CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Thunderbirds took to the field this Saturday for a conference matchup with WAC opponent Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks and the T-Birds battled up and down the field but eventually the team from Texas secured a 41-38 victory.
The opening drive for the T-Birds started with a 62-yard rush by Braedon Wissler. The run led to a 1-yard touchdown pass from Justin Miller to Brennon Hutchings. SFA Answered back in the next drive with a fake punt that ran for 40 yards. The Lumberjacks capitalized on the big play, finishing the drive on a 3-yard touchdown run by Lance Rikel. After a couple plays in the following drive by the Thunderbirds, Jake Gerardi booted a punt 73-yards for a touchback to give the ball back to SFA. The next time that Southern Utah had the ball Justin Miller would find Steve Jenkins for a 37-yard touchdown pass to give the Thunderbirds back the lead but the extra point was blocked making the score 13-7 with just over two minutes to play in the first.
To begin the second quarter the Lumberjacks quarterback Trae Self Found Xavier Gipson on a 24-yard pass to tie it up and the extra point gave SFA the 14-13 lead. The Next drive for Southern Utah didn't go far and the tough wind made its presence felt as Gerardi's punt didn't travel much and gave SFA a short field. The Lumberjacks went 40 yards and punched the ball in on a 3-yard pass from Self to Moe Wedman.
Stephen F. Austin elected to onside the kick after the score and recovered it on their own 46 yard-line. The first play from scrimmage in the drive was a 54-yard touchdown pass from Self to Gipson. The Thunderbirds started the next drive on their own 25 yard-line and marched quickly down to score again with just under four minutes on a 17-yard end around by Isaiah Wooden. Southern Utah decided to try for two but Miller's pass to Marcus Phillips fell incomplete, making the score 19-28.
When SFA got the ball back, once again with good field position, they tried for a long ball that was intercepted in the end zone by Quadir Lockett-Smith. Wissler got the Thunderbird drive started with a 30-yard rush. The Lumberjacks defense looked to have Southern Utah stopped but, on a 4th, and 5 Miller scrambled and picked up a much needed first down. The T-Birds continued to march down but with time expiring had to settle for a Micah Pettit 24-yard field goal.
The Thunderbirds started the second half with the ball and despite losing some yards on the first play, Miller found Isaiah Wooden near the line of scrimmage at their own 24 yard-line. Wooden broke several tackles and ran the ball 76 yards to the end zone. Pettit added the extra point giving the Thunderbirds the lead 29-28.
On the following SFA drive the defense stepped up and forced a three and out. Because of the wind the Lumberjacks punt only traveled 5 yards giving the T-Birds a short field. SFA's defense held and Southern Utah was forced to send Pettit out to attempt the long 49-yard field goal. Pettit's kick was true and gave the Thunderbirds a 32-28 lead. The Lumberjacks next drive went all the way down and into the red zone before stalling Chris Campos came on to hit a 37-yard field goal with the wind in his face.
Going into the fourth quarter the Thunderbirds held the 32-31 lead but the Lumberjacks were driving. The Southern Utah defense forced Stephen F. Austin to try for a 44-yard field goal which sailed just left of the uprights. The next time Campos would get a chance he put it through from 31 yards out giving SFA a late lead. The Thunderbirds bounced right back though when Brandon Wissler ran the ball into the end zone from 27 yards out. The Lumberjacks weren't done though as Self found Gipson for a big 35-yard pass and then took the ball the rest of the way a couple plays later to make the score 41-38. Southern Utah drove their next possession 64-yards but a missed 26-yard field goal gave the ball back to the Lumberjacks with a lead and just over two minutes to go in the game. A big 54-yard rush by Jerrell Wimbly all but sealed the victory as SFA hung on to win it.
The Lumberjacks offense was anchored by receiver Xavier Gipson who put up a record 256 yards in the air and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Trae Self was 18-29 on the game and added 44 rushing yards.
Justin Miller finished the game 23-34 with 297 yards and 3 Touchdowns. Braedon Wissler became the first T-Bird to rush for over 100-yards in a game this season finishing with 155 and a touchdown. Isaiah Wooden continued to rack up yards with 132 in the air and a 17-yard rushing touchdown.
It was Trent Whalen who stepped up for the T-Birds on defense picking up 18 total tackles including 8 that were solo tackles. Kohner Cullimore added 8 tackles of his own. Roderick Ward finished with 7 tackles from the defensive back position while Rylen Sua-Filo finished with 6 on the line.
Coach Fitzgerald said of the loss, "we didn't execute in this game. We got out played on Special teams all four quarters and we didn't contain Gipson." Coach added, speaking of the conference, "There isn't much of a difference between the best team in the conference and the worst team." The Thunderbirds will still have two more games against conference opponents but due to Sam Houston's reclassification that game will not count toward conference standings. The second matchup of the season with Utah Tech also will not count in the WAC standings.
The Thunderbirds head to the bye week looking to end a skid of close game losses. They will be back in action at Utah Tech on November 5th in St. George.
