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Show 1 j SU defeats USC in Barnburner i Football is a game of in- ches. Those who don't believe that should have . been in attendance Saturday at the Southern Utah State and the University of Southern Colorado contest to be convinced. The Thunderbirds of SUSC came out on the long end of a 22-21 score, but the invading Indian of Pueblo, but with just over four minutes remaining on the clock and the T-Birds ahead 22-15 the Indians pushed in a touch down to bring the score to 21-22. 21-22. Rather than settle for a possible tie the visiting Indians went for a two point conversion and their hard running fullback, Bill Gower, was stopped just inches short of the goal by a surging T-Bird defensive unit. An onside kick failed to go the required ten yards and the T-Birds had the ball at midfield. Further excitement, ex-citement, however, was provided when the T-Birds were intercepted with 1:53 remaining in the game to give the Indians one more chance. Indian quarterback Bart Stevens was sacked and lost possession with Bruce Milburn pouncing on the ball on the Indian 18 and again it looked like it was all over, but the Indian again regained possession on a fumble with 1:15 remaining. The clock, however, ran out with the ball resting on the Indian 45. The Thunderbirds took command of the game early and in less than five minutes into the game had a score on the boards. The Indians took the opening kick but failed to move. Taking the punt the T-Birds T-Birds had good field possession at the Indian 45 and on the first offensive series drove 45 yards in 10 plays with Roger Williams bursting off tackle from six yards out for the score. The PAT was wide and SUSC was up 6-0 with 10:14 left in the period. The Indians began a drive from their own 25 after the kickoff and aided by a roughing the pass penalty on a play that saw a T-Bird interception, drove to a first and goal at the SUSC five, but fumbled on the next play and SUSC took over on their own two. After an exchange of punt SUSC again had good field position at their own 49 and with Williams and Winfred Anderson carrying on the ground the T-Birds again ground out a 51 yard sustained drive with eight plays to hit pay dirt on the second play of the second quarter. Quarterback Scott Burns on a keeper scored from four yards out to move the score to 12-0. Again the PAT attempt was wide. Midway in the period the Indians again began an attack and put together a sustained drive that covered 88 yards with the score coming on a pass from Stevens to Mick McCall good for 23 yards to cap the drive. The extra point was booted and the T-Bird held onto 12-7 lead at halftime after missing a 37 yard fieldgoal attempt with less than a minute to go in the period. In the third period SUSC again sustained drive that was capped by a 33 yard . fieldgoal by Joe Wells to put . the T-Birds out on top by a score of 15-7. With just 36 seconds left in the third quarter the Indians got possession on the T-Bird 44 and on the next play Stevens connected on a fly pattern with Anthony Flenoy breaking away for the score. Stevens went to McCall for a two point conversion and suddenly the score was knotted at 15-all. SUSC received the kickoff following the score and Williams hit for four yards up the middle to end the period. The fourth quarter started with the T-Birds on their own 32 and a second and six situation. Burns hit Anderson in the flat for four yards to the 32 but a dead ball foul - a personal foul-on foul-on the Indians moved the ball to the 44 and a first down. The T-Birds kept the drive alive with the big play a one handed stretching reception by tight end Kit Janes. The reception was good for 20 yards and gave the T-Birds a first down at the Indian 24. Burns kept for three yards, Anderson hit off tackle for 6 to the 15 and Burns, on a keeper got a first down at the 12. Phil Howa cracked to the 10, Burns moved it to the 7 and Wililams hit to the three. It, was fourth and inches at that point and Howa went over the top for a first down at the one and two plays later Burns scored on a keeper. The extra point was booted by Wells and the T-Birds held a 22-15 advantage with 8.53 remaining. After the kick it was the Indians driving from their own 26 to score 10 plays later with 4:19 left to set up the dramatic attempt for a two point conversion that failed leaving the T-Birds out in front for the eventual 22-21 victory. |