'Jacks Set To Take On Southern Utah
9/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 11, 2003
FIRST EVER TRIP TO SOUTHERN UTAH: The Lumberjacks return to the road for the second straight week in 2003 as they travel to Cedar City, Utah for first time. The 'Jacks opened the 2003 season last week with a road win over UL-Monroe, 23-21 and make their first ever trip to Cedar City, Utah for football with the final road trip of September. SFA opens a three game homestand follwoing the meeting with the Thunderbirds.
LAST WEEK vs. UL-MONROE: SFA opened the 2003 season with a 23-21 win over I-A UL-Monroe last week, in Monroe, La. The Lumberjacks jumped out to an early 16-0 lead and held on in the second half following a combeack effort by the Indians. WR Tony Tompkins scored from 81-yards out on the first play from scrimmage for 2003 and ended the night with 94 yards rushing on six carries and one reception for 27 yards. The SFA special teams proved to be the difference as the 'Jacks blocked a punt which resulted in a safety and also blocked two ULM field goal attempts. DT Vernon Holman blocked both field goal tries, while DE Ryan Smith blocked the punt.
VS. SOUTHERN UTAH: The 'Jacks are 1-0 versus the Thunderbirds, winning the only meeting between the two teams last season by a 52-6 final. SFA rolled up 428 yards of total offense on the afternoon jumping out to a 42-0 halftime lead. RB Gary Allen made his 2002 debut in the game rushing for 130 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. SFA averaged almost 5.9 yards per carry against Southern Utah while limiting the Thunderbirds to 250 yards of total offense. Five different Lumberjacks scored touchdowns in the game. The scoring started only :37 into the contest when Tony Tompkins scored on a 17-yard run. He finished with five carries for 32-yards. QB Michael Williams played only seven snaps in the game, but was 4-4 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown.
SFA's defensive unit was solid as they held the Thunderbirds to only 250 yards of offense. Two SUU quarterbacks combined to complete 7 of 22 passes for 92 yards. SUU was also picked off four times in the game. SFA also recorded two sacks. The Thunderbirds rushed the ball 56 times for 158 yards (2.8 ypc). Twenty seven different Lumberjacks recorded at least one tackle in the game.
Southern Utah avoided the shutout with a one yard touchdown run from Wes Patterson with 3:46 remaining in the game.
SOUTHERN UTAH LAST WEEK: The Thunderbirds (0-2) dropped a 13-3 decision to Weber State last Saturday in Ogden, Utah. SUU was held to only 211 yards of total offense one week after nearly pulling off an upset win over Nevada. Weber State RB Nick Chournos piled up 196 yards rushing on 38 attempts against the T-bird defense.
