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Show r~'.(~ . ,'BIRD SPORTS Vandals wreck opener wen; answered early this season when junior, Benji Nelson By JOHN McCLOSKEY boomed a 49-yard field goal with one tick left in the first JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR half, leaving the halftime score, 22-3. The second half was much of the same as the Vandals After an impressive pre-s~ason and after several good- added 21 points and kept the 'Birds scoreless until :40 left looking scrimmages, the Thunderbirds opened the 1994 in the game. Reserve running back Brad Muir busted across football season at home with a tough game against the the goal line on a one-yard run, giving the SU its first University of Idaho. touchdown of the season, Despite the lack of but leaving them well students, the Coliseum of short in the end, 43-10. Southern Utah was packed Thunderbird with fans who turned out quarterback Rick Robins to cheer the 'Birds on. was pressured heavily Unfortunately, SUU fans throughout the game and didn't get many was sacked seven times. opportunities to cheer as When he did get a chance they watched the Division to throw, he was in a I-AA number-IO-ranked hurry, and the Idaho Idaho Vandals wreck SU's defensive backs opener with a 43-10 win. combined for nine It was the first time the broken-up passes and one two I-AA squads met on interception. the gridiron and Idaho, of Idaho's all-American the Big Sky Conference, tailback Sherriden May punished the 'Birds at the ran for 108 yards on 22 line of scrimmage. The ~ carries and one Vandal offense racked up ~ touchdown. Idaho 376 total yards while totalled 20 l yards on the their defense held SU to ground. just 128 yards. Bright spots for the Idaho rattled off the ~ 'Birds were kick returners first 22 points of the Shawn Jones, who had game, including a 51three returns for 98 yards, yard field goal by Ryan Shawn Tones and the rest of the Thunderbird running attack was and Anthony Brown, who Woolverton. muffled against the tough Idaho defense as the 'Birds ran for a also had three attempts SU's kicking questions total of 49 yards. SU had only 128 offensive yards in the game. for 83 yards. i ~ Lumberjacks cut down SU SU traveled to Flagstaff, Ariz., for its second contest of the year where Northern Arizona, also a member of the Big Sky Conference, was ready to cut into the Thunderbirds. NAU broke open the game midway through the second quarter when the Lumberjacks turned an errant pitchout into a quick touchdown and took a 247 lead with 3:13 left. The 'Jacks tacked on another TD late in the period for a 31-7 halftime advantage. Northern Arizona was able to convert on numerous big plays throughout the evening, while the Thunderbirds struggled to put together much of an offensive attack. Anthony Brown's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown broke the school record for the 'Birds and his four kickoff returns for 134 yards earned him the American West Conference special teams player of the week award. "Ant Dog" now has seven returns for 217 yards. Rush end James Bleak also was named the AWC Player of the Week for his defensive efforts. Bleak had six tackles, three of which were solo, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. Saturday Nights Country Bowl 9 p.m... 12 a.m. $5 for all you can bowl! Open Play M·Th 1-6 p.m. lr g. 11 p.m. Fri. 1-11 p.m. Sat. 1· 12 a.m. Sun. 5. 10 p.m. |