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Show - THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• MONDAY, OCTOBER 2.8, 1996 'BIRD. SPORTS 'Birds fall again on the road By CHAD LAMB JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Playing on the road has not been the easiest task for the 'Birds this year, and Saturday against the Aggies of New Mexico State, it didn't get any easier. Led by Denvis Manns, who rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns, the Aggies won their first game of the season in a 52-21 decision over Southern Utah. "It feels a lot better to walk up that ramp 1-and 7 than oh-and 8," said New Mexico State coach Jim Hess. After seven straight losses, Hess said it was nice to get things working. The Aggies haven't been playing poorly this season, he said, they just haven't played real well. SU entered the game as the nation's I-AA leading rushing team at 327 rushing yards per game. The 'Birds finished with 406 rushing yards against the Aggies, but never got the score closer than 10-7, when Joe De1paix threw 11 yards to Roosevelt Miller. Dupaix also scored two touchdowns on the ground on runs of 60 and six yards, to finish the scoring for the 'Birds. Dupaix finished the night with 203 net yards on the ground, boosting him past the 1,000 yard mark on the year. This marks the first time in SU history that two runners have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in one season. Madsen, who hit the 1,000 yard mark last week, finished his eighth straight game of 100 yards or better, gaining 145 yards on the ground. Madsen has rushed for a total of 1,244 yards on the season, and will probably hit 1,500 with two games still to play. The Aggies scored on their first two possessions and never looked back. Duane Gregory caught a five-yard TD pass from Chad Salisbury four minutes inw the game and Brad Hopkins kicked a 23-yard field goal. For the first time since a 49-23 win over Pacific in 1966, NMSU completed a game without punting. "I still want to see what their punt teams look like," said Head Coach Rich Ellerson. "Our kids have been trying hard all year, but they have been in over their heads all year." The 'Birds have had trouble on the road all season, unable to move the ball in key situations, and being kept out of the end zone despite rushing for more than 300 yards a game. The defense has also had difficulties stopping opponents from getting into the end zone, allowing an average of 46 points per game on the road. Turnovers were also a key to the Aggie win, as they recovered three ' Bird fumbles. This weekend the 'Birds return for their last home game of the season against Saint Mary's, a 31 - 10 loser to UC Davis on Saturday. This will also mark the last game played in the current Coliseum , wl).ich will be torn down following Saturday's game. The new facility will be complete by June, officials promise. New Mexico State running back Denvis Manns tries to get past Austin Lindsey during the Aggies' 52-21 rout of the 'Birds. Utah's amateur athletes honored Harriers run to A natural athlete,Bullock didn't begin competing Two of the Beehive State's most accomplished high in track and field until the spring of 1994, when a school sports performers and champions in the Utah family friend, impressed with her strength, suggested Summer Games competition have been chosen to she try her hand at the discus throw. Her abilities in represent the state of Utah as the CITGO State the discus ring also found her claiming first-place Games Athletes of the year. finishes in 1995 and 1996 at the Meet of Champions, Seventeen-year-old BranElon Anderson, a state a tournament featuring the title holders from each of champion wrestler from Loa, and 18-year-old Anna the state's five high school classifications. Bullock, a record-setting discus thrower from Lehi, A record holder were recognized in both the discus Oct. 17th at the and shot put at State Capitol in Lehi High School Salt Lake City for and a two-time their Utah Summer achievements. Games goldOffered each year medal winner, to outstanding Bullock also owns athletes who the 3A state participated in discus record with their respective a throw of 140 state games, the feet, threeCITGO State quarters inch. Her Games Athlete of • all-time best the Year Awards throw of 146 feet, are presented by 10 inches is the CITGO second-best Petroleum launch in Utah Corporation and state prep history. the National Bullock is Congress of State Games. Anna Bullock, an SUU athlete, received recognition as the curre~tly " Anna and Outstanding Athlete of the Year /or her performance in track and attendin~ SUU on Brandon are both field. The award was presented by CITGO regional representative Cliff a\atrle: excellent Testen, right, while Gov. Mike Leavitt added bis congratulations. sc Ao ars ~lA two-time examples of the state high school wrestling champion, Anderson first spirit of community and competition that embodies competed in the Utah Summer Games in 1989. our games," said David Slack, executive director of Wrestling as a 55-pounder, he was 15 pounds to the Utah Summer Games. "Their dedication to slight for the tournament's lightest weight class, but excellence, and their will to succeed beyond any still managed to return home with a bronze medal. obstacle or difficulty, are representative of each of A high school All-American in his sport, Anderson the thousands of athletes who compete in the Utah has earned third and fifth-place finishes at the USA Summer Games." Jr. National Tournament, and is currently ranked Bullock, now an SUU athlete, has intensity and third in the nation in his weight class by the dedication which paid off quickly, as she captured the 3A state title in the event in both 1995 and 1996. lntermat Wrestling organization. I first place finish in Pomona The SU cross country teams blistered the course at Cal Poly Pomona Saturday, with Chris Merkley taking the individual title in the men's race, to lead the 'Birds to the men's team title at the Bronco Invitational. The men finished with 30 points to win the Division meet, 49 points better than second-place Cal State Fullerton. The meet also featured teams from Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount. Merkley ran a personal-best 24:19.8 to win the 8K event, with three 'Birds finishing in the top 10. Phil Woolston finished fifth with a time of 25:12, and Adam Moore finished in 10th place at 25:38.2. Ted Hansen finished 11th with a finishing time of 25:48. Jason Blackham, Monte Marshall, and Jared Larrabee also turned in strong performances, finishing the race in under 27 minutes. Merkley, in his first year of competition since returning from an LOS mission, has had great success this year with improved times in each meet. This is the first time this year that the men have finished first, and also the first time a 'Bird runner has taken a first place finish for the men . The 'Bird women also turned in a successful day as all five.runners turned in sub-20 minute performances in the SK event at the Bronco Invitational. Sophomore Esther Woolston was the top T -Bird finisher in 14th-place with a time of 18:12. Freshman Mary Ann Schauerhamer was 17th in a time of 18:23. Heather DeWitt, Jana Lee Proctor, and Angela Hall also competed for the women. As a team, the women finished fourth in the eightteam field with 107 points, ahead of Cal Irvine, Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine. UCLA captured the team title with 20 points, followed by UC Santa Barbara and Cal-State Fullerton. Saturday's meet was the final tune-up for Southern Utah before the NCAA District VII meet on Nov. 16th. |