HUMBOLDT — It’s hard to tell who may have been more worn out by the time Humboldt’s season-opener against Fredonia ended: Humboldt’s scoreboard operator, or the Cubs’ cheerleaders.
Humboldt gave both a full workout to open the 2023 season, exploding for 40 points in the first quarter en route to a 78-0 romp over Fredonia. (The Cub cheer squad does pushups for every touchdown. It’s just a myth they celebrated afterward by pushing a Buick up Humboldt Hill.)
“The biggest thing is we started well,” Humboldt head coach Logan Wyrick said. “In week 1, it’s hard to prep for that opponent. Everything is brand new. We wanted to come out with intensity and play our way.”
Senior Sam Hull answered that question with authority.
His sack ended Fredonia’s first drive, and one play later he hauled in a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Ellis.
Asher Hart ended Fredonia’s next drive with an interception — one of five forced turnovers — and Ellis connected with Hull on a 50-yard bomb to set up the next score, a 10-yard Ellis jaunt.
Cole Mathes recovered a fumble on the next possession, setting up another short field for the Cubs. Darren Goodner plowed in from a yard out to up the lead to 24-0.
The avalanche was just picking up speed, as Humboldt scored on back-to-back one-play drives, a 41-yard laser from Ellis to Mateo Miller, and a 31-yard touchdown pass from Ellis to Mathes.
Ellis connected with Asher Hart early in the second quarter to push the lead to 48-0, followed by another touchdown, covering nine yards from Ellis to Jacob Harrington.
Mathes capped the dominating half with an 8-yard run late in the second quarter.
A running clock through both the third and fourth periods came while Wyrick sat his starters for the rest of the night. Mathes scored on a 5-yard run in the only drive of the second half for most of Humboldt’s first-seamers.
Reserve quarterback Mason Sterling capped the night with a 10-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter.
Unofficially, Ellis was a perfect 10-of-10 passing, covering 271 yards with five touchdowns. Hull racked up 171 yards on five catches.
Mathes carried 12 times for 81 yards. Ellis chipped in with 61 yards on five rushes.
“We knew Sam would be a tough matchup with his height and speed,” Wyrick said. “And it was good to see Blake Ellis out there at quarterback. We wanted to get him out there and throw a bit.”
Not to be outdone, eight Cub defenders had tackles for losses. Sterling, Hart and Brody Gunderman each hauled in interceptions. Mathes and Hull each recovered Yellowjacket fumbles.
Perhaps Wyrick’s biggest challenge for the time was selecting only one or two standouts.
“Our guys were flying around all night,” Wyrick said.
Chase DMeritt led the defense with five tackles, two for losses with a sack.
Wyrick is eager to put this game in Humboldt’s rear view mirror, if for no other reason than the Cubs’ next opponent: Caney Valley.
“We know they’ll be one of the toughest opponents w’ll see all season,” Wyrick said. “We know what they do, and they know what we do.”
