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Show EV " THUNDERBIRIJ SPORTS THE THUNDERBIRD· SOUfHERN UfAH UNIVERSITY· 11JESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1992 • PAGE 19 Gamble fails; 'Birds fall to Bronchos 21-20 Bishop, unwilling to settle for tie, goes for two but Thunderbirds come up short against Central Oklahoma BY JAY HINTON ThunderbiTd Sports Writer SUU Head Football Coach Jack Bishop faced a situation that most football coaches in America have faced at least once in a careergoing for a win or going for a tie. With just over three minutes remaining in SUU's home opener Sarurday night against Central Oklahoma the Thunderbirds faced a win or tie situation and elected to go for the win, like most would have in a non-conference game, but SUU' s Zed Robinson fell a yard short and the 'Birds dropped a 21-20 decision to the Bronchos in the Coliseum of Southern Utah. The 'Birds had a chance co kick the game winning field goal with less than 30 seconds remaining in the contest, but a bad snap to holder Bret Barben ended the th reat With the loss, the Thunderbirds fall to 1-2 on the year. (Su page 22). They will look to even up their record when the face the Angelo State Rams Sarurday at 7 p.m. in the Coliseum. SUU's Mike Key put the Thunderbird offense in a position to score on their first possession of the game when he returned a Broncho punt 72 yards to the COU 20 yard line. The SU offense failed to score. Matt Gordon attempted a 37 yard field goal but it sailed wide le~ On the following play, SUU's senior safety Wade T urley stepped in front on a Broncho pass and raced 20 yards to score. Gordon's kick for the point after was blocked, so with 9:42 left in the opening quarter the 'Birds led 6-0. Key put the 'Birds in scoring position again with a 46-yard punt rerum to the Broncho 30 yard line. This time the 'Birds answered with a touchdown. Two plays later quarterback Rick Robins hit Kevin Cuthbertson SUU tailback Zed Robinson skirts the end /err a I 0-,ard pickup against Centwl Oklahoma in tfu! 21-20 loss Saturday. with a 30-yard TD strike. Robins promptly hit Kevin McKeiman for the PAT and the 'Birds led I 4-0. 11,e Thunderbird offense remained silent until the 3:21 mark of the fourth quarter when McKieman bulled three yards for the score. Bishop then made the gutsy call for the win instead of the tie, but Robinson's sweep for the endzone came up empty. Bishop said that one thing the hurt the Thunderbirds was their inability to capitalize. "Offensively we would move the ball and then self -destruct," said Bishop. The Thunderbirds compiled 315 yards total offense against UCO's 249, but SUU's seven punts and two turnovers stiffed SUU's attack. Robins went 10 of 19 for 143 yards and two interceptions, while Robinson carried the ball 22 times for l 08 yards. Following the Angelo State tilt, the 'Birds will hit the road for games with Western Football Conference foes Pordand State OL-r. 3 and Santa Clara Oct l 0. The 'Birds will be back home for th ree consecutive weeks vs. St Mary's, Sacramento State and Cal State Northridge, the latter pair W FC tilts. Houle is new track, harrier coach A former Southern Utah University track and cross country athlete and cwo-time srudent body president has returned to SUU as head track and cross country coach. Eric Houle, who has served as boy's and girl's track and cross country coach at Salt Lake City's Judge Memorial High School since 1982, began his duties with the Thunderbirds' NCAA division I program last mon th. He is head coach for both men's and women's programs here. "We are exceptionally pleased to be able to attract a coach with such a successful record and with such statewide respect," Kathryn Berg, SU U associate athletic director, said . "Coach Houle has demonstrated his ability to build and maintain strong track and cross country progran1s." Houle graduated from SUU with physical education and communication majors in 1981. He was elected the university's student body president in 1979 and 1980. While at SUU he lettered four seasons in varsity track as a distance runner and two seasons in cross country. He was named the state's 3A cross country coach of the year after the 1990 and 1991 seasons at Judge Memorial. During his tenure at Judge, Houle coached teams to five state championships. The Bulldogs captured boy's cross country championships in 1990 and 1991, the girl's cross country championship in 1987, and girl's track championships in 1988 and 1989. H is teams have also finished second in the state four times and have picked up 15 region championships. Houle has built programs at Judge Memo rial which, last year, in cluded a combined boys-girls cross country squad of 70 runners and a combined boys-girls track squad which included 130 athletes. During the past five seasons, his teams have accumulated a record of 111 wins and only nine losses. Houle replaces Paul Maggio, who resigned ltHs•spring to accept a position with Cedar City +Jigh lSchool. Eric Houle has returned to SUl,l as Mad l1ackt1nd field and cross country coach. |