'Jacks and Thunderbirds Duke it Out in Overtime Shootout

Saturday, September 14

Cedar City, Utah | Eccles Coliseum

7:05 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

0-3

Southern Utah

1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

SFA

Southern Utah

'Jacks and Thunderbirds Duke it Out in Overtime Shootout

9/15/2019 12:11:00 AM | Football

Box Score

SFA quarterback Trae Self tosses a pair of touchdowns in 'Jacks' highest-scoring outing of 2019

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Strategic Communication

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Junior running back Josh McGowen raced untouched into the end zone from three yards out to put the SFA football team ahead 38-31 with 3:13 to go in the fourth quarter, but Southern Utah forced overtime by generating an equalizing touchdown with 1:12 remaining in regulation and held the 'Jacks out of the promised land after scoring on an 11-yard run in SFA's 45-38 overtime setback to the Thunderbirds at Eccles Coliseum Saturday night.

In search of its second non-conference road victory this decade, the 'Jacks battled back from a 10-point deficit midway through the second quarter to take the least three separate times through the final two quarters of action before succumbing to the Thunderbirds in overtime.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• On their very first drive of the game, Southern Utah took a lead it wouldn't relinquish until the second half by watching Kekoa Sasaoka end a 10-play, 59-yard drive with a 33-yard field goal.
• Following the 'Jacks second turnover in as many road games, the Thunderbirds made use of some trickery to extend their lead. On second and three, Southern Utah ran what appeared to be a sweep before pitching the ball back to Lance Lawson who hooked up with quarterback Chris Helbig for a 10-yard touchdown strike that pushed the hosts' lead to 10-0.
• Culminating with a 25-yard field goal off the leg of reigning Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Storm Ruiz, a nine-play, 52-yard scoring drive for the 'Jacks spanned the tail end of the first quarter and the early stages of the second quarter to put the first points on the board for the visitors.
• Threatening to increase their lead, the Thunderbirds picked off SFA quarterback Trae Self at the SFA 48 yard line and started another match deep into Lumberjack territory. In need of an energizing play on defense to quell the home team's momentum, the 'Jacks got it when Eli Jones picked off a tipped pass by Chris Helbig and took it 76 yards in the opposite direction for the 'Jacks first touchdown of the night. SFA's defensive score with 8:32 left in the half pulled the 'Jacks within seven, 17-10.
• With momentum in their corner, the 'Jacks' forced a three and out on defense on the Thunderbirds' ensuing drive and became intent on tying things up. Leading his troops on a 13-play, 69-yard drive, Self kept the chains moving with a 17-yard pass to tight end Josh Weeks and a 14-yard strike to Remi Simmons before Da'Leon Ward chugged down to the Southern Utah one-yard line. Cam Arnold took over from there, plunging one yard into the endzone to knot things at 17.

Second Half
• For the majority of the third quarter, both defenses controlled things but that changed when SFA used a quick-strike drive to take its first lead. Self shot a 17-yard completion to Calvin Clater to begin the 'Jacks' four-play, 42-yards drive and Remi Simmons ended it with a nifty catch and run.
• Self sent one out to Simmons in the flats and the junior ran 14 yards to the far pylon to put SFA ahead 24-17.
• Helbig piloted the Thunderbirds' response before the quarter came to an end. Southern Utah's quarterback hit Lawson for a 55-yard touchdown pass that knotted matters at 24.
• SFA retook the lead with a 10-play, 81-yard drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters. That touchdown drive ended when Self tossed a short pass to Thomas Hutchings and watched the senior elude a pair of would-be tacklers to trot in the endzone with 12:55 to go.
• Aided by a pass interference call on the 'Jacks, Southern Utah embarked on a 10-play, 80-yard drive of its own to tie things up yet again. James Felila raced into the endzone from five yards out to tie things up at 31.
• As soon as the 'Jacks got the ball back, they went on their third and final scoring drive of 65 or more yards. The biggest play of the drive was the second when Self found McGowen for a 33-yard catch and run. McGowen also ended the drive with his third rushing touchdown in as many games.
• Thomas Duckett tied things up by ending an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 17-yard run that forced overtime.

Overtime
• Marje Smith and Gary Sampson came up with sacks on SFA's only defensive stand of the overtime session, but things went south for the 'Jacks when a pass interference call on a 3rd and 30 play for the Thunderbirds gave the home team new life.
• Still SFA's defense refused to back down. They held the Thunderbirds to just eight yards on their first three plays after the pass interference call, setting up a fourth and two. The ensuing handoff to Felila resulted in an 11-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game winner.
• A pair of holding calls against SFA on their only drive of overtime hindered the 'Jacks. The second holding call negated a touchdown run by McGowen that would have tied things up.

KEY PERFORMERS/STATISTICS OF NOTE
• Self amassed 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air while Helbig slung it 48 times for 375 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Thunderbirds to their first win of the game.
• Trenton Gordon and Bert Morris racked up a team-high nine tackles apiece.

COMING UP NEXT
• Once they return to Homer Bryce Stadium next weekend, the 'Jacks will start Southland Conference action by hosting 10th-ranked Nicholls Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

-SFA-