Wolves face the brunt of the Storm in GNAC opener

Football vs. Western Oregon - 6 PM (Hansen Stadium)
Live Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1210AM, 107.3/102.3 FM
Live Online Audio/Video: Dixie State All-Access
Live stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/dixie/football/scoreboard.aspx
Game Notes: Dixie State

STORY LINES
THIS WEEK: Great Northwest Athletic Conference play begins – Dixie State College
opens its home schedule against the Western Oregon Wolves at 6 p.m. at Hansen
Stadium.

• Dixie State enters the conference opener 0-1 after a tough 17-9 loss at Adams State last
Saturday. Western Oregon sports the same record after falling 48-20 to nationally-ranked Grand
Valley State at home.
• Dixie State is currently on a nine-game losing skid dating back to last season – the longest
skid in D-II history by three games (six game streak at the end of 2006 season and beginning of
2007).
• The Red Storm are 1-9 all-time against Western Oregon and have lost four consecutive games
in the series. The only win came at home on Oct. 10, 2009, by the score of 31-23.
• Western Oregon swept the two games played in 2011 – shutting out DSC 56-0 at Hansen
Stadium (Sept. 24) and celebrated Senior Day in Monmouth with a 40-28 triumph (Oct. 29)
• DSC is 2-4 in home openers since the move to the NCAA Division II ranks (2006) and 1-3 in
GNAC since 2008 (when Dixie State joined the league). The Red Storm have a pair of victories
against Adams State (2007, 2009) at home. The lone win to begin GNAC play occurred last year
in DSC's 42-7 victory over Simon Fraser.
• Dixie State is 4-10 in non-conference games since 2008, including 0-6 over the last two
seasons.
• Western Oregon was selected to finish third in the GNAC according to the preseason coaches
vote. The Wolves may have the guns to challenge Humboldt State for the title returning a
league-best 10 all-stars, including three first team defensive selections in lineman Gavin Drake,
linebacker Scotland Foss and defensive back Bryce Peila – who led the GNAC and ranked third
nationally in interceptions with nine. The Wolves will be going with a new starting quarterback,
Cody VonAppen , after both Evan Mozzochi and Cory Bean graduated.

TEAM NOTES

FIRST ON BOTH SIDES: After week one, Dixie State leads the GNAC in both Total Offense and Total Defense. DSC racked up 419 yards of offense on 82 plays, while holding Adams State to 255 yards on 71 plays. In addition, the Red Storm accumulated the most passing yards of any team in the GNAC last week (296 – 24 more than Western Oregon) and posted a 3.6-yard average play against – the stingiest defensive total by 0.6 yards over Humboldt State. Dixie State also leads the GNAC in time of possession (37:38) and opponent 3rd-down conversion percentage (4-16, 25%).

INDIVIDUAL GNAC RANKS: RUSH: A.J. Johnson (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills), 7th (63.0); Kamuela Alisa (Laie, HI/Kahuku), 10th (39.0). PASS: Griff Robles (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork), 1st (296.0). RECEPTIONS/GAME: Zack Fox (Spanish Fork. UT/Spanish Fork HS), T-1st (10.0), Andre Aron (Inglewood, CA/Westchester) and Brock Johnson (South Weber, UT/Northridge), T-9th (4.0). RECEIVING YARDS: Zack Fox (Spanish Fork. UT/Spanish Fork HS), 1st (108.0), Antonio Morton (Seattle, WA/Ballard), 5th (68.0), Andre Aron (Inglewood, CA/Westchester), 6th (51.0). PUNTING: Robert Metz (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro), 5th (28.5). TACKLES: Jake Duncan (Corona, CA/Notre Dame), T-1st (14.0), Ray Chapman (Compton, CA/Compton) and Matt Tanuvasa (Laie, HI/Southridge), T-16th (6.0).

WR DEPTH: The receiving corps features a nice balance of returning starters and talented newcomers. The leading returner in yardage from 2011 is senior Zack Fox (Spanish Fork. UT/Spanish Fork HS) (49-586, 4 TD). Also returning are senior Matt Porrazzo (Rescue, CA/Ponderosa), junior Spencer Young (Salt Lake City, UT/Olympus), and sophomores Beau Hoskins (Blackfoot, ID/Blackfoot) & Brock Johnson (South Weber, UT/Northridge). Joining the Red Storm this season are featured newcomers Mitch Frei (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon), Andre Aron (Inglewood, CA/Westchester) and Randon Willard (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon). Frei was on the basketball team last season, but decided to trade in his sneakers for shoulder pads. Frei was a gridiron standout for Snow Canyon High School. Aron did not play last season, but transfers from El Camino College with solid stats in 2010 (20-243, 1TD). Aron will also figure in the DSC punt/kick return game. Willard, a product of Region Nine football, has been away from the field since finishing up his high school career at Snow Canyon.

SECONDARY TO NONE: The last line of defense for the Red Storm see starters returning at each spot for the first time in four seasons. Nick Porrazzo (Rescue. CA/Ponderosa) and Ray Chapman (Compton, CA/Compton) return at corner while All-GNAC First Team safety Cache Morgan (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) joins sophomore Daniel Moffett (Kaysville, UT/Davis) on the edge. The last time DSC had four returners in the secondary was 2009 (Rich May, Russ Doman, Wesley Beavers, Seth Mortenson). Cameron Greene (Brigham CIty. UT/Box Elder) also returns as Morgan's backup at free safety.

FROM DEFENSE TO OFFENSE: Xavier Smith (Moreno Valley, CA/Rancho Verde) has moved from the defensive line to a starting role on the offensive line. Smith is slated to start at right guard against Western Oregon.

BATTERED AND BRUISED: Offensive lineman Nyles Amelita (Tustin, CA/Foothill) is expected to miss the WOU game (hand). 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. Offensive lineman Joe Cowan (Escalon, CA/Escalon) missed the Adams State game, but is expected to return to action soon after missing last season with a knee injury. K.J. Boyer (St. George, UT/Pine View) is back from a season-ending knee injury in 2011, and is expected to start on the defensive line.

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