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Show U takes homecoming and marched to another score with 5:30 in the half. A Bob "Tex" August to Hafen TD pass with two seconds in the half capped the first half scoring and resulted in a 40-10 halftime lead for SUSC. In the second half Bob Verburg, Gary Mason, Curry Ancar and Alan Moss all rushed lor touchdowns, and the defense played well to give the 'Birds their lopsided 68-10 win. CEDAR CITY - How about those Birds! The Southern Utah State College Thunderbirds celebrated their homecoming game Saturday in grand fashion as they walloped Western New Mexico 68-10 in a key RMAC contest, if you could call 68-10 a contest. The 68 points and 603 yards amassed by the 'Birds were both new SUSC records, and the win kept Southern Utah in the running for a possible RMAC championship tie with leader New Mexico Highlands. Highlands would have to lose Saturday to Southern Colorado, while SUSC will have to defeat a tough Adams State foe in Alamosa, Colo., to bring about a title tie, If the Southern Utah offense can come close to duplicating their effort of last week against Adams State, the game could be a massacre. Such an occurance is possible, but not probable. Adams State is very tough defensively and not likely to yield a bushel of points. Back to Saturday's record setting olfensive explosion. "It felt good," said SU quarterback Ben Bubak. "We've been waiting for something like this all year." T-Bird coach Jack Bishop was naturally extremely pleased with his team's victory. "It was just one of those days when everything goes well," smiled Bishop. "That's the kind of a game you like for homecoming. There were a lot of good efforts turned in." The head coach was especially pleased with the play of the all-Ireshman all-Ireshman offense that drove down for the record-breaking touchdown. "When you get that many points, it usually gets sloppy," said Bishop. Every unit that plaved. and there were a bunch, played well and moved the ball offensively and played tough defensively. defen-sively. Depth was a key factor in the lopsided win, according to Bishop. The Mustangs had just over 30 players on the trip, and the T-Birds had players to spare. That helped as the game moved into its later stages. Though it was a day for the offense, the defense only allowed 10 points and forced five interceptions. Monte Green, Clifford Banks and Mike Housley each had seven tackles to lead SUSC defensively. Linebacker Wayne Kit-terell Kit-terell played well, and Trace Bur-ningham Bur-ningham had two interceptions. Dave Faddis had two long punt returns, both contributing to scores, and the entire defensive unit played very well. Jim Ginnetti kicked a field goal with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter to start the scoring. With 4:09 in the quarter, Bubak carried it in from the 8 following a 22-yard Bubak to Mike Schiess to set up the score. It was 9-0 'Birds. SU scored again with 2:16 remaining in the quarter following a reverse pass from Kirk Hafen to Rick Snow for 34 yards. Curtis Page plunged in from the 3. The two-point conversion succeeded and it was 17-0. It was looking like a cakewalk when the Mustangs drove down and booted a field goal to narrow the gap to 17-3 early in the second period. An interception of a Bubak pass set up a TD early in the quarter and suddenly it was a ballgame at 17-10. The ballgame ended there. Bubak hit Scott Applegate with 8:58 in the half and it was 24-10. Western was called with a safety soon thereafter and it was 26-10. The 'Birds took the kick i ' ' ' ' . m Ct ' , -v A? y . -," J f -v. m-'"M.y r ' .f I I py jrr' "'''1 ify", - ' frr i p. v:2:S7Tr , K:C-: Thunderbird linebacker Wayne Kitterell puts pressure on the Western New Mexico quarterback during homecoming action. Kitterell has been a stalwart on the T-Bird defense this season and the 'Bird defense is one of the tops in the KMAC. |