'Jacks Set To Host Southern Utah
9/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2004
HOME FOR THE T-BIRDS: The 'Jacks return to Homer Bryce Stadium Saturday night to host the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah. SFA enters the game riding a three game winning streak to open the season and has won eight of its last nine games dating back to last year. The last time SFA opened the season with three straight wins was in 2000. SFA lost to Northern Iowa in week four of that season, which started a three game skid. In 1995 the Lumberjacks won the first seven games of the year, going on to a 9-1 regular season record and 11-2 overall. SFA earned a spot in the I-AA semifinals that year, losing to Montana. The 'Jacks enter this week's game looking to avenge a 22-21 loss to Southern Utah last year in Cedar City.
LAST GAME vs SOUTHERN UTAH: SFA jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter but did not put the Thunderbirds away as SUU scored a touchdown early in the second quarter to cut the SFA lead to 14-7 at the half. Following a Robert Price interception, QB Zeke Dixon hit Chance Dennis for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 21-7. Southern Utah moved the ball inside the SFA five yard line early in the fourth quarter, but could not convert on 4th and goal from the two yard line as the 'Jacks defense held. The T-birds hung around though and scored twice in the final four minutes of play, the final score coming with just :35 left on the clock. Southern Utah faked the extra point attempt and ran in for the two point conversion and the 22-21 win. The 'Jacks forced five Southern Utah turnovers but managed points on only two of them.
THE SERIES: The series is tied 1-1, with each team winning on its home field.
2002 SFA 52 Southern Utah 6 2003 Southern Utah 22 SFA 21
THE OPPONENT: Southern Utah enters the game at 1-1 on the year following a season opening win over Weber State (34-31) and a narrow loss to Sacramento State (23-17) last week. The Thunderbirds are playing for their third head coach in as many years as Wes Meier, the team's assistant head coach and special teams coordinator a year ago, was elvated when Gary Andersen left after only one year. Southern Utah returns 18 starters off last year's 4-7 team - eight offensive, eight defensive and two specialists. Forty-three letterwinners are also back from a year ago. While the head coach is different, most of the coaching staff from a year ago remains.
THE COACHES: SFA is coached by Mike Santiago (Southern Utah, 1977) now in his sixth season at SFA. Santiago has posted a 36-22 record as a college head coach, all with SFA. In his first season, he led the Lumberjacks to a share of the Southland title (1999). The 'Jacks have won at least six games each season under Santiago and a winning record in 2004 will mark the longest such streak in SFA history. Southern Utah is coached by Wes Meier (1-1), in his first year as a collegiate head coach. Meier served a year ago as assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and defensive line coach under Gary Andersen. A former Southern Utah defensive lineman, Meier joined the Southern Utah staff after a long career in the Utah high school coaching ranks.
OTHER NOTES ----
• SFA moved to 3-0 with the win over Northern Iowa, the best start by a Lumberjack team since 2000. The win over the Panthers also snapped a five game losing streak to UNI and broke the Panthers' eight game home winning streak. The win was also the second in as many weeks over a ranked opponent.
• The SFA offensive unit did not commit a turnover in the game. The 'Jacks had turned the ball over a total of seven times in the first two games. UNI fumbled four times in the game, but did not lose possession on any of them.
• The SFA defense held Northern Iowa to only 77 yards rushing on 33 attempts. One year after torching the 'Jacks for 249 yards and three TDs, RB Terrance Freeney was held to 14 yards on 10 carries in the game.
• K Ryan Rossner moved from sixth to third on the all-time scoring list at SFA with six points in the game against UNI. Rossner is 17 points behind second place KaRon Coleman on the all-time list.
•RB Derek Farmer picked up his first receiving touchdown of the season with an eight yard TD grab with 5:45 to play. The touchdown gave the 'Jacks a 24-14 lead. Farmer also added another rushing touchdown from four yards out for the game's first score. Farmer ended the night as the game's leading rusher with 71 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. He also added one reception for eight yards and a TD.
•WR Tony Tompkins led the Lumberjacks with five catches for 55 yards. Tompkins was able to return only one punt in the game, that for 10 yards.
•TE Matt Bodley had his best game as a Lumberjack picking up two receptions for 61 yards. He had a 50-yard catch and run midway through the second quarter to set up a TD grab by Michael Motte which gave the 'Jacks a 14-0 lead. The 50-yard play is the longest pass play for SFA so far this season.
• The Lumberjack offense continues to be productive in the red zone, going 4-4 inside the 20-yard line against Northern Iowa. SFA scored three TDs and a field goal on four trips inside the 20 against the Panthers.
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