Oct. 1, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

At the start of the year it would have been hard for the Western Washington University football team to believe the most important game of season would come in October - in week six - against Humboldt State.

But after losing their last three games and starting the season 1-3, that's exactly the position the Vikings find themselves in going into today's game against the Lumberjacks at Civic Stadium.

"It's huge for us," WWU coach Rob Smith said. "It's huge for the obvious reasons, when you're 1-3 every game is huge, but this is also the start of the conference season and we need to get something going."

The Vikings go into the game coming off a bye week after getting beaten soundly by North Dakota 47-7 on Sept. 17. They've taken the extra time to get healthy and focus on getting better, Smith said.

"It's been a long two weeks, but a very beneficial two weeks," Smith said. "We've used the time to kind of digest the start of the season and get rested and get healed. We're very excited to play."

The Lumberjacks (3-1) were dealt their first loss of the season last weekend, falling 13-12 to Azusa-Pacific. Humboldt missed two extra points in the game and also missed a 40-yard field goal as time expired that would have won the game.

"They're a team that should be 4-0 coming in here," Smith said. "They lost last week because of some special teams break downs. They had no business losing that game, but they did."

The Lumberjacks are off to their best start since 1994, but three of their four opponents were NAIA schools. Defensively the Jacks rank near the top in the nation in several team categories, including scoring defense and total defense.

"We've had the bye week and hopefully we'll come back into our conference and take care of business," said WWU linebacker Shane Simmons.

The Lumberjacks also have had some production from an unlikely source in Kyle Killingsworth. The starting safety is averaging 27.6 yards per punt return this season and has an 89-yard touchdown return.

"He's done some great things as a returner and obviously we're going to have to contain him," Smith said of Killingsworth. "He's someone we'll have to watch out for."

Most important for the Vikings this week is getting their offense back on track after managing just over 200 total yards against North Dakota, Smith said.

"I don't feel like we've got going yet," Smith said. "We're excited to get back out there and play, and play well. That's what is important. I think everybody feels like we haven't done that yet. We've shown in spurts what we can do, but we haven't put it together yet."

Notes: Vikings receiver Andy Olson might play in today's game, but Smith said it isn't likely. Olson sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee about three weeks ago against St. Cloud State. He will be a game-time decision. ... Jake Carlyle will be the team's starting running back despite the return of Duncan Sherrard. Carlyle has started the last three games while Sherrard sat out after having knee surgery. ... Slot receiver Chris Robinson is also expected back after missing two games with a hamstring pull.