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Show SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE, CEDAR CITY THE THUNDERBIRD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1990 PAGE 10 SU moves into first place A battle of unbeaten Western Football Conference teams takes place in Cedar City Saturday as Southern Utah welcomes the Matadors of Cal State North ridge to town. 1 With its win over Sacramento State Saturday, the Thunderbirds move into sole possession of first place in the WFC with a spotless 0 conference record (4-- 2 overall). Northridge, 1 in the WFC, and tied with overall, Cal Poly SLO in second place, comes to Cedar City after upsetting Portland State at home Saturday night, This Saturdays game at the Coliseum of Southern Utah, which is also the homecoming game, is set to begin at 1 p.m. Northridge seems to have some of the better talent in the league speed-wisSU Head Coach Jack Bishop said. Their defense is really the heart and soul of their football team and that is really where they have great team 38-3- 2-- 4-- 19-1- e, speed. Saturdays contest pits a pair of teams that are currently in similar situations in their respective regions. Southern Utahs four-gam- e win streak is the longest current win streak among Utahs Five schools, while CSUNs four-gam- Big e win streak is the longest current streak by any major team in Southern California. e As for SUSC, the streak is the longest by a team since 1982 (that team won its last five games) and the 0 conference mark is the best start by SU since joining the conference in four-gam- d 2-- 1986. Head football coach ack Bishop has been applauding his teams heart and 'scrappy style all season. The 'Birds take on Cal State Northridge Saturday at 1 p.m. The Birds have also won seven of their last eight games against Division II teams, dating back to 1989. The Matadors, unbeaten since losing their first game to Division Northern Arizona, boast one of the conferences premier players in tailback Albert Fann. Fann, the 1989 WFC Player of the Year and a pick in Sports Illustrated as one of the best unknown talents in the d country, is coming off a rushing performance against Portland State this past week. He is currently fourth in rushing yards in the WFC, but has one less game than the three backs ahead of him. Defense seems to be the teams strong suit in 1990 as the Matadors are second in the conference in total defense and rushing defense and third in passing defense. SUSC has been proficient on the ground, consistently averaging nearly 200 yards a game while using as many as 12 running backs. Fullback Kevin Brooks, who missed last weeks contest with an injury, should be ready to play Saturday. Two CSUN players, Mario Hull and Baron Atkinson are tied for the lead in the WFC in interceptions, averaging .8 interceptions a game. I think we are going to match up very well with Northridge, Bishop said. Our offense has always been able to move the football somewhat against them and our defense has some strengths right now where (CSUN) has strengths. It ought to be one heck of a football game. The two teams have one common opponent in 1990 as both teams have played and defeated Central State (OK). The Thunderbirds drubbed the Bronchos in Cedar City, 35-to begin their winning streak, while the Matadors beat CSU on the road, 17-When you figure that they traveled from Northridge to Oklahoma and Central State traveled up here, that makes the scores a little bit more even than they might sound, Bishop said. 127-yar- SUSCs Downey runs cross country just for the fun of it While she doesnt claim to be a great cross country runner, Southern Utahs JoDee Downey certainly does demonstrate an exceptional love and commitment to the sport. Downey says she may have to sacrifice her social life this year in order to run and to keep a job which enables her to stay in school. That is about the only place there is any flexibility in my schedule, the 5 7 sophomore from Coalville, admits. As a student, Downey is taking 19 quarter hours, just under the maximum allowed for a normal class load. Add to that the time it takes for her to run up to 30 miles per week, do speed workouts, compete almost weekly in competition, and travel to and from away meets. But thats not all, since she also holds down a fulltime job at a local plant that manufactures sleeping bags. Her regular shift begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 2:30 a.m. daily. I suppose I could quit competing, but I love to run, Downey says. I remember last year when I was told not to run because of stress fractures; it was devastating to me. I love to run. Actually, Downey feels better about her schedule this year than last season when, at one time, she held as jobs while going to school. many as three part-tim- e She still finishes regularly in the bottom half of the field ;n meets, but her times are improved over her freshman season. I have a much better base than last Some of the girls I run against are all legs. I sometimes wish my legs were at least four inches longer says SU harrier JoDee Downey. year, and I improved three minutes over my time in the first meet last year, she smiles. I just want to do my best and run to my potential. Im not a person who does things halfway. Downey admits that other runners she faces have some advantages. 1 have to work hard at what seems to come naturally to other girls, she confesses. Some of the girls I run against are all legs. I sometimes wish my legs were at least four inches longer. Self pity doesnt exist for the graduate of North Summit High School. She ran the latter part of last season in considerable pain before being ordered to quit running because of stress fractures. They are pretty much healed this year, she explains. Strangely, Downey had barely heard of cross country before enrolling at SUSC. She was a sprinter and high jumper in junior high school before she turned to distance running. For each of three years she finished among the top eight in Utah 1A state competition in both the mile and the two-milShe also loved volleyball competition in high school, but her introduction to cross country came in college. Running is still fun, she says, but it didnt used to be such hard work. Downey, the oldest of four children, is attending SU on an academic scholarship. Her plans are to complete a bachelors degree in psychology at Southern Utah before graduate work at either UCLA or an Australian university. My preferences right now are to work with either children or deaf people, or to go into Downey says. |