SAINT GEORGE, UT-The Dixie State College football team welcomed the #2 ranked Central Washington Wildcats to town on Saturday afternoon for a Great Northwest Conference battle. The Wildcats prevailed 23-9 in front of 2,814 fans on a pleasant afternoon at Hansen Stadium.

 

The Red Storm was looking to avenge their week six 37-6 loss to Central Washington on October 3^rd.

 

DSC failed on its opening drive and appeared to have Central Washington stopped when Garrett Rolsma's 36-yard punt bounced and hit Richard May (Rockland. ID/Rockland HS) in the feet and bounded into the hands of Buddy Wood.. The mishap would give the Wildcats the ball at the 19-yard line. Three straight rushing plays to Randall Eldridge (21 rushes, 69 yards, 1 TD), the final a five yard scamper would give CWU and early 7-0 lead.

 

Dixie State would bounce back, after two failed plays, Judd Thompson (Crystal Lake. IL/Prarie Ridge HS) (20-45-0, 256 yards passing) found #Kyser Christensen for a 41-yard gain to the CWU 32-yard line. Christensen playing in his first game since week 4 against Western Oregon made his only catch of the day. His day was shortened due to continued soreness in his broken foot.

 

The Red Storm would be forced to settle for a 31-yard Mike Langston (Riverside, CA/Ramona) field goal. Dixie State would cut the CWU lead to four at 7-3.

 

The Red Storm defense would force the #2 ranked Wildcats to settle for something besides a touchdown. On two key rushing plays in the red zone, the DSC defense forced Rolsma to kick a 37-yard field goal to build the Wildcat lead to 10 points.

 

Central Washington would add another Rolsma field goal in the opening drive of the second quarter, this time from 23 yards out. CWU would lead 13-3.

 

After a stalled drive from each team, DSC would take over at the CWU 36-yard line. DSC would convert a key 4^th and 3 from the 16-yard line and score two plays later when Thompson found Adam Wells (Kenmore. WA/Inglemoor) (5 catches, 61-yards) for the 12[yard touchdown. Mike Langston (Riverside, CA/Ramona)'s point after would be blocked, making the score 13-9 heading into the half.

 

Opening the second half of play, DSC would kickoff to return man Jerome Williams who would return the kick 72-yards to the DSC 5-yard line. The Wildcats scored on a Cole Morgan 5-yard sneak three plays later. CWU lead 20-9.

 

In the second half the Red Storm offense had its opportunities to score but could not convert. Thompson found Wells for a 40 yard gain, giving the Red Storm a first down at the CWU16. With 6:25 left in the 3^rd quarter, Langston attempted a 33 yard field goal that was blocked by Jerome Williams and the DSC drive would stall there. This after being forced to move back five yard on a false start. The first kick by Langston would have been good, but due to the penalty forced Langston to retry.

 

The Red Storm again fell just short, taking over at the DSC 19-yard line with 1:41 left in the 3^rd. On a 3^rd and three, Thompson found Skyler Ence (St George. UT/Pine View) (3 catches, 59-yards) for 52-yard gain over the middle to the CWU22.

 

Four plays later with the game on the line, Coach Ron Haun would elect to go for it on fourth and inches. The Wildcat defense would stop DSC at CWU13, forcing the Red Storm to turn it over on downs.

 

Central Washington would march 60 yards on 11-plays, chewing up 5:51 of time and Rolsma would connect on his third field goal of the day, this time from 44-yards out, building the Wildcats lead to 23-9.

 

The 2^nd ranked Wildcats dominated the time of possession 37:13 to 22:47. They had 381 yards of total offense to DSC's 235 yards.  

 

Dixie State would pass for 256 yards, but could only manage -21 yards rushing. The Wildcats had a more balanced attack with 164 yards rushing and 217 yards passing.

 

The overall play of the Red Storm defense was keyed by the play of Micah Harward (St George. UT/Dixie) (10 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble), Keauteau Bankhead (14 tackles, 1 forced fumble), Justin Ence (St. George, UT/Pine View) (11 tackles), and Wesley Beavers (Las Vegas. NV/Cheyenne) (10 tackles).

 

Dixie State will play its final game of the season next week when they travel to Humboldt State University for a 2:05 PM kickoff. Humboldt lost to Western Oregon 31-28. Dixie State defeated HSU on Sept 26 in dramatic comeback fashion 24-20.

 

The game at HSU will be televised on KCSG and can be heard on 103.1 FM. You can also listen on www.dixieathletics.com.

 

NOTES: Seniors Marston Sawyers (Midvale, UT/Hillcrest), Micah Harward (St George. UT/Dixie), Kevin Wilks (Sandy. UT/Hillcrest HS), Lee Millard (Salt Lake City, UT /Woods Cross), Richard May (Rockland. ID/Rockland HS), Skyler Ence (St George. UT/Pine View), Judd Thompson (Crystal Lake. IL/Prarie Ridge HS), Wesley Beavers (Las Vegas. NV/Cheyenne), Seth Mortensen (Idaho Falls. ID/Hillcrest), and Ross Doman (Woodbum. OR/Canby) were all honored prior to today's game. Today was their final home game of their career.