Clash of Clans: Red Storm travel to Canada for GNAC matchup

DSC returns to site of triple overtime loss against Simon Fraser

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Football at Simon Fraser - 7 PM MST (Terry Fox Field)
Live Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1210AM, 107.3/102.3 FM
Live Online Audio: Dixie State All-Access
Live VIdeo: Simon Fraser TV
Live stats: Simon Fraser Live Stats
Game Notes: Dixie State

Dixie State College heads back to the scene of a disappointing triple-overtime loss one season ago seeking redemption, while continuing to storm near the top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference race. Waiting atop Burnaby Mountain are the Clan from Simon Fraser University for a 6 p.m. Pacific (7 p.m. Mountain) kickoff at Terry Fox Field.

• Dixie State enters the game 2-2 (2-1, third place in the GNAC) after having a two-game win streak snapped by Humboldt State 49-13 at Hansen Stadium on Sept. 22.
• After allowing 49 points combined in the first three weeks of the season, the Red Storm surrendered season highs in points allowed (49) and passing yards (216). It was also the second week in a row in which the Storm has allowed over 200 yards rushing (235).
• Despite being held to a season low 273 total offensive yards, DSC actually posted its highest team rushing total of the season with 193 yards on the ground - the most since a record breaking effort of 263 rushing yards against Simon Fraser on Sept. 17, 2011.
• The Red Storm are 3-1 all-time against the Clan – splitting last year's series with each home team picking up a victory.

CHECKING IN WITH THE CLAN: Simon Fraser embarks on its first season as a full-fledged NCAA member this fall hoping to improve on last year's 3-7 campaign. Two first team GNAC all-stars are among 12 returning starters for head coach Dave Johnson including running back Bo Palmer and offensive lineman Matthias Goossen. Palmer is the GNAC's top returning rusher, gaining 1,219 yards last season when he scored eight touchdowns. Also back on offense is quarterback Trey Wheeler, who is the only other returning starting quarterback in the league in addition to Central Washington's Robertson. Wheeler completed 147 of 260 passes for 1,451 yards and nine touchdowns in his freshman season. He has already surpassed to 1,100-yard mark in passing and has matched his TD output from a season ago. Other returning starters on offense include wide receiver Bobby Pospischil and Mathis Baumbach and offensive lineman Brad Erdos. Pospischil led the Clan in receiving with 45 catches for 323 yards, while Baumbach had 17 catches for 143 yards. On defensive the top returnee is linebacker Casey Chin, who was a second team all-conference selection and led the Clan in tackles with 74. Other returning starters include lineman Andrew Marshall, linebacker Malcolm Allen and defensive backs Kyle Miller, Adam Berger and Matt Isherwood.

WHERE THE STORM STAND: Dixie State dropped from the top spot in Total Defense after allowing 451 yard to the Jacks last Saturday. Allowing an average of 323.2 yards a game placed the Red Strom second in the GNAC behind Humboldt State (315.0). Despite Nick Ricciardulli's 157-yard effort, the defense is still stingiest rushing defense in the GNAC (153.0). On the offensive side, DSC sits fifth in the league with 319.0 yards a contest and fourth scoring 17.5 points per game.

INDIVIDUAL GNAC RANKS: RUSH: A.J. Johnson (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills), 5th (68.5), Griff Robles (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork), 8th (50.0). YARDS PER RUSH: A.J. Johnson (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills), 7th (5.8) TOTAL OFFENSE: Griff Robles (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork), 5th (175.5). PASS: Griff Robles (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork), 5th (125.5); Kaleo Nawahine (Fruitland, ID/Fruitland), 7th (42.2). RECEPTIONS/GAME: Zack Fox (Spanish Fork. UT/Spanish Fork HS), T-3rd (5.2), Andre Aron (Inglewood, CA/Westchester), T-8th (3.2). RECEIVING YARDS: Zack Fox (Spanish Fork. UT/Spanish Fork HS), 6th (57.5), Andre Aron (Inglewood, CA/Westchester), 9th (32.0). PUNTING: Robert Metz (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro), 6th (34.2). TACKLES: Jake Duncan (Corona, CA/Notre Dame), T-4th (23.0), Daniel Moffett (Kaysville, UT/Davis) and Matt Tanuvasa (Laie, HI/Southridge) T-23rd (22.0). KICK RETURN: Cache Morgan (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan), 1st (27.9)

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Sept. 22): Team (Top 30): Passing Offense – 25. Simon Fraser 283.2. Passing Defense –25. Dixie State 170.2. Kickoff Returns –29. Dixie State 24.9. Punt Returns – 13. Simon Fraser 20.2. Individuals (Top 30): Total Offense – 24. Trey Wheeler, SFU, 282.8. Receptions – 2. Lemar Durant, SFU, 9.8; 7. Bobby Pospischil, SFU, 9.0. Receiving Yards – 7. Lemar Durant, SFU, 119.0. Kick Returns – 28. Cache Morgan (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan), DSC, 27.9.

INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH UPDATE: Offensive lineman Rylee Reeves (Brigham City, UT/Box Elder) is expected to miss another game after a concussion late last week. Ray Chapman (Compton, CA/Compton) is cleared to play (shoulder) after sitting out the second half of last Saturday's game versus Humboldt State. GNAC Newcomer of the Year and 2011 All-American Joe Don Duncan (Corona, CA/Notre Dame) is expected to miss substantial time after aggravating a previous leg injury. Defensive GNAC All-Star Dustin Goza (Roy, UT/Roy) will miss the entire season with a knee injury.

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