SFU Clan stormed under by Dixie

St. George, UT – The Simon Fraser University Clan were 30 minutes away from their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory. Simon Fraser however was kept off the score sheet during the final two quarters, including missing a chance at a game tying field goal in the final seconds of regulation, as the Dixie State College Red Storm downed SFU 18-15 on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops SFU to 1-6 on the season.

The loss erased an outstanding offensive performance by SFU, who finished the game with a season high 504 yards, while the Clan’s defence held Dixie State to only 204 total yards offensively. It also negated another great rushing day for Bo Palmer, who posted 194 yards on the ground including an 80-yard touchdown run at the end of the first half to put the Clan up 15-10 at halftime.

“We were moving the ball and doing the things we wanted to do, but the third quarter was just brutal, and we made a number of stupid mistakes that just beat us up,” said SFU head coach Dave Johnson following the game. “We had a couple of guys get hurt, and when you look at the stats we should have won this game, but our youth continues to hurt us when we make these mental mistakes.”

SFU opened the scoring when freshman quarterback Greg Bowcott, getting his first collegiate start, capped an eight-play 53-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. The Clan missed the extra point attempt, and led 6-0 before Dixie State answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Cody Stevenson to Kyser Christensen to lead 7-6 after the first quarter.

The teams traded field goals in the second quarter, with DSC’s Mike Langston hitting a 36-yard field goal before Carlos Martinez answered for the Clan with a 22-yard strike. With less than 30 seconds to play in the first half, Palmer ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run to put SFU up 15-10 at the half after the Clan missed the two-point attempt.

The only score of the second half came on a 10-yard pass from Stevenson to tight end Alex Nelson with 3:49 to play in the third quarter. DSC was successful on the two-point conversion to lead 18-15.

The Red Storm held off SFU’s attempts to tie the game, and on the Clan’s final possession, SFU drove to Dixie’s 19-yard line, however Martinez’s 36-yard field goal attempt came up short with eight seconds to play, handing the game to the Red Storm.

Bowcott finished 16-for-36 for 233 yards and one interception. His longest play of the day was a 50-yard strike to Mathis Baumbach. Baumbach finished with 164 yards receiving on seven catches. Stevenson completed 12-of-21 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns for the Red Storm.

Justin Capicciotti led the Clan defensively with seven tackles and a sack. Blair West, Adam Berger also registered solo sacks, while Dan Chabot and Scott Puffer received a sack assist.
The Clan are back in action next Saturday, when they host Humboldt State for their final home game of the regular season.

Game notes: Gabe Ephard was forced out of the game in the early stages due to the lingering effects of an ankle injury suffered during the Shrum Bowl… Palmer left the game in the second half with a stinger.