KINGSVILLE, Texas (Football) – It seemed to be déjà vu as senior Anthony Washington returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to begin the second half but Humboldt State University (1-0) rushed for 241 yards en route to a 27-14 defeat over Texas A&M University-Kingsville (0-1) on Saturday evening at Javelina Stadium.
 
The 96-yard return marks the second consecutive season that Washington takes a kickoff to the house. The defensive back tied a school record last season, returning a kickoff 100-yards against Monterrey Tech in the 2013 Lone Star Conference Football Festival but the return did not count towards NCAA Division II statistics (exhibition game).
 
The return of 2012 all-American Nick Ricciardulli and the collegiate debut of Ja'Quan Gardner jumpstarted the ground and pound attack that the Jacks used to go 7-4 two seasons ago. Ricciardulli finished with 75 yards and Gardner led all players with 157 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Javelinas headed to halftime with a 7-3 lead despite fumbling a punt and a missed field goal. After a Jacks field goal to begin the game, newcomers Trey Mitchell and Jordan Thomas connected for the season's first touchdown - a 72-yard pass - with 2:19 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
After Washington's historic touchdown gave the Hogs a 14-3 edge, the Jacks' special teams stood tall and blocked a Kingsville punt in the end zone, cutting its deficit to 14-10 with nine minutes remaining in the third frame.
 
The blocked punt seemed to energize the Lumberjacks as HSU took control of the second half, picking off Mitchell on the ensuing drive and later, rushing for a touchdown with 1:01 remaining in the third frame to take a 17-14 lead.
 
Humboldt State would tack on an additional touchdown and field goal and earned its first victory since 2012, defeating the Javelinas, 27-14.
 
"We lost in all facets of the game," said head coach David Calloway. "We started off running the ball well and Jordan's play was huge for us, but we could not stop the run defensively. We could not stop the run defensively and Gardner stepped up for them offensively."
 
"We did not execute our game plan and we did not play as a team," said Washington. "Defensively, offensively and on special teams, we all needed to step up and we did not tonight."
 
Washington finished with 96 all-purpose yards and two total tackles while Joe Crowe and Lamont Hills combined for 18 tackles. Henry Greathouse and Braedon Robinson each registered a sack.
 
Mitchell finished 11-of-27 with one touchdown and rushed for 47 yards. Junior transfer Shawn Vasquez added 42 yards on the ground and Greg Pitre gained 35 yards on 10 carries.
 
TAMUK hosts Colorado-Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. before hitting the road for the 2014 Lone Star Conference Football Festival on Sept. 20.
 
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