Football 9/28/2014 4:19:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Josh Smith Interception Seals 31-28 Victory over Weber State

Box Score CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sept. 27 - Southern Utah University scored a season-high 31 points against Weber State and sealed its first victory of the season by way of an interception by Josh Smith to improve to 1-4 on the season. The Wildcats finished the game with 28 points and committed four turnovers, falling to 0-5 on the year.

Southern Utah got out to a quick start in the first quarter, scoring on both its first and second drive and building a 10-0 lead. The Thunderbirds stopped the Wildcats on their first drive and then drove the ball 22 yards on six plays and converted a 36-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

An interception by Chinedu Ahanonu led to Southern Utah's second drive of the game and gave the Thunderbirds a short field with the series starting on the Weber State 25-yard line. Chris Robinson capped a six-play drive on a pitch from Ammon Olsen and ran the ball 10 yards to give SUU a 10-0 advantage.

Weber State answered in the second quarter and put together scoring drives of 87 yards and 65 yards to take a 14-10 lead early in the frame. A field goal with 2:08 on the clock gave the Wildcats a 17-10 advantage going into halftime.

Southern Utah's offense stalled at the beginning of the third quarter and was forced to punt, but a jarring hit by Mike Sharp on the return forced a fumble and the Thunderbirds recovered the ball on the Weber State 38-yard line. SUU took advantage of another short field and tied the game, 17-17, on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Chris Robinson from Ammon Olsen.

The lead then changed hands three times over the course of the third quarter, beginning with a 34-yard field goal that gave Weber State the 20-17 advantage. Southern Utah answered with a second touchdown pass to Robinson from Olsen, this time a 26-yard variety to give the Thunderbirds a 24-20 lead. WSU echoed the score with a 64-yard touchdown pass to go back on top 28-24.

Southern Utah came right back on its next drive and tied together an 11-play, 92-yard touchdown drive that put the Thunderbirds on top 31-28 with 14:20 left in the fourth quarter. The drive was capped by an eight-yard touchdown catch by Mike Sharp from Olsen.

The Thunderbird defense then punctuated the victory by stopping the Wildcats on each of their final four drives of the quarter. The stops included a Miles Killebrew forced fumble with Chinedu Ahanonu recovering on the SUU 2-yard line, James Cowser and Kouri Jones sacking WSU quarterback Billy Green on fourth and eight and Smith picking a last-ditch pass from Green on the SUU goal line with five seconds to play to cement the win.

Southern Utah will continue Big Sky Conference play next weekend on the road at Cal Poly.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#35 Chinedu Ahanonu: LB; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#53 James Cowser: DE; 6' 4"; Junior

#94 Kouri Jones: DL; 6' 5"; Senior

#28 Miles Killebrew: DB; 6' 3"; Junior

#2 Ammon Olsen: QB; 6' 4"; Junior

#6 Chris Robinson: WR; 5' 8"; Senior

#11 Mike Sharp: WR; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#16 Josh Smith: DB; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#35 Chinedu Ahanonu
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: LB

#53 James Cowser
: 6' 4"; Junior
: DE

#94 Kouri Jones
: 6' 5"; Senior
: DL

#28 Miles Killebrew
: 6' 3"; Junior
: DB

#2 Ammon Olsen
: 6' 4"; Junior
: QB

#6 Chris Robinson
: 5' 8"; Senior
: WR

#11 Mike Sharp
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: WR

#16 Josh Smith
: 5' 11"; Junior
: DB