CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah football team lost another close game Saturday afternoon, falling to No. 2/3 Weber State 16-19 in Eccles Coliseum.
The Thunderbirds held a 16-9 lead heading into the final quarter of play, but two quick scores from the Wildcats gave them a 19-16 lead while their defense kept the T-Birds off the board in the fourth.
La'akea Kaho'ohanohano-Davis had a monster game for the Thunderbirds on the defensive side of the ball with 11 tackles (seven solo), including an eight-yard sack. He also had a scoop and score on a blocked punt for the T-Birds' first touchdown of the day.
Quarterback Justin Miller threw for 172 yards and scored a one-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career. Landen Measom caught four passes for 52 yards and Dayne Christiansen rushed six times for 33 yards.
Manny Berz kicked a 39-yard field goal to remain perfect on the season (5-for-5).
The Wildcats were the only team to score in the first quarter, kicking a 51-yard field goal at the 6:45 mark to make it 3-0.
The Thunderbirds wouldn't get on the board until Christiansen blocked a Weber State punt with 3:42 to play. Kaho'ohanohano-Davis picked the ball up and ran it back for a 25-yard touchdown return. The Wildcats were able to block the extra point attempt from Berz, but the T-Birds went up 6-3.
The second half ended with Berz's field goal as time expired to give Southern Utah a 9-3 lead at the break.
Both teams scored a touchdown in the third quarter with the Wildcats scoring first on a four-yard touchdown pass, but failing to convert the two-point attempt, making it 9-9. The Thunderbirds would score with 1:00 remaining in the quarter as Miller punched one in to complete a 78-yard scoring drive and make it 16-9 SUU.
The Wildcats scored just nine seconds into the fourth quarter on a 43-yard touchdown run by Dontae McMillan to tie the game again at 16-16. With 10:02 remaining in the game, they kicked a 19-yard field goal to take the 19-16 lead.
The T-Bird defense made a stop on the final drive of the game and would have had :50 to try and score, but a penalty on the punt gave the Wildcats a fresh set of downs and the win.
The Thunderbirds will be back at Eccles Coliseum next Saturday as they host Northern Arizona for the spring season finale.
Follow Us
Keep tabs on the Thunderbirds all year by following @SUUFB on Twitter and Instagram and by liking the Southern Utah Football page on Facebook.
