HUMBOLDT — The streak is over.
A punishing ground attack spearheaded by Humboldt High’s Noah Thornbrugh paved the way for the Cubs’ first win in almost two years.
Thornbrugh scored three touchdowns for the Cubs, the last one a 65-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Humboldt’s defense followed with a goal-line stand to escape with a 21-14 win over visiting Fredonia High.
The win snaps a 14-game losing streak for the Cubs, who last tasted victory late in the 2009 season.
“This was good for our guys, good for the school, good for the town,” Humboldt head coach Mike Miller said. “It was a good ballgame. We played well, although we made it a little hard on ourselves.”
That may be an understatement. Miscues played a large role in the outcome for both squads.
Fredonia was driving for a potential tying score and had reached the Cub two-yard-line before a fumbled snap on third and goal was recovered by Thornbrugh with just under four minutes left.
Humboldt thought it had the game sealed, and was driving deep back into Fredonia territory when the Cubs fumbled a snap of their own. The Yellowjackets recovered but the Cubs put together four straight strong defensive plays to seal the win.
Humboldt marched down the field to open the game, capped by a three-yard Thornbrugh run to lead 7-0. The Cubs looked to pad the lead when quarterback Nathan Whitcomb was pressured into an interception that Fredonia’s Brendan Lewis returned 35 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter. A missed defensive assignment for Humboldt led to the Yellowjackets’ second touchdown, a 38-yard touchdown pass from Joe Siegele to Tyler Lawrence with 3:39 left in the half.
Fredonia threatened to stretch its lead even further but a holding penalty erased a 60-yard touchdown pass for the Yellowjackets. Humboldt recovered a fumble a few plays later to set up a scoring drive late in the half.
Whitcomb found Thornbrugh for a five-yard touchdown pass with 7 seconds left in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14.
The teams combined for 27 penalties (16 on Humboldt) and eight turnovers (four for each team).
Thornbrugh racked up 217 yards on 33 carries to pave the way. Trey Johnson added 51 yards on seven carries and Hayden Boring had six totes for 47 yards. Whitcomb connected on 7 of 12 passes for 98 yards, including two to Caleb Vanatta for 58 yards and three to Tanner McNutt for 30 yards.
On defense, Hunter Murrow pulled in an interception, while Thornbrugh, Robby Sellman and Dustin Prock recovered Fredonia fumbles.
Humboldt (1-3) opens Class 2-1A District 1 play next Friday at Oswego.
Humboldt 7-7-0-7—21
Fredonia 8-6-0-0—14
Humboldt — Thornbrugh 3 yd run (Boring kick)
Fredonia — Lewis 35 yd interception return (Siegele run)
Fredonia — Lawrence 38 yd pass from Siegele (kick failed)
Humboldt — Thornbrugh 5 yd pass from Whitcomb (Boring kick)
Humboldt — Thornbrugh 65 yd run (Boring kick)
Humboldt Fredonia
First Downs 16 14
Rushes-yds 51-321 31-51
Passing yds 98 217
Totals Offense 419 268
Passing 7-12-1 12-19-1
Fumbles-lost 4-3 4-3
Punts-Avg. 1/31 5/35
Penalties-yds 16-112 11-76
Cubs break losing streak in TVL game
