VERMILLION, S.D., Oct. 8 - For the second straight game
Southern Utah's football team dug itself an early hole and was not able to
climb back out as the Thunderbirds dipped to 3-1 and 0-2 in Great West
Conference play Saturday with a 24-19 loss at South Dakota. USD improved to 4-2
in its GWC-opener.
South Dakota took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter in
a loud Dakotadome on Homecoming, and although the Thunderbirds were able to get
back within 14-13 the Coyotes scored the next 10 points to go up 24-13.
"I don't know what it is," SUU quarterback Brad Sorensen
said. "I don't know if we just come out flat or what. I know other [GWC] teams
have a circle on their calendar after what we did last year and other teams are
coming out fired up to play us. I know we can't expect to put it together in
the fourth quarter against good teams and expect to win games though.
"If we could just start off the same way we play in the
fourth quarter we'd be in great shape," he added.
After the Thunderbirds got down loud USD crowd "made it very
difficult for our offensive line," SUU Coach Ed Lamb said. "You have to give
their fans credit and their environment. They scheduled this game on Homecoming
for a reason, that gave them an advantage and also they have some very good
pass-rushers our offensive line was nervous about. Those two things put
together really affected our offensive line."
Although Marcus Sims ran for 153 of USD's 247 rushing yards,
it was probably Warren who hurt the Thunderbirds most, as he was able to
scramble out of trouble numerous times and turn potential losses into big
gains.
"The quarterback really hurt us," Lamb pointed out. "At
times we stopped the traditional-style running game and got them in a
longer-yardage situation, then their quarterback scrambled and kept drives alive.
It was a combination of not playing super-stout against the run and then their
quarterback getting them out of situations, so their offense stays on the
field, they get a few more shots to run the ball.
SUU was able to throw for 303 yards as Sorensen completed
32-of-44 passes without throwing an interception but finished with just 11
rushing yards, on 17 attempts.
"Offensively we were not able to get the run game going," Lamb
noted. "Until we get the run game going we're just playing a game of chance."
Will Powell set South Dakota up for a 7-0 lead with leaping
one-handed catch at the three-yard line on the Coyotes' first drive, a 45-yard
reception. Three plays later Dante Warren ran one yard for the score.
USD upped its advantage to 14-0 on a 20-yard Warran TD run,
but the Thunderbirds closed the gap to 14-7 when freshman Brady Measom caught
an 11-yard pass from Sorensen for his first collegiate touchdown. Measom's
catch capped a 6-play, 61-yard drive that began with a 34-yard Austin Minefee
kickoff return.
SUU's defense forced a punt late in the second period with a
pair of sacks - Cody Larsen and Kouri Jones teamed up on one and Chad Hansen
chased Warren down on the other - setting up an SUU drive that found the
1'0-yard line. Sorensen's pass to Abbel Aiono in the end zone was knocked away
on third down, however, and the Thunderbirds had to settle for a 27-yard Colton
Cook to trail 14-10 at halftime.
Southern Utah had a great opportunity on the opening
possession of the second half when Minefee ripped off a 63-yard kickoff return
to set the Thunderbirds up on the USD 34 yard line. The Thunderbirds weren't
able to move the ball, however, and had to settle for a career-long 44-yard
field goal by Colton Cook to pull SUU within 14-13.
South Dakota took 21-13 lead on a six-yard pass from Warrant
to Michael Nelson, then tacked on three more points with a 25-yard Kevin Robb
field goal with 6:19 to play.
The Thunderbirds battled back, answering with an eight-yard
Sorensen-to-Abbel Aiono TD pass with 2:17 to go, but the two-point conversion
failed and USD was able to run out the clock, converting a fourth-and-one along
the way.
Notes: Junior cornerback Marlon Hogains notched his first
career interception in the first half.
