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Show Sports & Outdoors SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE, CEDAR CITY MONDAY, OCTOBER THE THUNDERBIRD SU wins third in a row, now 2 1, 1990 PAGE 13 3-- 1 L. t If BY BRIAN HOWARD AND DAVID COOPER Without leading rusher Steve Hutchings, who sustained a knee injury last week and didnt make the trip, SUSC Head Coach Jack Bishop was planning on logging a few more passing yards than usual Saturday night against Santa Clara. But after three interceptions inside Bronco territory during the first half, Bishop canceled his ticket in the not so friendly skies and came back to earth. The came from behind on the road for the second week in a row to steal a 0 win from Santa Clara to improve to dropping the Broncos n With a little help from the to offense and defensive back Tim Nicolodemus, the second half was a complete turnaround that allowed SUSC to pull it off. The first half was all Santa Clara behind rusher Aron Wise, who scored two touchdowns, taking advantage of Southern Utah turnovers. Three times the Birds drove inside the Broncos line only to come up empty handed. SUs first offensive strike came with 27 seconds left in the first half on a Rick Cadwallader field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, the Thunderbirds got a lucky break when USC ftimbled, and SUSCs Lawrence Gilbert scooped it up and skipped into the endzone for six points, ending the half trailing Neither team scored again until the fourth quarter, when SUSC quarterback Brad Mathews scooted in from 13 yards out to put the Birds up The next scoring play was again Mathews who took the ball over the goal line from two yards out taking advantage of a Santa Clara fumble recovered by John Alcorn on the previous drive making the score SUs defense then took control of the game, keeping the Broncos off the scoreboard until under two minutes left in the game. The secondary met the challenge by blanketing USC quarterback Craig Bergmans receivers on long yardage plays. Tim Nicolodemus, SUSC safety, made a key interception for the second week in a row with just K S y T III I u 24-2- 3-- 3-- veer-optio- J t . 20-ya- 14-1- 0. When senior quarterback Brad Mathews plays the entire game the Birds are 3-- 17-1- 4. 24-1- 4. over two minutes left in the game to halt a Bronco drive. Nicolodemus also had a pickoff in the first quarter, bringing his total for the year to four. A failed onside kick by the Broncos gave SU the Santa ball with 1:33 remaining. With no time-outs- , Clara watched the Birds run out the clock. didnt quite go The passing game for the as planned. Mathews threw for 125 yards, connecting only nine times on 22 attempts with four interceptions. Bob Stookey continued to make his mark in the conference standings, pulling down five passes for 89 yards. Kevin Brooks led an entourage of SUSC rushers with 62 yards on 11 carries. Close behind were Jeff Grant and Mathews who helped pile up 215 total yards on the ground. The win improves SUSCs conference record to and a WFC win on the road will go a long way with three conference games in Cedar City yet to be plaved, according to Bishop. The Thunderbirds return home now for a three-gam- e stand, featuring Sacramento State, Cal State Northridge and St. Marys. New womens basketball coach Kerbs faces new challenges BY KRISTIE ELIASON After selling his house in Idaho and driving nine hours in a Ryder truck, Gordon Kerbs was glad to be back in southern Utah. His wife Jeanne was not so easily convinced. Not only is the couple expecting its first baby in October, but the home was sold even before Kerbs was offered his position as womens basketball coach at SUSC last spring. Everything came together slowly, but it worked out so well, we must have made the right move, Kerbs says, no doubt trying to reassure his wife. The young family has a rough road ahead. With added responsibilities in the workplace, a new area to adjust to, and soon the tasks that come with parenthood, challenges are going to be the name of the game. But the difficulties associated with the brand new Lady Thunderbirds are what Kerbs anticipates. I am excited about the challenge, he says. I have and they are all hard workers. great kids attitude-wise- , He will have 13 athletes this season, but believes the 24-fo- community can expect to see much improvement in the program over the next few years in spite of a difficult schedule this season. Playing some excellent teams this season should teach us a lot, he says, and the support Ive received from the faculty and staff has helped. Last yeais under former head coach SUSC team finished Clay Anderson. Kerbs, a 1984 SUSC graduate, has spent the past six years coaching womens basketball at Burley High School in Idaho. At the beginning of his career, he did not plan on coaching womens athletics, but since accepting a temporary position to get his career underway, he has been coaching women ever since. I will definitely stick with it. Good things are happening with womens athletics nationally, Kerbs says, and a lot of opportunities are developing. The game itself has improved in womens sports over the years, and I like it because there is never a dull moment at a girls game. Dull will definitely not be the theme of Kerbs life this year, but as he has told Jeanne, the first year is always the toughest. 5-- Jeanne has been very supportive and patient with he explains. She has been doing my career choice, well here too. On weekends Kerbs likes to relax and play a little golf, as well as spend time with his wife, as rare as that is during the basketball season. He admits that he enjoys spending most of his time wrapped up in coaching. I grew up around basketball, and I love to coach, he says. Most of my time is spent scouting, recruiting, talking to other coaches and working with my own team. Kerbs says that sports have helped him a lot in his own life by teaching him responsibility and dedication. He hopes he can show his new team the importance of these traits. Patience is another thing that coaching has taught me, and that is one quality that will come in handy toward the end of October. This job is a great opportunity for me, both personally and professionally, says Kerbs. His season 4 will open Nov. at the Montana State 23-2- tournament. |