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Show !MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 PAGE9 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL SPORTS 'Birds play tough, but fall short against USU going to have from the guys the rest of this year we're going to have success,· said SUU head coach C. Ray Gregory. The defense held the Aggies scoreless during the first half, taking a 5:..0 lead into the lockerroom with two field goals by David Pretzer. By the end of the third quarter, SUU The Southern Utah University football players walked off the field at Romney had given up only 63 yards. But thanks to quick turnovers in the fourth quarter, USU Stadium Saturday l'.'light in Logan after a 30-14 loss to Utah State knowing that the was given great field position and took control of the game. score didn't tell the whole story of the game. The Thunderbirds "All of a sudden there were some turnovers and we didn't get came into the game as underdogs, but came out having given much time to rest. They started wearing us down and our guys the bigger Aggies a better challenge than many had expected. just got a little tired,· said SUU defensive coordinator Chris SUU was ahead 6-0 at halftime. Howard. ·we just shot ourselves in the foot. We dominated the first ~our plan was to force them to pass, and they did a better job . half and should have had more points," said SUU quarterback in the second half. We just gave up some big plays,· said SUU Matt Cannon. "The defense was phenomenal. We just couldn't linebacker Spencer Woolston. execute in the red zone.· One reason USU's offense started doing better was because "When we got inside the 20, we just couldn't put the ball in of the quarterback change that occurred at halftime. USU the end zone, and when we did we were penalized. We were starter Jeff Crosbie, who was five-of-15 for 27 yards, went out moving the ball all night on them," said SUU slotback Clay and in came Jose Fuentes, who finished 10-of-13 for 198 yards Denton. and four TDs. Receiver Aaron Jones lit up the SUU defense Sam Elliot had a TD run called back and Nate Sundloff had a with five catches for 127 yards and three TOs. kick-off TD return called back as well, both due to holding "Big plays killed us. We were in it more than the score shows. penalities. Things just went their way and didn't go ours,· said SUU If one is to look at the game stats, it would tell a different defensive back Clint Brown. story than the scoreboard. The 'Birds had seven more first Cannon led SUU in rushing with 142 yards on 21 carries downs, 114 more offensive yards and haq a time of possession followed by Denton with 82 yards on 10 carries. Those two with 11 :21 more than USU's. But points scored is the only one hooked up on SUU's only touchdown in the game when that matters, and that, along with turnovers, went to the . Cannon hit Denton on a 28-yard pass with 5:11 left in the Aggies. Cannon threw three interceptions and Denton fumbled game. SUU also recorded two points when Ryan Smith on the opening drive of the second half, which was returned 64 returned a fumbled extra point attempt to the SUU end zone. yards to the SUU 15-yard line by USU's Cade Smith. The 'Birds said they gained confidence for the rest of the SUU's defense stepped up big to shut down the Aggies on season. By knowing they had a chance to beat the Aggies, . the following drive. SUU didn't give up a first down and forced SUU will be able to compete with anyone. USU to settle for a 34-yard field goal. Jackson Peck made all Rod Madsen tries to escape an Aggie "I don't think anyone is leaving here thinking we shouldn't three tackles, including a 10-yard loss, to stop the drive. defender during Saturday's game at Utah have won this game," Cannon said. "The defense was awesome. If that's the kind of effort we're State. . BY JASEN ASAY JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Even in defeat, . Harriers open year 'Birds are winners at UCI Invitational BY JASON ERICKSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR SUU head coach C::. Ray Gregory. "To come up north and see all these people and see all the media that was covering us was a big step for this school and this program,· Gregory said. "Our kids will never forget this." There was a lot of exposure for the school and the SUU football program. Cannon was interviewed live by KSL's Rod Zundel on channel S's Sportsbeat. The press room was filled to capacity with media from all over the state. "This was neat. It was SUU may have lost to Utah State on Saturday night. However, it won in many ways. Any time a Division I-AA team comes to play on the home field of a Division I-A opponent, the prediction of the outcome is always annihilation by the I-A team. Well this game, even though the outcome was largely in favor of the I-A team, the 'Birds fun held their so in fronttoofplay own. many T-Bird fans showed up in great numbers Saturday to For SUU, cheer on SUU in Logan. people. I however, have never this was a win in many ways. The seen this many people watch me play football,· said Cannon. 'Birds had never played in front of so many people. An estimated 26,715 SUU football has come a long way. people showed up, making it the eighth With last year's big wins over Idaho largest attendance in Utah State history State and Weber State, the 'Birds are and the largest non BYU or Utah game looking to take the program to new heights. The football program would in the history of the school. About 1,000 SUU fans made the like to find itself in a conference in the drive frQlll Cedar to Logan. near future. "It was great to see so many people With nearly 27,000 peo~le showing up for the game, not to mention the in red. That really helped our spirits excitement it produced, Utah State just during the game,· SUU quarterback might have to find room for SUU on its Matt Cannon said. schedule.in the future. . . . . .. The exposure alone was enough for lliiiiiiiiiiiii11filli1111iili;iii.iiiiii11Mi1. will depend on the fifth runner. In cross SUU's men's and women's cross country, a team is scored by adding the country teams started the season finishing place of a team's top five runr1ers. Saturday at the UCI Invitational in The SU women came in sixth with Huntington Beach, Calif. Both teams Teresa Rice leading the 'Birds, finishing started what the runners said they feel will 21st at 19:35:30. The hometown team of be an exciting season. UC lrvil)e won the race, followed by Cal The men finished fourth behind Northern Poly, Northern Arizona, Arizona State and Arizona, Cal Poly and Arizona State. Both New Mexico State .. Arizona State and Kelly Moore was Northern Arizona are SUU's second top ranked ahead of the runn~r. finishing number 16 'Birds in 29th overall at the national poll. 19.51 .50. Jande~ The top finishers for Hood (40th, SUU were Curtis 20:08.30) and Kelly Moore, third, and Snoddgress (49th, Mark Wright, fourth. ' 20:22.70) both The two finished just finished in the top-. 1.1 seconds apart 50. with Moore crossing SUU will run in its the finish line at second meet 26:02.30. Zak James Saturday at the San was SUU's third Diego Invitational. runner, finished 14th The team has four at 26:33.50. Other more meets before SUU runners that the Mid-Continent placed in the top-50 Conference were Cody Moat Championship on (39th, 27.52.20), ~ Oct. 28 in Macomb, Dustin Hudspeth Ill. Then it will be (46th, 28:18.80) and ~ back home to Utah Adam Brown (50th, ~ to race in the 28.3820). Mountain Regional The fifth runner has been a question mark in L ·· ~ Championship Ogden. The men for the team coming will look to win into its first race. SUU Kelly Moore is proving to be a team leader this year and, according to her back-to-back Head Coach Eric teammates, has earned their respect regional Houle said that the because of her hard work. championships. strength of the team g a ..~l r ~Jl~!1i s~~~~i I. |