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Show UNIVERSITY fficjliuG Core3 TT lj think the biggest key is that we changed a tew of our schemes, Meier said. I tlrnlCoaGrAaKiiU Roderick has done a great job of coordinating and putting together game plans. He didnt have a lot of freedom to do that last year. Meier also credited the other coaches on the offensive staff for their contributions. That whole staff does a great job, he said. Coach (Kalani) Sitake with the offensive line... theyve changed some things. Rehrer said having receivers like Smith and Eason has made his job as a I By DARREN VAUGHAN dvaughansuujournal Bcao6sEaos 1 com quarterback a lot easier. 'You know that every receiver has a chance to do something with it, he said. It definitely gives you confidence on every down. Meier agreed. Anytime youve got the receiving crew that weve got, youre going to present problems to teams, Meier said. They have to figure out how to stop you, and if they have to Anytime you've got the receiving crew that we've got, you're going to present problems to The SUU football team defense received a lot of attention in the press at the beginning of this season, but the offense has put up some impiessive numbers through the first four games. win over the McNeese State The second-higheCowboys last w'eek maiked the school a in in load history. scoied game points Quarterback Casey Rehter threw four touchdown 10. Receiver passes, increasing his season total to Jerome Eason ranks near the top of the Great West Conference in receptions, while teammate A.J. Smith in receptions per game. leads all of Division SUU coach Wes Meier credited his offensive offensive success so far. coordinator for the 56-1- 4 st teams." double-cove- receivers, r SGasonD GGaife Wes Meier theyre' leaving one of those other guys open. A lot of teams are double covering Jerome, so we can look the other way and go to A.J. Rehrer said the teams added experience has given the offense a new dimension this year. Experience is a huge thing, he said. Jerome is gives us a great deep threat, and (Ryan) Felipe , a lot adds bad-he and a it up. Hes gieat tearing of versatility to our olfense. Theies definitely a lot of talented kids around me to he p me make moie plays. success comes dtwn to executing the The plays, Rehrer said. Kids are just knowing what routes to run, he added. The playing great. Theyre getting their blocks, which gives me moie time to make a decision on who to throw to. Kids are just making plays, and thats the difference. Meier agreed with Rehrer about the players defensive proves decisive to Birds victory T-Bi-rd Colorado By JONATHAN DEAN deansuujournal defense has The stepped up all year to help the flourishing offense, but it will face its true test during Saturdays Homecoming game. The defense has proven useful this year by creating stops when most important, not only in the secondary zone, but also on the line. Coach Wes Meier said the defense is going to have to break down the line because Cal Poly has a solid running offense. The linebackers have to step up, The Meier said. front is there to eat up the blockers. But they are very effective in their FOOTBALL running game m and out. They are well-balance- d where they run to. This year, senior linebacker Nick DiPadova is leading the defense. DiPadova has had 46 tackles in four games and second-teawas a 2004 selection by The Sports Network after leading the team in tackles with 133. Last year, he was a 2003 Helping out in the defensive backfield is senior linebacker Mike Overly. Overly has 34 tackles, and last year he finished third on the team with 96 tackles, including 60 solo stops. m Marques Harris, senior a State i,: University transfer, was an NFL prospect at CSU and transferred to Southern Utah as a corner back. He was transitioned into the linebacker spot. This year, he has recorded 28 tackles, one of which was recorded as a sack. Cal Polys defense has one person that stands out: linebacker Jordan Beck. Beck leads the team in tackles and has led his teammates to nine defensive touchdowns. They run a com defense isnt seen, i - "Vy x- - that typically Meier said. They run what we like to call a Bear Flex defense, which allows Beck and other linebackers to run all over the place and just eat stuff up. is Cal Poly known for its solid running its passing offense and not game. However, Meier said the team will run and run and then throw a big pass, so it becomes a guessing match when calling plays. Meier said his players know how big this game is. I think they know that Cal Poly is nationally ranked, and I am sure that they are thinking how important this game is for the rest of our season, Meier said. Going into Saturdays game, Cal Poly is currently ranked No. 10 and is perfect in its season with a 0 record. t .... KATRINA JOSLIN ,..,.W. Linebacker Jason nighHnheirhrst UNIVERSITY JOURNAL are set to play Cal Poly Saturday Aalona (left) tries to run past Mike Knight during practice. The a b.g wm at McNeese this past of off are coming home game at Eccles Coliseum at 6 p.m. The Birds Saturday, where they won 56-1- 4. r 4-- finally play on home field T-Bir- ds i 1 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL I know for all intents and purposes, people feel good about the fact that you can go out and be 2 on the road, Meier said. We feel good about how we played, but we feel bad about the fact that were not 1 or even Eason said a 2 record on the road trip is fair, but the could be better and (are) working to get better. The fact is, SUU could well be 0 if not for a late fumble against Sacramento State and a arent actually this year: season-openin- four-gam- 1 I ,V Birds disappointment means three things its the annual Homecoming finally come game; the g home after a e road swing; and SUU comes home to a new football conference. The finally play four their first home game road trips and a bye week into on the season Saturday, as No. 10 Cal Poly comes to yl - that the By RICH JOHNSON SUUs Homecoming ! ' Coliseum. The matchup is SUUs inaugural Eccles Great West Football Conference game. is Kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Weve 4-- 4-- v V. 2-- V 4-- 53-ya- game-winnin- field g goal Stephen been by F. Austin. Now fate turns Birds in the looking forward to FOOTBALL this game since the beginning of the Five favor. season," SUL! u ide seven remaining think receiver Jerome Eason in Cedar City The we re not the old Southern Utah will play Great West team. Were just so filed up fronti unners Cal Poly and UC to play a ranked team at home Davis at home. and have a chance to prove that Being able to finish the Southern Utah is going to make majority of our schedule at moves this year. home. I think that will play into road win at After SUUs our favor and should be good for then-N24 McNeese State, it us, Meier said. Meier joked that the California may have already taken a step in come that direction. The trips are the shortest once on the Great West schedule. out of their rough road swing I dont know if it means a ton but they are far from at satisfied. Eason, SUU coach (playing them at home), he Wes Meier and linebacker Nick DiPadova all expressed mild See GAME, Page 8 1 56-1- 4 KATRINA JOSLIN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL Quarterback Casey Rehrer runs the ball up thein field total during practice. Rehrer currently leads the team offense in passing and rushing yards. 2-- KATRINA JOSLIN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL Jonah Tuatagaloa gets a block as he runs the ball during will take on No. 10 Cal Poly on Saturday practice. The in hopes of improving their record to 3-- |