 1-0 start in district play,” Criss said. “Our kids are really improving and playing well at the right time of the season.”
Humboldt heads to Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan next Friday.
Erie    0-0-14-14—28
Humboldt28-21-0-0—49
Humboldt — Isaac 12 yd run (Smith kick)
Humboldt — Carpenter 11 yd pass from Siemens (Smith kick)
Humboldt — Smith 26 yd run (Smith kick)
Humboldt — Vanatta 35 yd pass from Siemens (Smith kick)
Humboldt — Haviland 46 yd punt return (Smith kick)
Humboldt — Whitcomb 5 yd run (Smith kick)
Humboldt — Haviland 15 yd pass from Siemens (Smith kick)
Erie — Peters 20 yd pass from Thompson (PAT failed)
Erie — Burch 14 yd pass from Thompson (Burch pass from Thompson)
Erie — Peters 60 yd pass from Thompson (PAT failed)
Erie — Peters 25 yd pass from Thompson (Thompson run)
    Erie    Humboldt
First Downs    5    9
Rushes-yds    10-6    34-233
Passing yds    216    80
Total offense    222    313
Passing    12-36-1    4-10-1
Fumbles-lost    1-1    1-1
Punts/avg    5/28    2-(-3)

Related
October 19, 2013
October 12, 2013
October 27, 2012
October 16, 2012