Jacks hold off Southern Utah, will play for GWFC title

Saturday, November 11

Cedar City, Utah

1 p.m. MT

South Dakota State University

7-3-0 , 3-0

Southern Utah

3-7-0 , 0-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
South Dakota State	14	7	7	3	31
Southern Utah	0	0	14	7	21

11/11/2006 12:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

CEDAR CITY, Utah ? South Dakota State held off a second-half Southern Utah charge as the Jackrabbits won for the seventh-consecutive time with a 31-21 victory at Eccles Coliseum.

The Jackrabbits improved to 7-3 overall and stayed undefeated in Great West Football Conference play at 3-0. SDSU's win sets up a showdown with North Dakota State on Nov. 18 for the Great West championship. The Bison, 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the GWFC, trounced Cal Poly, 51-14, Saturday.

Southern Utah dropped to 3-7 overall and ended GWFC play winless at 0-4.

The ball bounced right for the Jackrabbits to score their first touchdown. Anthony Watson fumbled after he was hit at the 1-yard line, but quarterback Andy Kardoes picked up the live football and rolled into the end zone. SDSU's opening drive covered 81 yards on 12 plays.

SDSU scored by more conventional means to go up 21-0. Micah Johnson broke away from the secondary to haul in a 43-yard first-quarter touchdown pass from Kardoes, and Watson rumbled 32 yards for another score. Watson's TD with 5:32 to play in the second quarter came two plays after Brock Gentile recovered a fumble at the Thunderbird 41.

Southern Utah got on the board in its first series of the second half as Kyle Coop bounced a run around the left corner and raced 78 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Trevor Hohn fumbled and the Thunderbirds recovered at the SDSU 23. One play later, SUU got the lucky bounce as Jason Bonwell stripped quarterback Wes Marshall, but Joey Hew Len picked up the fumble and ran it in from 13 yards out to pull the Thunderbirds within a touchdown at 21-14.

The Jackrabbits regained the momentum by churning out an 11-play, 68-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Kardoes to Chris Wagner. Tight end Matt Anderson recorded his first two receptions of the season and redshirt freshman wide receiver Mike Steffen posted his first career reception on the drive with a 13-yard catch.

SUU cut the margin back to one score on the first play of the fourth quarter as Marshall found Bobby Pond in the back left corner of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown.

SDSU squandered a scoring opportunity on its next drive as Kardoes was picked off in the end zone.

However, the Thunderbirds gave the ball right back as Jimmy Rogers knocked the ball loose from Craig Gritton and Jason Bonwell pounced on the loose ball just before it rolled out of bounds at the SUU 36. After the Jackrabbit drive stalled, Parker Douglass booted a 53-yarder to put SDSU up 31-21 with 9:25 to play.

Southern Utah moved into SDSU territory twice in the closing minutes but the Jackrabbit defense held when needed.

Justin Kubesh led the Jackrabbit defense with 11 tackles, with Marty Kranz adding 10 tackles, an interception and two sacks. SDSU tallied five sacks as a team.

Watson paced the Jackrabbit ground game with 128 yards on 21 carries. Kardoes completed 19-of-30 passes for 190 yards. He connected with nine different receivers, led by Wagner's five catches for 36 yards. Chris Doblar caught three passes for 38 yards and JaRon Harris added three receptions for 23 yards.

Southern Utah held a 393-344 advantage in total offense, although SDSU held a nine-minute edge in time of possession.

Marshall completed 21-of-33 passes for 243 yards. Matthew Jacobsen caught five balls for 54 yards and Hew Len tallied four catches for 51 yards.

Coop recorded six carries for 98 yards, with Marshall picking up 26 yards on 13 carries.

Notes: Southern Utah was shut out in the first half for the fourth consecutive game ? SDSU recorded eight tackles for loss, including three sacks, in the first half ? Watson took over the team lead in rushing with 651 yards as he notched his third consecutive 100-yard game and 18^th of his career ? Kranz's interception was his first of the season and second of his career ? SUU's first touchdown ended a string of eight consecutive quarters covering three games in which SDSU had not allowed a touchdown ? SDSU last won four road games in a season in 1999 ... Douglass' 53-yard field goal was the fourth 50-plus field goal of his career