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Show THE THUNDERBIRD Halfback Thane Marshall is pulled to the ground by Santa Clara defenders at SUSC's homecoming game Saturday MONDAY OCTOBER The vital game ended in a 13-1- 0 loss for the 'Birds Santa Clara pushes past Thunderbird gridders 'Birds travel to Ft. Lewis for loss SUSC's conference mark at puts Homecoming BY TIFFANIE 1-- FLORENCE Some 4,188 fans saw SUSC's Thunderbirds suffer a homecoming loss Saturday at the hands of the Santa Clara Broncos 13-1- 0 The game was a must win for both teams in order to stay a contender in the tight Western Football doubly-disappointi- Conferences The game was perhaps lost with 5.13 left to go as o the 'Birds were down by three on a at line SUSC Coach Jack Bishop, the Bronco with prolific kicker Herkey Marxen on the sideline, chose to keep him there and go for the first The play, a dive over the right side by Jim Andrus, was stopped at the line and turned the ball over to Santa Clara, who held onto it for the next four minutes. SUSC got the ball back at its five with 1 20 to go, but was stymied, unlike its luck a week earlier at Thousand Oaks "I was confident that we could achieve the first down without a field goal, because we had fourth-and-tw- 30-ya- rd and-a-ha- lf n ht 7-- third-and-o- 23-ya- for the score The Broncos took a 10-- 7 halftime lead d on a Tobin Douglas field goal that just cleared the base bar with 2 38 in the half. Midway through the third quarter Marxen booted a field goal to tie the game 10-1Six minutes later, on a fourth-and-1- 4 play Douglas gave the Broncos their winning margin with a field goal With 9 35 to go in the game, Marxen tried for a d field goal and was short by a yard. "If the wind hadn't died down the kick would have been good," he said. "I am upset because we should have won and that field goal could have tied the game." The fateful drive came next. The loss dropped the 'Birds' record to in conference play and 3 overall The Bronco record advanced to 0 in conference play; 1 overall. The will prepare to meet Fort Lewis, a team in a nonthey've already beaten this year, 38-2conference clash Saturday in Durango, Colo , at 1 pm 54-yar- 37-ya- rd 0. 51-ya- 50-yar- 3-- 2-- 'Bird roster and was also tied for the team lead in COTTAM The Thunderbird exhibition baseball season moved into full swing this past week when Bill Groves' club played Snow Junior College and Mt. San Jacinto Junior College. Groves is in a unique situation this year, as he has just nine returners from among 52 players. "We've got a lot of prospects out there that we don't know much about," Groves admits. "We only have 10 games to get a look at everyone, but everyone will get a chance." Some returning lettermen that are expected to bring experience to the team are pitchers Ron Barrus, who went 2 last year, and Blaine Reber who compiled a 4-- 7 The also have catrecord in the 1986-8cher Mike Verso coming back this year Mike finished last season batting .390, which was second on the 5-- 7. home runs with 10 "Verso is a player that the scouts are looking at," says Groves. "I'd like to have 30 players like Mike. You just give him a ball and bat and he can get the job done " Groves is excited about some of the players transferring from other schools Pitchers Wayne a transfer from College of Eastern Utah; Ron Goforth, from Phoenix Community College and Rick Massey, a transfer from Brigham Young, all expect to add firepower to the Thunderbird pitching staff. Among some of the infielders coming to SUSC are first baseman Jeff Nelson from Utah Valley Community College, who was one of the top five hitters in his conference last season. Other infielders include Kyle DeLange from Dixie College and Ron Hubei, a transfer from Chapman University. Along with the returning lettermen and transfers Ar-roy- a, 4-- 0, Thunderbird baseball swings into action with BY DAREN 13-1- 0 Saturday game 2; completed the play earlier in the game," said Bishop The drive, which had began at midfield, had been sailing along, but the 'Birds had converted on only five of 13 third-dowplays thusfar in the game Quarterback Chad Richard misread the crucial play, changing it from a sweep to Thane Marshall to an audiblized dive by Andrus, which ultimately would the game cost the and close The game, however, was throughout. The Broncos were able to keep the football in Thunderbird territory through the first quarter. With 8.38 remaining in the second quarter Bronco quarterback Greg Calcagno drilled Bryan Smith with a three-yar- d touchdown pass to give the Broncos a 0 lead The capitalized on a turnover to tie the game later in the period as junior David Hastings intercepted the ball at the Bronco 37 Rob Hill moved the ball to the Bronco 28 yard line on a scamper play, then Marshall broke free for a hard-foug- PACE 13 12, 1987 1-- 1 record hoping to add spark to the club, there are also some Pitpromising freshmen coming to Southern Utah. chers that are trying to gain a spot on the staff include home town Cedar High stars Robert Pearson and Kyle Hinton. There is also pitcher Jay Hinton, who Groves says has "all of the tools" to be a solid starter. "We're gaining notoriety throughout the state," said Groves of his program. Within the past three years the Thunderbirds have beaten such teams as University of Utah, Brigham Young and other noteworthy schools throughout the area. "We have nowhere to go but up," mentioned Groves and with the baseball programs advancement into NCAA Division next season, Groves is looking forward to one of the best programs in the state The continue their exhibition season 2 p m. when they host University of at Wednesday Utah I |
