SFU turnovers, mistakes hand Dixie State first win (video)

Burnaby, B.C. – Freshman quarterback Cody Stevenson threw three touchdown passes, as the Dixie State College Red Storm registered their first win of the season, defeating the Simon Fraser University Clan 28-21 on Saturday afternoon at Terry Fox Field in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action

. It was the first road win for Dixie State since November 8, 2008, when the Red Storm defeated Humboldt State. DSC improves to 1-4 (1-3 GNAC) on the season, while the Clan fall to 0-5 (0-4 GNAC) on the year.

Turnovers, missed opportunities and an anemic passing game were the stories of the day for Simon Fraser; the Clan finished the game converting only 2-of-13 third downs, tossed two interceptions, fumbled twice, totaled only 102 passing yards and failed to convert a key fourth down.

“We keep beating ourselves,” said SFU head coach Dave Johnson following the game. “This was the first week where during preparation we may have set too many expectations, and it came back to bite us, and we made a number of mental mistakes that cost us the game.”

Stevenson finished the game 16-for-24 with three touchdowns and an interception, throwing touchdowns of eight, 18 and eight yards. The Red Storm defence allowed only 248 total yards and caused five turnovers in the victory.

Dixie State drove 68-yards on their opening possession, a series that included a 33-yard pass from Stevenson to Nash Fowler that moved the Red Storm to the SFU eight-yard line. On the ensuing play, Stevenson connected with Kyser Christensen for an eight-yard touchdown pass to put DSC up 7-0.

The Clan tied the game later in the first quarter when quarterback Ryan Schwartz capped a 33-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown scamper. Turnovers plague Simon Fraser in the first half, the Clan’s opening drive had ended with a Schwartz interception, and near the end of the first half Taylor Wilkinson fumbled a punt return inside the redzone, resulting in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stevenson to Alex Nelson to put DSC up 14-7 at halftime.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, SFU’s Tore Corrado handed off a reverse to Gabe Ephard, and 57-yards later the junior running back was down to the Dixie State 22-yard line. Two plays later Schwartz connected with Mathis Baumbach on a 21-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 14-14.

After trading possessions, the Red Storm put together an eight-play 81-yard drive, with Jesse Ence providing the exclamation mark on an 11-yard run up the middle to give DSC a 21-14 lead midway through the third.

Dixie State then picked off backup Clan quarterback Quinton Agosta to open the fourth quarter deep in SFU territory, and two plays later Stevenson connected on his third touchdown of the afternoon, an eight-yard strike to Zach Fox to lead 28-14.

In the fourth, Simon Fraser moved to a no-huddle offence with 5:22 left in the game, and Bo Palmer capped an 11-play 87-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run for the final score of the game.

Ence finished with 25 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Fowler was Stevenson’s favourite target on the afternoon, totaling five receptions for 71 yards. Christian Case finished the game with a team high three tackles for a loss and a sack, while Wes Hulse and Danny Hawkins each had interceptions for Dixie State.

For the Clan, Ephard ended the game with 21 carries for 107 yards, while Schwartz finished 10-for-21 for 100 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Linebacker Andrew Marshall totaled a game high 11 tackles, including three for a loss and one interception.

The Clan are back in action next week, when they travel across town for Shrum Bowl XXXIII against the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday night (7 pm).